The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-05-30

able, upright man, our equal in birth,
education and manly instincts, we must
not recognize him while he is in the
ranks, yet were he to be to-day freed
from the service letters we could ex-
tend to him the hand of friendship, and
welcome him as an equal into our So
cial circles. The gem loses its value
when it falls from its setting into the
gutter. lis not your argument little
shaky, Mrs. Colby?'
Alice, my dear child, you force me
to palmer words, and | must talk to
you as If were your own mother. In
my conversation with Brown to-day
several times mentioned your name,
and when did so could read him as
an open book. Every time your name
fell from my lips new light came into
his eyes, his face glowed with increased
animation, and at one time an unmis-
taxable sigh which he vainly endeav-
ored to suppress caught my attention.
Alice that man is desperately in love
with you, and your tcll-tale eyes while
conversing of him too plainly indicate
that there is growing feeling in your
young heart far stronger than one OF
friendship and sympathy for this sol
der. My dear child, cnSwcr me truly,
are you not falling in love with this
man in the ranks?"
The face of the. young girl was rcd
with bushes, and she threw her head
down into the lap of her motherly
/ friend to hide her confusion. Mrs,
Colby strol1ed her hair tcndcrly, and a
smile of intermingled sadness and
sympathy lit up her face. After few
moments Alice partly regaincd her
composurc, and raising her head she
looked with trusting confidence into
4 her friends eyes and replied:
"I-I-don't know, Mrs. Colby, Mr.
Thornton imprcsses 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 /
think great-deal of - him per
haps."
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 fondncss before it masters
you, for love, my child, when once it
gains supremacy rules its 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 were 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 Soa, 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
l would lead you away to safer
ground"
''Oh, you frighten mel the girl said,
with an appealing look, II 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 unbrolen the
lines of army social distinction. Mrs
Colby, 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
tention 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-.-thinking q
great deal Of me comes as a revelation
and, / confess it, most pleasing one
But, Mrs. Colby, assure you. on my
honor, that have never once thought
of the military world knowing aught Of
any tender feeling which might cxis,
between myself and private soldier
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. Il
this should be brought about. what
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