The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-05-08

every doubt from her mind. May l
show it to her?"
''If you wish you can do SO, Alice,
but the time has not yet come for the
world to hear the story, and you must
ask her to pledge her secrecy"
When Mrs. Colby reached that por-
ton of the letter referring to Alice, she
exclaimed:
'Why, Alice, has this man declared
his love for you?"
Eyes, yes, Mrs. Colby; but read it all,
and will then explain"
The good woman finished the letter,
and clasping the girl to her heart in a
loving embrace, said:
my sweet child, no further explana-
tion is necessary. You have won the
love of a man in every way worthy Of
you, a man Of wealth and refinement,
and every barrier to your union will
soon melt away. Why, what wonder
full romance, you dear little creature!
A young, innocent pussy, who knows
no world outside of a military post,
catches a man and fortune whom half
the rich and brilliant bellies of the
great east would strive to win did they
but know him. Why, you demure lit
tie nobody, do you realize what you
have done? | feel that could hug the
life out of you"
30, Mrs. Colby, my good, sweet
friend, have never given thought to
his wealth. I see my Ned only as q
| 11 nd
do love him dearly. He did declare his
love for me, but asked in return only
the hope that when freed from army
servitude and restored to society he
might WOO me and hope to win my
love. He is too good, too noble, too
manly to ask to be recognized as q
suitor for my hand while a soldier in
the ranks"
J "And did you tell him that you loved
him, child?"
"Why, what else could do, Mrs.
Colby? Yes, did tell him so, told him
that madly loved him, and think
will never tire of repeating it to him.
But, my dear friend, it is his wish that
,, you treat the information conveyed in
his aunt's letter in the strictest conf.
dence for the present"
, Certainly, dear, and what delicious
secret | will have, and how delight.
full it will be when the denouement
comes to be able to look into the amazed
faces of the ladies of the post and
quietly tell them knew it long ago."
The young lovers little dreamed ot
the difficulties to be encountered IL
securing the discharge Of an enlisted
man from the army. Future letters
from Browns aunt detailed the OBJ
stacles encountered, the disinclinaito1
= of the officials of. the war departrnte1
to give the matter attention, yet eacl
letter bade him hope for more favor
able news in the next. 1t may be |
! vexatious disappointment to the reade
: to be here told that every effort to Sc
cure his release itterly failed, and tina
he was destined to be soldier of hi
country for years yet to come.
Several months passed. Along
shaded path on the bank Of the Ri
Grande near the fort, Private Brow
and Alice Sanford walked side by side
One of her shapely hands held tn
bride rein of the pony which followe
behind her. The other was passed be
meath the arm of her companion.
Slowly they moved along, thei
heads bowed and their every action in
dicating that they were engaged in tn
discussion of a topic of no ordinary in
port. Taking advantage of the licens
granted by the laws of fiction, let u
assume the wings of invisibility an
r hover near them and hear what the
are saying.
'I think, Ned, it would be best to g
'e right to papa and tell him all. Whe
II he hears your story from your ow
J. lips, reads the letters from your aun
le her attorneys and from your banke
ID and the fact is fully established to h
,e satisfaction that you are worthy OF N
g and are fully justified in approachin
1t him on such subject, he may tret
os you kindly and interpose no serious o.
Y. lection to our love. Indeed, he is NJ
q so hard-hearted as his manner at tim'
RI would Indicate"
lie "And yet fear him, Alice, darling
at No matter what might prove myse
Y, to be, he would see me but as the pl
of vate soldier. O, these CALLING bonds
I'd servitude! Never before did they
to deeply cut into my soul"
er Bending over her he imprinted 10
ing kiss upon her cheek, and she clu1
r. vet closer to him in acknowledging
ne of the salute.
~ "And yet he might receive you mo
ly kindly than you anticipate, Ned. Pa
i'll really has warm, sympathetic hea
If despite his harshness in enforcing d
gu cipline. If you could convince HI
he that my happiness is at stake and cou
or bring him to fully understand the dep
re and purity of our love, he might
least sanction our courtship until yo
ol- discharge from the service can be
Is, cured. His influence at the war
er partment may aid You. Won't you
es, him, Ned, dearP"
on Her eyes were upturned to his wi
It pleading earnestness, and again pre-
cir ing o kiss on her responsive lips he
en- piled:
Ter my darling, / viii endeavor for
ng time to forget that / am private
,as dier, and will go to him as man
he man, in manly way. II he will
listen to me to the end he cannot
int see that am worthy Of your love, q
al II he will allow his wisdom to rule h
we he must see that I make no unreas
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