Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-09-22
young soldier and might in future de-
velop a warm interest In him.
CHAPTER XII.

The following afternoon Alice rode
down the mesa trail and her heart
throbbed with pleasure when she noted
that Brown sat In his accustomed
place, his sketch book on his knee.
She approached him with n smiling
face and extended her hand when he
rose to greet her.
"Worship,ng ut the shrine Of art. rs
usual" she snid. rs he assisted her 10
dismount. And what study have you
chosen to-day? hut before we discuss
your picture have something very
pleasant to tell you. Papa thinks you
q model soldier"
"IIe does? Well, Il Is ind, pleas
ant to receive compliment from such
source. So you discussed me after
left you yesterday"
| Alice told him all that had been said,
excepting the references to his dis
charge from the service.
ut will be hard TO convince the
colonel of the truth Of my story. did
not know that you had made him nc
quaintcd with the circumstances OF my
enlistment"
'0h, didn't tell you? Well, | told
him, or, rather, started to tell him.
once, but he secuted ut the idea and
babe me not listen To such stories from
the soldiers"
"IIe will not always laugh at it,"
Brown replied. with n tingc OF resent
mcnt in his voice. "Thc day will
| L.. Ill L., ,,,I
But let us discuss some other matter.
have something very serious 10 say TO
you to-day. Miss sanford. and trust
you will hear me through before con-
dcming me. have given the matter
most serious thought. and have de,c
mined to pursue the only manly course
my Judgment presents. In justice to
you. in justice TO myself, in obedience
10 the promptings Of manhood. have
determined TO unbosom my soul To you,
and for the moment may ask you to
forget that you IRE listening 10 the
words of private soldier and look
upon me rs Edward Thornton. n MIN
of whose friendship you have no cause
to feel ashamed.
miss Sanford. speak toyou now us
one who feels that he Is your equal in
life, us nearly us man can equal thu
beautiful womanly flowers which God
In His goodness sends u gladden. the
world. Since my first meeting with
you on this. to me. sacred spot the
knowledge that you have been my
friend has flooded my life with purest
sunshine. ] had grown tn look for
your coming with ycarning which
! could scarcely understand, and !
could feel my soul go out In gladness
TO you ut your approach. and when.
after the unfortunate affair which
shut me from your presence for time,
returned here day after Gay and you
came not. my heart was troubled and
my life seemed east into impcnctrable
gloom. Yesterday your welcoming
smile dispcllcd the clouds. and left
your side my heart dancing with res
directed JOY. In my blanket bed last
night reviewed the happy hours I
had spent In your society. and as the dc.
tails Of our meetings grouped them
selves In beautiful picture in my
brain I determined TINT another sun
should not set before ! had laid bare
my heart to you.
Miss Sanford. II have been nour-
ishing false hope in ray bosom |
should know II ere that hope has so
firmly taken root that Il would wound
me almost - the death to pluck II out
and cast 1t away. Day by day, rs the
tender. creeping vine cntwincs itself
more closely about the supporting oak,
feeling OF affection for you has grown
In my heart, and reason and manhood
tell inc that should il be roofing there
only 70 withcr and die beneath the
blighting frost Of disappointment II
should be killed in its weaker life. My
friend, were but an ordinary soldier
with no fair prospects In the life be-
fore me would not insult You by ask
ing you to listen 10 such n confession,
but us will some day step from the
ranks into an honorcd place among my
fellow men. as. on the burial from siTht
of Private Brown the humble soldier,
Mr. Edward Thornton the gentleman
will he rcsurrccted, feel that do not
In the least encroach upon the lines OF
propricty by what am going to ask
you. My little. my valued friend. the
bud of affection now growing in my
breast Is fast bursting into the full