Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-02-21
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vate who had done her a favor. She
treated all alike, and came to be looked
upon as a treasure which all might nd
mire but none need ever hope to pos
sess-a devoted child whose father so
filled every nook of her pure heart that
there was no room there for another.
One lovely morning in the month of
September. 1896, while returning from
a gallop down the valley of the Rio
Grande. Miss Sanford rode up a gulch
onto the mesa about mile below the
fort. As she came out upon the higher
ground she observed young soldier
sitting upon rock near the trail busily
engaged in slSetching. She was her
self a clever artist and passionately
fond of drawing from nature, and her
interest in the soldier was at once
aroused. He had not noticed her ap-
proach, SO deeply interested was he in
his work. and she refined in her pony q
few wards distant from where he sat to
study him. There was pleased ex-
preston ON her face when she noted
that he was a handsome young man
with q frank, honest face. neat and
tidy in dress, and wearing an air of in
tellectual refinement which seemed
sadly out of place in one whose lot was
cast among the rough soldiers Of the
ranks.I 1t must be remembered that 1
write of the days just following the
close of our great civil war. when the
ranks of the regular army on the
frontier were made up Of rough, litter
ate men largely fished from the slums
OF the eastern cities, many of them
themselves in the army under assumed
names to escape the consequences of
crime Alice Sanford had never dreamed
the barracks of the private soldiers
sheltered man Of artistic tastes. and
the spectacle presented OF Il soldier
welding the pencil OF the artist was
to her revelation.
The soldier becoming aware of her
presence glanced up from his work,
and. noting that it was the daughter
Of the commanding officer who had ap-
preached him, quickly arose to his feet,
removed his cap and silently waited
for her to address him should she de-
sire to do so.
Il am sorry I disturbed you," she
said. VIII you permit me to look at
the sketch you are EiakinG?'
1T is as yet far from complete" he
quietly responded, land fear you may
not be able to form an Intelligent idea
of what its appearance will be when
the details arc filled in. l began it but
an hour ago"
He kc1acd her the picture, and she
sat for some moments closely studying
it, occasionally casting her eyes across
the intervening desert TO the Fra Girls
tobel range.
you have chosen beautiful study"
she finally said. In my eyes the Fra
Cristobel is the most attractive of all
the ranges which surround u.s."
Il experience great pleasure in
sketching it," he replied. This will
he my third sketch Of the range, and 1
seem to never tire of tracing its bold
outlines and copying its rugged details
of rock and pine"
Returning the picture, with a
simple thank you," she rode home
ward. She allowed her pony to walk
slowly along the trail and did not even
chidc him for stopping occasionally to
snatch mouthful of grass as he loitered
along, so busy were her thoughts with
Tic HuIuDic pTlSItS SOIcieT " HON Sic
had Just left. She had seen i'll the yet
crude sketch the work of 4 master
hand, and she wondered why it was
that one SO gifted should be wearing
the uniform and performing the duties
of a soldier. His manner was that of
the polished gentleman, his speech re-
fined and pleasing, and his general de-
mcanor was widely different from that
OF any of the other soldiers with whom
she had been brought in contact. What
could Z man of his attainmc2ts be do
ing in the ranks of the army? The
question flashed through her brain, but
no reply followed in its wake. A frown
swept over her face, but as quickly
vanished at n rebuking thought.
20, no. not crime" she unused.
Those clear eyes OF his mirrored
clear soul. He must not be ciassed
with those who Turk in the shadow of
enlistment to escape the searching
eye of justice. There is n romance
sttre.vn along his trail of life. There
must be. Perhaps it was an affair of