Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-03-28
CHAPTER IX.-CoNTINUED.

| CHAPTER IX.-CoNTINUED.
| 'My dear girl, feared as much, and
that is why have pointed you to the
impossible barrier which lies between
| you-at present. You must master this
| growing fondness before it masters
| you, for love, my child, when once it
| gains supremacy rules its victims as
| with a rod of iron, and laughs to scorn
the rules of propriety. Think of the
| distressing scandal which would agi-
| tate the military circles of the whole
| land were it to become known that the
| beloved daughter of one of the most
| distinguished officers of the army had
bestowed her love upon a humble pri-
| vate soldier in the ranks. The finger
| OF scorn would be pointed at you, dear,
| and your old father, were he to survive
the shock, would resign his proud posi-
| ton and seek to bury himself from the
| world in obscurity and retirement.
You are treading dangerously near the
| brink of an awful precipice, Alice, and
would lead you away to SAFER
ground"
''Oh, you brighten me"' the girl said,
| with an appealing look, Il cannot
| smother the emotions which God placed
| in my soul, cannot change the nature
| He has given me, and believe it would
be wicked to torture my own peace of
| mind even to preserve unbrOken the
lines of army social distinction. Mrs.
| Colby, l confess to you that my eyes
| have not been blinded to the growing
| regard feel for Mr.. Thornton. have
even felt that he might be necessary
| to my future happiness. Never by
| word or look has he shown me any at
| tcntion that would indicate that he en-
| tertained toward me aught but feel
| lug of simple friendship. and what you
| have told me of his-Of his-thinl,ing a
| great deal of me comes as revelation,
| and, l confess it. a most pleasing one.
| But, Mrs. Colby, I assure you, on my
| honor, that 1 have never once thought
of the military world knowing aught of
| any tender feeling which might exist
between myself and a private soldier.
| / did not even intend that you should
know it, dearly as 1 love you, until
| Private Brown should disappear from
| life, and Mr.. Thornton, with his mill
| tary service but memory of the past.
| should step into our social circles. II
| this should be brought about, what
| then?''
''Ah. that might make a wide Diff
| ference, dear. Now 1 begin to under
| stand you, and you have lifted a great
| load of apprehension from my heart.
There would be no improperly in a
refined, honorable and worthy gentle
man in civil life aspiring to the hand
of the daughter of military officer.
Many do so, and the most happy re-
suits usually follow. Alice, know
what woman's love is. l have felt its
all-consuming fire in my own soul,
feel it yet, for Capt. Colby and myself
are just as fond lovers, and oftentimes
just as foolish ones, as we were when
our love was sealed with marriage.
Now, dear, 1 will be your friend and
adviser in this matter, if you will so
permit. There kissing herr is the
seal of my friendship, and 1 want you
to confide in me. There is but one
pathway leading to your future hap
piness, and it must not be strayed
from. While Edward Thornton re-
mains as Private Brown you must look
upon him as but soldier in the ranks.
You must avoid him all you can, and,
if it be possible, his discharge from the
service must be brought about. 1
think it can be. When that consum-
nation is reached he may feel at lib
erty to sue for your hand, and should
he do SO you must refer him to your
father. His past life must be investi-
gated, for you must remember, dear,
that we have but his own unsupported
story regarding himself. There, 1
know what you would say. believe
~ h \
father would demand the most con-
vincing proof of his worth before he
would permit him to show you any at
tention. Now, you must be patient.
If you love each other as believe you
do ard should Mr.. Thornton establish
the fact that he is a man of honor and
true worth as 1 believe he will, you
need have no fear, my dear girl, of the
future, for love will surmount any
ordinary obstacle that may rise in its
path"
Alice threw her arms about her
friends neck, and kissed her fondly.
Then her emotions overcame her, and
burying her face in Mrs. Colbys bosom
she sobbed like a child. Capt. Colby's
step upon the porch aroused her, and
going out at the back door to avoid
meeting him in he. agitated state of
mind, she sought her home and the
privacy of her own chamber.
CHAPTER x
Days passed, and save at distance
Brown saw nothing of Alice. Day
after day, when not on duty, he re-
paired with his sketch book to his
usual haunts, but she had either dis
continued her daily rides or had chosen
a new field for that healthful recrea-
ton. He could not understand it, and
the clinging fear came upon him that
her father had learned of their meet
ings and, with a strict eye to military
propriety, had forbidden the contin-
uance of their friendship. The thought
troubled him greatly, and he grew mo-
rose and reserved in his intercourse
with his comrades. 1t was believed by
his associates that the sting of the dis
grace of a court-martial had left pain
full wound, and they did all they could
to show him that IN their eyes his
honor was unsullied by the act Of as
sault and its penalty.
1t Is custom at military posts of the
west that after each days service on
guard duty the cavalry soldier, should
he so desire. is given hunting pass"
and is permitted T., take his horse and
go IN quest of game. In his perturbed
state of mind sketching had lost it's in
terest to Brown. and after each guard
sorx-So,, ba would sacpro official porr,iS-