Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-10-22

ne pOok no notlce OF the remark out
asked slowly:
VIII you be true?n
She looked at him moment and an
swered
Love cannot die
And again the mocking bird sang
from the moss hung tree.
And that was three years ago. he,
true to the agreement, had struggled
manfully for awhile to make his way
and earn his reward. But he was weak
IN perseverance. He tried almost every
thing and gradually sank lower and
lower. AT last, half crazed with drink,
he enlisted IN the army and was sent 10
the plains of New Mexico
4i
AS he sat with his chin in his hands
he looked across the waste of sand and
pondered over his past. Too proud to go
back and acknowledge himself whipped
in the battle of life, he did not know
what to do. An intense yearning to see
Adele once more took possession of him.
ssI'l1 write to her tomorrow he
thought, "and III get furlough and
go home for awhile. Ny God. but I
must see herl III go crazy in this
DEVILS country if I don'tr'
The garrison had never seemed SO hot
and stuffy to him before. The hot yell
low sand had never seemed SO monoton-
Gus and blank, and life in the garrison
had never been so abhorrent as it was
then. He dreamily looked out the win
dow and wbistled softly:
Say eau revoir," but not "goodby."
Not doubt entered his mind but that
Adele was true.
al can talk her over If she is still OBJ
stinate, Thought he, ''and can buy
my discharge. Then we viii get married
and live at the old place She will at
least give me credit for having done my
best. Yes, think viii go home"
His reveries were rudely disturbed by
the sound of Private Finnerty's voice
right under his window saying:
'Shure, an tn new major hoy come
ter take command iy us. He's been at
posht down south, hovin foine, aisy
tonne av it. He fetched his wolfe wild
i'm too. Dom me, but she's as pretty as
spotted purp. An she's got tn prettiest
pair iv blue eyes thot Oh iver saw. Oh,
she's swate, SURF"
Sergeant Stone moved away from the
window still whistling softly. He was
thinking of Adele-of home. he could
see her sitting in the moonlight playing
and singing He could almost hear the
wind as it rushed softly through the
magnolia leaves or murmured sadly
through the long gray festoons of Span
ish moss. He thought of all the haunts
of his boyish days and of his mother
sleeping peacefully beneath the cedars
in the lonely little burying ground ON
the hill He remembered the path that
he and Adele followed when they were
children and went to school together.
He wondered if she had changed and if
she loved him as much as ever. The idea
that she would cease loving him never
entered his mind. She had said that she
would always care for him, and that
left not a doubt for him.
He spoke pleasantly to one of the sol
diers who passed by, and that individual
was so surprised that he could only
stare.
Something's a-going to happen, - he
said to the gang loafing about the can
teen few minutes later. Stones got
civil all of sudden. - And they mar
veled greatly thereat.
Stone wrote ont his application for a
furlough and got it indorsed by his cap
tain, and then by the post commander,
and late that afternoon hewas informed
that his leave was granted.
He was happy He went about whis-
Ting and singing. he was going home
and to Adele. After supper he had an
other attack of dependency. His soul
was filed with doubts and fears and
horrible dread was gnawing at his heart
''Suppose she''- But his heart would
never allow him to finish the question.
: "She will be true,'' it said.
The moon rose in its full grandeur,
and the mellow radiance silvered every
thing, toning down the rough prospect,
until it seemed as through the path to
an enchanted land was opened to him.
sThree years ago tonight since saw
Adele, he murmured to himself.
sWell, 1T won't be long till see her
again"
1t was growing late, and "taps"
would soon sound. He went out for one
last walk around the parade ground,
nnd as he neared the majors house the
distant tink1e of guitar attracted his
attention
1.-THE MAJORS wife must be musical, 4"
he unused. Then he remembered that he
lttll Dt64 lO4t4a tildt b1G AAAA OCSA-
married only few months. He drew
nearer to the house and listened. The
player began to sing in fresh girlish
voice:
Say asa11 revoir.' :, but not ''goodby''--
Love Hveth still: Love cannot die.
He drew nearer, and the voice went
'Twere better far We had not met;
loved you fhen-I love you yet
Stone stood as one suddenly bereft Of
his senses. In the moonlight he saw
face he had not laid eyes upon for three
long, dreary years-a face that he had
hoped 10 see soon. And this was the end
of it ALL Still the voice went on with
the lying words of that song.
eAdele, dear, wish you would sing
something else I never liked that
song, and the major smiled at his VIE.
a figure in a dark blue uniform stood
and listened as If spellbound- When
the song was finished, Stone skunk,
staggering, across the parade ground
until he came to the barracks. BE en-
tered and climbed wearily up the steps.
A few moments later the clear notes
Of taps rang across the sandy waste.
Lights out, it meant-New Orleans
Times-Democrat
He who feels contempt for any living
thing hath faculties that he hath never
used, and thoughtwith him IS In its In