Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-04-17

bel, and Mabel said she was sure there
was not, but she was equally sure Gcor-
gia meant no. Mabel herself was even
moro perploxed than the captain. since
Georgia had gently but resolutely for
hidden any further mention OF the sub
ject between them. And now, with the
utter Inconsistency of her sex, pretty
Mrs. Lane was all eagernoss to discover
and demolish tho barrier to match
which month ago she would have OPP
posed because it seemed inevitable.
Then came JOY in which Mrs. Lane
for the tilno being forgot her perplexities.
Capt Fred obtained seven days leave
fr. III the regiment and few as straight
TO her arms as q circuitous railroad route
could carry him. lie greeted Miss Mar
shall as cordially as ever, but he did not
call her Portia us he had intended, be-
cause Mabel warned him in letter that
it served to revivo associations which
woro not all joyous. II called her Portia
long before she met MIR. Hcarn," was
Lanes stout reply; "but il she doesn't
like it. that's enough Maj Kenyon
was hidden to dinner the evening of his
homecoming, and of course many of
the garrison people happened in, and so
there was nothing but general chat.
But two evenings later, when the major
was sitting in the big armchair and dis
/ coursing on some of his favorite hobbies,
he preached anew tho matter of Judge
/ Hearns letter urging his son to quit the
/ service.
"Eave YOU never heard Hearn's an
swer. major said Lane. "He read it
to me before sending it. and l thought it
so good that I kept a copy, Here it is.
Miss Marshall was sitting at the table
under the bright lamp as Lane began to
read. Mabel noticed that she leaned
| forward, shading her eyes with her
hand
81 have thought it oil over. my dear
father The offer You make me is one
for which l thank you with all my heart.
Few men could quit the service under
better auspices, or return to n home
more loved or friends more loving, and
yeti cannot. Ten years of my life
perhaps the best ten, hove been spent in
d profession which with every year pre-
sents new fields, new studies and new
requirements. have worked honestly
have won friends and, in all modesty
may say, a good name. Admitting all
you write of this recent attempt of the
papers to blacken it, my friends here
tell me that it but proves the strength
of my record that oven concerted news
paper assaults could not harm me in the
eyes Of right thinking people,
Il love the duties. | am deeply at
tached to many of my comrades. l can
be very fair soldier, and might only
make a very poor lawyer. For these
reasons | think | ought to stand where
am. But there is still another reason.
Father, when | bound myself to the
United States as cadet | received at
the hands Of the nation schooling such
as | could get at no other institution in
the world, aud was nodded by the ma
ton for its service. II in after years
found myself better fitted to serve in
some other way then there might be ex-
cuse for rendering Il resignation. But
when | feel and know that am far more
soldier than | can ever be anything else,
II all the more convinces me that my
efforts belong now and for lifetime to
the nation that trained me and that |
have sworn TO serve.
The dear ones al home know me best.
it is true. The class in whose supposed
interests have been so unjustly assailed,
it is also true. is very different from that
IN which we move. But, in the broad
light Of a soldiers duty, neither the love
Of the one nor the unreasoning hate of
the other should swerve me. The hard
est knocks u soldier has to bear come
sometimes from the very men whom he
is sworn to defend. You would not
hnyo me yield because Of singing
wound or two, nor would I be worthy of
your namc if faltered now. 1t is my
belief that despite apparent apathy,
there is still north or south a place in
the hearts Of the people for every soldier
who seeks faithfully TO serve them, and
in that faith-God helping mel shall
follow the Old flag TO the end"
"By Jupiter" said Kenyon, as he
sIrang to his feet and strobe excitedly
up and down the room, isn't that
enough to mako one damn the liberty OF
the pruss, to think That a month ago il
was holding up that fine fellow fo1
everything that was low and coutempti
blel Mis- Marshall. if | were Why
she's gone"
just stepped into the dining room G
moment" said Mrs. Lane promptly
though her eyes were trimming. "Now
isn't that MI Ecarn all OVER
But Georgia Marshall had not gone
into tho dining room Mabel found hei
over at the erd Of the veranda gazing a,
the distant night lights across the darl
and silent valley.
September came, and the Eleventh
would soon be on its homeward march
Letters to the regiment made frequent
mention of old Kenyon's devotion L
Miss Mar1hall and even Hearn had u
hear occasional bits OF conversation thai
told him that in quitting Ryan he haC
abandoned the field to rival Blu
whom orders reached them there wa!
other news: Miss Marshall was to re
turn TO the east at once. Despite ever
plea wrote Mabel, "sile persists IN it
aud adam0nt 10 no more yielding thar