Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-08-21

none Inc less n1SQ.
Markham, one of the founders OF
the club itself, watched him go for q
moment, and then turned to Altman,
who sat near him.
Zone man in hundred is the Ma
jor," said he, zone man in hundred. "
"Yes," agreed the other "but what
has he been saying this afternoon?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary" re-
piled Markham, "I was only thinking
of his past generally. believe that
he WAS the best all-around soldier that
I ever knew. Re has the greatest an.
tipathy Tor anything bordering on
frivolity in military affairs, as you
probably know, and he declares these
boys do nothing but play soldier rs
if they were fifteen years younger
than they really are."
''But doesn't he see the good side of
the question? asked Altman.
'sI suppose he does, but he thinks
the Guards should be composed of
more capable men -workingmen who
can stand great deal, and not aristo-
Gratis.
HBut-"
"Pray don't think I am supporting
the Majors views, my dear Altman.
When remarked that the Guard had
been ordered to the mines, he said {:
4 feel sorry for the young men them
selves, but more sorry for the State.
1t ought to send experienced men to
such places if they ever hope to en-
force the laws rig1dly and quickly
Very firm in his beliefs is the Major,
and the strongest one hc has, however
wrong it may seem to us, is that the
Governors Guards in its present state
is useless organization"
''For a strangers opinion that
might pass" said Altman, "but the
Major ought to know better. And
I'm told, too, that the officers are all
excellent swordsmen.
EYES," said Markham, $50 I've
heard, and all of which I pointed out
to him. But you can't shake the Ma
jor, as I said"
"Well," returned Altman, picking
up his paper again, cit gives him
something to talk about. anyway"
But neither he nor the Majors old
comrade knew the real reason of his
last outburst against the Guards in
question for that reason, in the form
of square sheet of note paper, lay in
the Majors inside pocket, and it con-
sisted of hastily written but entirely
earnest offer tor his daughters hand
in marriage. And the young man
who took such 8 liberty was none
other than the First Lieutenant of the
Governors Guards.
Lieutenant Halloway was not dis
agreeable young man; in fact, he was
quite the opposite. He came from
the South and of soldering family,
his father having lost his life at Cold
Harbor during the Civil War; he was
interested in q we'll established bust
ness situated in the heart OF the city
his family pedigree was long one,
and his own character and record
spotlcss.
'tHe doesn't want my answer for o
week, doesn't hep" muttered the old
soldier, as he marched on homeward.
swell, he shan't get it I'll think it
over, as he asks me to, and not make
a hasty decision, but / can tell him
right now what it will be-. No, en-
phatically!"
Had the Majors good little wife
been living herself, she would have
pointed out long ago the possibility of
of this contingency arising, and would
have prepared him for the blow, which
must fall some day, and leave him
childless, while some enterprising
young man gained wife; but Mrs.
Major had died many years ago, and
left the Major with the pretty child
to bring up alone.
From vivacious. leadstronq,
pretty little girl, Dorothy had grown
up into @ beautiful young woman, with
her mothers sweet face and her faith
er's will and determination,
So to-day, when he found she Letter
waiting for him at the club. and to be
forgiven for railing against anything,
especially the Guards, when it was re-
membered that one of them was the
vandal, bent upon robbing the cid
soldier of lis daughter. Entering the
open door of his hand some house, he
called as cheerfully as he could:
dorothy, daughter!" !"
eyes, daddy" came the answer
from somewhere upstairs, and the next
moment the face he loved peeped over
the banister and small forefnger was
shaken warninglY at him.
'rren minutes late, sir" she cried,
trying to be very severe; "what does
it mean?"
Then she ran down the stairs, her
pretty face dimpling with happy
smiles.
1T means, little girl" replied the
Major, slowly, taking her bright face
between his two kindly old hands,
sit means that my daughter has
gone"
"Gone where. daddy?" said she, af-
ter one glance at him, for she felt what
was coming.
cover to the enemy" returned the
Major.
Then, as they went arm in arm into
the library he al1ed
Dorothy, Dorothy, to think of
You deserting at Ebis time"
"But I'm not ideserting dear, I'm
not!" she cried.
Then she asked, slowly:
"What-what did he sayt
Nothing" replied the Major,
shortly; she wasn't soldier enough
for that, so he wrote it,"
"It was not because he wasn't SOL
dler enough, papa, but because he
didn't have time. And now you call
him coward-and-and he's up to
Sxhere those wicked miners are, and
;43Apay be--killed-"