The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-08-17
Alice, that man is desperately III love

Alice, that man is desperately ii love
with you, and your tell-tale eyes while
conversing of him too plainly indicate
that there is q growing feeling in your
5, young heart far stronger than one OF
friendship and sympathy, for this sol.
i der. NY dear child, answer me truly,
are you not falling in love with this
man in the ranks?"
The face Of the young girl was red
with bushes, and she threw her head
down into the lap OF her motherly
friend to hide her confusion. Mrs.
Colby stroked her hair tenderly, and a
smile of intermingled sadness and
sympathy lit up her face. After a few
moments Alice partly regained her
composure, and raising her head she
looked with trusting confidence into
her friends eyes and replied:
'sI-I-don't know, Mrs. Colby. Mr..
Thornton impresses me as no gentle
man ever before did. have seen SO
few gentlemen, you know. He Is so
gentle, SO kind in nature, so manly and
so heroic in bearing the load placed
upon his shoulders that THAT l.
think-a-great--dea of - him per-
haps."
.sMy 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 it's victims as
with 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 we're it to become known that the
beloved daughter Of one of the most
distinguished officers of the army had
bestowed her love upon 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"
s'Oh, you frighten mev' the girl said,
with an appealing look, Il cannot
smother the emotions whichGod placed
in my soul, cannot change the nature
He has given me, and I believe it would
be wicked to torture my own peace OF
mind even to preserve unbrolSen the
lines of army social distinction. Mrs.
Colby, confess to you that my eyes
have not been blinded to the growing
regard I feel for Mr.. Thornton. have
even felt that he might be necessary
to nay future happiness Never by
word or look has he shown me any att
/ tention that would indicate that he en-
tertained toward me aught but a feel
lug Of simple friendship, and what you
have told me Of his-of llis-thinking
great deal Of me comes as revelation,
and, I confess it, most pleasing one.
But, Mrs. Colby, I assure yon, on my
of the military world knowing aught Of
any tender feeling which might exist
between myself and a private soldier.
I did not even intend that you should
know it, dearly as 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. IF
this should be brought about, what
them"
'sAh! that might make wide diff
ference, dear. NowI begin to under
stand you, and you h ave lifted great
load of apprehension from my heart.
There would be no improperly in
refined, honorable and worthy gentle
man in civil life aspiring to the hand
of the daughter Of military officer.
Many do &c. and the most happy re-
suits usually follow. Alice, know
!. what woman's love is. have felt it's
/ all-consuming fire in my own soul,
feel 1t 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, will be your friend and
adviser in this matter, II you will SO
permit. There kissing her) is the
seal Of my friendship, and I want you;
to contide in me. There is but one,
e pathway leading to your future hap
piness, and it must not be strayed
from. While Edward Thornton res
mains as Private Brown you must look
upon him as but soldier in the ranks.
You must avoid him ell you can, and,
ifitbe possible, his discharge from the
service must be brought about, (
think it can be. When that consum-
nation is reached he may feel at lib
4 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,
J that we have but his own unsupported
!. story regarding himself There,
u know what YOU would say. believe
IA him as much as you do, but your
1 father would demand the nostScon-s
viincing proof OF his worth before he
D would permit him to show you any at
.tention. Now, you must be patient
sff Won love each other as believe you
do and should Mr.. Thornton establish
the fact that he Is. a man Of honor and
true worth as I believe he will, you
& need have no fear, my dear girl Of the
future, for love will sur1nount any
ordinary obstacle that may rise ia it's
path. Z h d
Alice threw her arms about her
friends neck, and kissed her fondly
Then her emotions overcame her, and
burying her face in Mrs. Colby's bosom
she sobbed like child. Capt Co1by'ss
step upon the porch aroused her, and and
roinR out at the back door to- avoid
4 meeting him ii her agitated state Of
mind. she sought her home and the
privacy IS her own cham ber..