The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-03-13

cdScI HIS uduB0IeT IldQ Deeu 10 enjoy
ride with him, he determined she
should not be deprived of the pleasure,
and, ordering his horse he started
after her. AS he rode through one of
the sallyports in the line of earthworks
which surrounded the garrison he saw
Lieut.. Vandever join her out on the
plain, and ride away by her side. They
started after little while in gallop,
and seeing the futility of attempting
to overtake them the colonel concluded
to ride slowly ahead and meet them on
their return.
The lieutenant had spent much of
the day in social game of cards with
hay contractor in the club room of
the post traders store. the stakes being
but the price of bottle of wine or the
cigars at the conclusion of each game,
and group of chalk marks on the face
of the table indicated that quite
number OF bottles of the sparkling
beverage had changed ownership as
the hours sped by. When at last, weary
OF the pastime, the players ceased their
fact that his brain was in rather un-
certain state of lucidity, and to wear
away the effects of his frequent pota-
tions he went to the stables, ordered
hts horse and started for q ride. He
was not at all what civilians would
term "beastly drunk" but had taken
sufficient wine to make him reckless
and to screw his vanity up to the high
est notch, and as he galloped out of the
garrison he felt as lordly as ever did
Alexander the Great after we'll won
victory. Seeing Miss Sanford riding
along but short distance away he for
got that they had ever had a differ
ence, and hastily gal l-oped up to her
side Raising his cap he said to her:
"Will you grant me the privilege of
short gallop with you, Miss SanfordP l
cannot tell you how lonely l get at
times, actually blue, since being SO
cruelty torn from society and thrown
into duty in this remote corner of crea-
ton"
"You will find me dull companion,
AShl1 MI NduuCNCE' CdlIle OuU my
self to endeavor to wear away half
morbid feeling. You can ride with me
if you wish"
THANK you. l am sure neither of
us can feel blue in such charming So
ciety. How's that for double-acting
compliment? Ha! ha! hal"
Very clever, but you rate your own
powers of attraction higher than do
mine, for I assure you that l will be
anything but charming companion in
my present state of feeling"
miss Sanford is always charming" |
he replied, with smile that seemed to |
lose its vitality and fade away into a
sickly grin. Perhaps gallop may
serve to rouse our spirits. Come"
Their horses dashed away and for
half mile they rode rapidly. Then
refining her pony down to walk Alice
said:
II must not distress my horse with
too hard riding. Let us walk our ami.
mails awhile"
"A very beautiful trait in your char
acter, Miss Sanford. 1t is an evidence
of gentle disposition and sympathetic
soul, and it causes me to admire you
more and more, If that were possible"
The young girl, with just tinge OF
severity in her tones, replied:
"Mr. Vandever, an honest compli-
ment from gentleman to lady is
always appreciated, but detest frothy
praise that is bestowed through what
some gentlemen may believe sense Of
gallantry."
20, but / assure you my words come
from the bottom of my heart; but If I
have annoyed you sincerely beg your
pardon, and will not offend again"
II hope you will not, Mr.. Vandever.
II you wish to talk tell me something
of your academy life"
He began running description Of
some Of the sports and pastimes at
West Point, and really interested the
girl with his boyish enthusiasm as he
detailed his superiority in many Of the
games.
1t was at this time that Grown
emerged from the draw and levelcd his
glass at the couple, his heart aching
with pain and apprehension at theirap-
parent sociability.
Vandever could not long keep away
from his favorite topic, however, and,
as was his delight when he could get
any of the younger officers to listen to
him, he began to recount his firtations
with the girls during his academic
days. A spirit of mischief possessed
the young girl and by an interjected
word now and then she seemed to take
great interest in his prowess in the field
OF love, and led the half befuddled Of
fcer to believe that she was looking
upon him as gallant. whose charm of
manner was irresistible in schoolday
affairs Of the heart. His silly gush
her greatly, and her seeming
admiration of his generalship in love
making increased his boldness, and she
was almost paralyzed with fright and
Indignation when he said to her:
But they were mere moths flutter-
ing about an electric light Miss San
ford. There was not womanly soul
among them. Oh, had met there such
o queen among women as yourself no
silly cadet-struck butterfly of fashion
would have won smile from Inc.
Miss Sanford, | am as yet but second
but some day will be
colonel, general, and you would be
proud of the love OF such a distin-
yuished man. | do love you, my dear
girl, my queen of beauty! have long
loved Won in secret. hat never dared"