The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-10-17

49, was III uoCs Il SaNG liz liz
warrant he had for me and l went
back to Montana alone"
You know my father, surely, ma
Jor?" she replied. HE is Judge Ches-
ter-my name is Edith Chester"-this
i'll the meekest of voices. Papa, as
you must have heard, has a strong
prejudice against soldiers; but, believe
me, there is a reason for it. My broth
er ran away from home five years ago
and enlisted in a regiment that was
sent out West. The shock unsettled
papa for a long, long time, and now
we are forbidden even so much as to
mention my poor brother Fred's
name"
'Is hat possible?" said the soldier,
kindly. accept my sincere regrets,
Miss Chester, for %iDtruding myself
upon you"
Il think you make a mistake" she
said, heSitatingly. 1.-The prejudice
against soldiers rests with papa alone.
I-er-you must please excuse me now;
l am long behind my time, and they
will be waiting tea for me-"
And with a flushed face, and not
noticing the extended hand of the
major, she picked up her easel and
case and ran off toward home.
For the rest of the day the major
walked about with a pleasant smile,
which was duly noticed by his friends,
and many theories were advanced as
to it's probable cause.
But the major knew nothing of this,
and, indeed, such remarks had no
chance of coming to his ears.
On the following afternoon his steps
took him again to the same spot on the
shore road, and, with pleasure, he
once more saw his little friend seated
at her easel, deeply interested in her
work..
She turned at the sound of his foot
steps and came forward with an out
stretched hand and a sweet smile to
greet him.
He took her hand within his grasp,
and looked tenderly down into the
gray eyes upturned to his, while both
hearts beat quickly.
Then he turned to the picture with
a few complimentary criticisms on the
girls work.
at seems so strange" she said in an
swer that you soldiers should have
time to care for this sort of thing"
Perhaps I'm IN odd sort of soldier"
he replied, looking down upon her.
Il think o are a very nice sort of
Soldier!' she anSWered-and then no.
~ticing a smile lurking under the heavy
mustache added-'of course, 1 mean
to come and admire my pool little pic
ture."
So they both stood, somewhat abash.
ed, yet happy in each others company,
not noticing he approach of a gray
headed gentleman, who came striding
toward them with evident anger writ
ten on his face.
They turned simultaneously at the
sound of footsteps, and then the girl
shrank back with the startled cry of
"Father!'
The situation was a delicate one for
the major, but, in the presence of his
own sex, he found words and endeav-
ored to explain his intrusion on Miss
Chester.
Il have nothing to say to you Major
Herbert" Judge Chester answered,
CURLY. 1T came to my knowledge that
my daughter had been seer in your
company, and l thought it my duty to
come and escort her home"
"How can you act so rudely, papa?'
the girl cried. 'This gentleman was
merely looking at my drawing, and"
Enough" said the judge. THE in
PRODUCTION to Major Herbert was not
my seeking; besides you car finish
your work at some other time. For
the present l want you at home"
With tears in her yes, the girl pack
ed her drawing outfit, and accompan-
iod her father rrum the grounds, Ieav-
ing the major standing there, gnawing
his muStache.
"And to think that she will suffer
for my sake" he thought as he walked
modify homeward.
Three weeks had gone by, and Major
Herbert had not once caught sight of
his divinity. He realized now what it
meant to be parted from her. He, the
unSentimental soldier, who for years
had resisted the attractions of the OPP
posite sex, was now pining for the
presence of a little rural maiden, and
day by day the burrows seemed to be
deepening in his forehead.
One evening, on returning to his
rooms, he found a letter, written in a
strange hand, awaiting him.
With a not to be &C
counted for, he tore open the envelope,
and read:
Dear Major Herbert: 1 have such
good news for you. My brother has re-
uIllcu HoHle anu Luduc peace WIFI lily
father to the great happiness of us all.
But there is a certain amount of Sc
crecy between them that l can't quite
understand; but my father wishes me
to make an informal request that you
will honor us with a visit this even
ing.
May l, on my own behalf, tell you
how pleased | shall be to see you?
yours very sincerely,
Edith Chester"
The major read the letter again and
again, scarcely believing his own eyes.
What did it all mean?
Ten minutes later he knocked at the
door of Judge Chester's residence, and
was shown into the reception room,
where he was met by the judge him
self.
"Major Herbert" said the judge,
grasping his hand, 81 have to make a
sincere apology for my rudeness to you
some days back. Let me commence
by warmly greeting you and introduce
ing my daughter Edith and my eldest
son, Fred"
AS he spoke a sturdy young man
came forward and saluted the officer.
major Herbert" the young maj
said, you don't know me by the name
of Chester, but you will remember me
in Montana under the name of Private
Easton of the Fifth Regulars, and I