The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-08-24
az the oflcia1s sc the war department


az the officials 81 the war depar ttment
| to give the matter attention, yet each.
letter babe him hope for more favor
able news in the next. 1t may be q
vexatious disappoint ment to the reader
to be here told. that every effort to Sc
cure his release utterly failed, and that
he was destined to be soldier Of his
country for years yet to come.
Several months passed. Along q
shaded path on the bank Of the Rio
Grande near the fort, Private Brown
and Alice Sanford walked side by side.
One of her sbapely hands held the
bride rein Of the pony which followed
behind her. The other was passed be-
meath the arm Of her companion.
Slowly they moved along, their.
heads bowed and their every action in
dicating that they We're engaged in the
discussion of topic of no ordinary i'm
port. Taking advantage Of the license,
granted By the laws Of fiction, let us
assume the wings of invisibility and
hover near them and hear what they
are saying. 4
II think, Ned, it would be best to go
right to papa and tell him all. When
he hears your story from your own
lips, reads the letters from your aunt,
her attorneys and from your banker
| and the fact is fully established to his
| satisfaction that you are worthy Of me
! and IRE fully justified in approaching
| him on such q subject, he may treat
you kindly and interpose no serious oh
| lection to our love. Indeed, he is not
! so hard-hearted as his manner at times
would Indicate"
"And yet fear him, Alice, darling.
No matter what might prove myself
\ to be, he would see me but as the pri-
vate soldier. o, these CALLING bonds Of
servitudel Never before did they go
deeply cut into my soul"
Bending over her he imprinted q low
ing kiss upon her cheek, and she chung
vet closer to him in acknowledgment
of the salute. 5
''And yet he might receive you more
kindly than you anticipate, Ned. Papa
really has warm, sympathetic heart
despite his harshness in enforcing dis
cipline. If you could convince him
that my happiness is at stake and could
bring him to fully understand the depth
and purity of our love, he might at
least sanction our courtship until your
discharge from the service can be Sc
cured. His influence at the war de-
! partment may aid you. Won't you sec
him, Ned, dear?"
Her eyes were upt1rned to his with
pleading earnestness and again press
ing a kiss on hex responsive lips he re-
| piled:
"My darling, will endeavor for the
time to forget thatI am private sol
der, and will go to him as a man to
man, in manly way. If he will bnt
listen to me to the end he eannot but
see that am worthy of your love, and
! if he will allow bis wisdom to rule him,
! he must see that i make no unreason-
able request in asking him to fully. in
vestigate my past history and to sus-
pend Judgment on what he may term
my assurance until he has done so.''
'Bless you tor that determination,
Ned. And when will you see him?"
SAT once. AS soon as I can reach
his quarters. Mount your pony and
gallop ahead, darling, and will fol-
low after"
! CHAPTER XIV.
He assisted her into the saddle, and
then turning to him with great crystal
tears in her eyes she said:
MAY God go with you, Ned, my own
beloved, and may he move my fathers
heart toward you. I will pray every
moment for your success, and will be
in an agony of suspense and anxiety
until I hear tho result Of your inter-
view. Tell him love you, darling,
pladly love you, and my happiness will
be wrecked without you. Good-by,
and, be of good heart"
SIZE galloped away, and with wild
ly beating heart he followed after up
the hill to the fort. ..s az
Going first to his own quarters he
donned his best uniform, and then, al
most trembling at his own assurance,
he crossed the parade-ground to the
headquarters building, entered the
hallway and raped at Col. sanford's
door. 80.
.tCome IMP
That sharp, harsh command burned
the bridge behind him. Retreat was
now impossible, even should he desire
to abandon his mission.
When he entered the room the old
commander was sitting at his desk
| IL g8