The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-05-09

my self-imposed penance. shall look
up to your sympathy as bright star
illumining the dreary days of my term
of service, and the knowledge that you
are watching me with friendly interest
will tighten every uncorgenial duty i'm
posed upon me-"
Your term of service will soon pass,
and it must be cheering reflection to
you that you will then return to the
enjoyments of civil life and to the So
ciety for which you are so well fitted.
feel that bright future lies before
you, Mr.. Thornton, and you will nppre-
ciate the blessings of life all the more
with this experience to look back upon.
But l must go now. Papa will become
uneasy at my long absence. Will you
kindly assist me to mount my pony?"
With his aid she sprang lightly into
the saddle, and once more extending
her hand said:
''Good-by. thank you for the pleas
ure your sketch afforded me. You
must let me see it when it is COM
pleted."
~ would be only too happy If you
would accept 1t as a gift. Good-by,
and may the Master above bless you
for the light you have brought into my
distasteful life"
With smile and farewell wave of
the hand she was off at brisk gallop,
but soon drew in her pony and permit
ted him to walk leisurely toward the
fort.
Private Brown had strangely i'm
pressed her, and as she rode along
she endeavored to analyze her feelings
toward him and determine what it
was that caused her to feel such
deep interest in the handsome
young soldier. In her garrison life
she had met but few young men, and
these were mostly officers Of the army.
True, they were polished gentlemen
and studiously polite in their demean-
or toward her, yet in the actions OF
each she could observe IN air OF disci-
plined dignity that seemed to cast a
chill over his social qualities, and
even impart an Icy ring to his laugh
ter when called upon to do honor to a
refined joke or sally of wit. In Pri-
vate Brown she read noble nature,
unselfish and devoid of aught but man.
ly pride. nature luminous with the
gold Of self-sacrifcing heroism in his
battle with life. She saw in him a
gentleman Of culture-a man as great
ly out Of place In his present position
as diamond In the filth OF the gutter.
She recognized in his every action a
courtly micn which could not be hid
den beneath the blue blouse of the
lower ranks She found herself draw.
ing comparisons between this man OF
the ranks and the gaudily uniformed
officers whom her father had taught
her were true gentlemen, and Private
Brown did not suffer in the least by
the comparison. BY the time she had
reached her home the fact had fixed
itself in her mind that she had never
before met man who had SO favorably
impressed her as this private N the
ranks. She dismounted fromA darsv
and entered the house breaty e Jae
fcrvent wish that military rohk were
blown away by the Winds SO she could
meet her new friend on terms Of
equality.
AS for Brown, his heart went away
with the fair equestrienne. He thought
ever met, and as he gathered up his
sketching material and started toward
his cherries quarters the bonds OF
army servitude cut yet deeper into his
soul
CHArtau
Meetings between Private Brown
and Alice Sanford became of frequent
occurrence. The young girl often rode
along the mesa on the trail which LED
along the precipitous bluff overlook
ing the Rio Grande, and Brown more
frequently than ever before sought the
spot of their first meeting with hi
sketch book and pencils in joyous
anticipation of an hour in company
with the angel who had SO unexpected
ly come into his life. A warm feeling
of friendship sprang up between th,
young people, sort ~ brotherly ant
sisterly affection, and they seemed
never so happy as when in each other
society. Bit by bit Alice had drawn
from hira many little details of his lif'
not embodied in the story he had tolt
her, and his manly character and bril-
liant intellect shone in her eyes will
more luminous power os by deft ques
tioning she gradually unfolded hi
past history. She lost sight of hi
rank, OF the humble sphere in which
he moved, and contemplated him onl,
as gentleman of lofty station bowinl
for the nonce beneath passing clou'
of adversely, and she looked upon il a
a Christian duty and privilege to do al
in her power to pluck the thorns from
the path which circumstances com
PEELED him to tread. She felt that Mr.
Thornton was her equal from socia
point of view, and soon came to regar'
him as one entirely worthy of he
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