The Democratic advocate., 1891-03-21
WESTMINSTER, MD, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1891

but that will not take the pain away, will
it?"
He was not in the least dashing now;
he was unutterably sad
81 was mistaken" he said 81 am sure
you did not mean to firt 1t is all right,
only'-he looked straight into her eyes
don't look at other men as you have looked
at me, and don't be as kind to them if you
don't love them. They might think you
mean more than you do. am going to
join the army hoped to call you, well,
something very sweet before | went, bnt |
suppose it is not to be- But can't you
give me Il chance, cant hope a little till
| come back, if | do?''
"Dont talk about not coming back.
Yes, you may take your chance, but that
may not mean anything at all. You may
only be disappointed again. | don't know
why you want me, anyhow. y
THAT hope, even so small, makes me
feel better" he said, more cheerfully. 81
have said goodbye to your father aud
mother. They know why | am here.
God bless yoa, dearest" He looked again
into her pretty childish face, then left her
to her thoughts
Will Payton left next morning.
Milly had a good cry, and she felt mis-
cradle every time she thought of the poor
fellow. She reproached herself for her
coquettish ways, which before had seemed
so innocent She vowed she would be a
staid woman after this. She felt she had
spoken falsely when she said he might
hope There was a dark haired colonel
whom she knew, and who had dined several
times with her father She thought about
him constantly. He was fifteen years older
than she, but she did not think of that
She knew she loved him, but she forced
back the thought, for he had not spoken
The colonel came that evening after poor
Payton had left. He, too, went to Milly
with his story, and his luck was better.
He was accepted. Are not people in love
the most selfish of beings ? Milly, for the
time being, forgot poor PaytOn, and it was
only when she was alone in her room, feel
ing very sad about the colonel's departure,
which would take place early next morning,
that she thought again about the lover to
whom she had held ont such false hopes,
and there was no way to take back her
words now. He would be gone before day.
1t happened that Payton was in Colonel
Igleharts regiment, and, knowing, he had
been an acquaintance of Mildred's, he wrote
to her "Will Payton is one of the best
men | have the honor to command. He
is a brave soldier, an edifying companion,
and his temper is as sweet as yours, Milly.
Sometimes | wonder at this change in his
disposition, knowing what a dashing, hot
tempered, reckless fellow he used to be.
He is as gentle as Il woman to the wounded.
There must be secret force that upholds
him. Perhaps he has a sweetheart" "
1t was few months after this, just after
great battle had been fought, that Milly
received the sad news that Payton had
been wounded mortally, and had lived only
an hour afterward. "All that we could do
was done, Mildred the colonel wrote.
ave paid all respect to him. | found
among his clothes small picture of you,
and this makes me suspect that he loved
you, though I have no right to pry into
the secrets of the dead. He was your
friend, and am sorry to convey such sad
intelligence to you and to his parents. He
was their only son."
The letter was ended, and Col. Iglehart
returned to claim his sweetheart. The
years had changed her. She was woman
understanding the realities of life and its
misfortunes. She was all the better for
the wholesome lesson. She was happily
married, and among her treasures was a
picture of a very young man with brown
eyes. Gentle thoughts hover about the
memory of poor Will Payton.