The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1895-06-13

! wise Judgment, and one who can fully
appreciate the proprieties of life.
Please allow your better Judgment to
rule and do not he offended at what |
am going to say. have, as YOU sur
missed, purposely avoided meeting you
as once did. II you will try to fully
understand me ! win frankly explain
my position. To our little world here
| you are known but as private soldier
/ in the ranks, on the same footing with
your comrades
"Yes, but you know"
Pardon me a moment. know what
others do not. Knowing you but us
private soldier, what would be the YER
! dict of the official circles were it TO be-
come matter of gossip that the
daughter of the commanding officer
was in the habit of meeting you on
terms OF social equality? 1t would be
| looked upon almost as a crime by those
who regard the social barrier between
official circles and the ranks as inn
pregnable. Now, my friend, with all
candor will say TO you that | hold Mr..
Edward Thornton in the highest es-
| TEEN and feel honorcd with his friend
| ship Ibelieve him to be my equal in
everything that goes TO make up true
manhood and womanhood, and entire
! " worthy of my highest regard. But
as long as he is unfortunately com
pelled TO move in sphere of life be-
meath that in which am placed must
not allow my regard for the gentleman
to overstep the line drawn by the hand
of propriety and myself descend to his
temporary level. think / have cor
rectly interpreted your nature, my
/ good friend, and believe You would
suffer any personal disappointment
cheerfully rather than in the least
degree compromise MYSELF or draw upon
me the rebuke of my friends Do you
not think 1t best that we should see
less of each other?'
Miss Sanford" he replied, 81 fully
appreciate the stand you have taken,
and your action increases my regard
| for you. 1t has occurred to me at
| times that by evincing a friendship for
| one far beneath you in the social scale
! you might be chided by your friends
| for disregarding the rules of military
etiquette. would suffer as lSecnly as
yourself were you to be in the least
compromised by your association with
| me. Am | to understand, then, that
the meetings which have afforded me
so much pleasure are to be discon-
| tinued?"
Not altogether. I trust we may
meet at times and that we will remain
good friends. The day will come, Mr..
Thornton, perhaps sooner than we ex-
pect. when you will cast aside your
soldier character and reenter your
proper sphere in life, and when it does
come hope to yet be numbered among
your friends. / will at times be pleased
to see your sketches, and, believe me,
though propriety demands a less dis
play of friendship, yet hold You in
the highest esteem and will do all
consistently can to tighten the load
you bear. But we are nearing papa.
win you sketch tomorrow? / think
will take ride down the Mesa trail. "
~ will, Miss Sanford, at my old rock
seat. Before we part | must express
my thanks and gratitude to you for
this conversation, My heart win be
lighter, for, though | may but seldom
see you, will feel that you are my
friend. God bless you"
THANK you, Mr.. Thornton. Why
how pleasantly papa is smiling. That
means a good-naturcd scolding for me.
AHA! you little truant," the colonel
cried. Your tastes are very eccentric
must say, Miss Sunshine. You run
away from your old ogre of a father &c
accept the attentions of a young officer
| arl htV,, r,,.iN to inr
of better looks and, danme, must say
more soldierly bearing. thought you
would never get to me, you rode sc
slowly with your new escort"
20, papa, my poor pony was so tired
could not push him. This is Private
Brown, the young artist OF whom told
you"
Private Brown, eh? Ohio. / see il
now. This is the young man who was
recently brought to my attention
through the proceedings of o court
martial. and ! can understand why
Vandever cut and run when he saw
him approaching. He feared the mans
temper might again lose step, and the
dose be repeated. Eh, Sunshine?'
20, no, papa. MIR. Nandever did moi
know the young man was approaching
Us. He chose to return TO the fort by
another route, that is ell"
That's all, eh? Well, you don't
know whether he saw him or not
/ am inclined TO think he did. But
now for home. This Unsuitable, unrea'
sonable, tyrannical appetite of mine
demands immediate attention. / thank
you, Brown, for the trouble put you
20 in chasing this runaway. You ear
go your own way now. Come, daugh
ter"
Instead of being trouble, sir, as
sure yon il was a pleasure to be able e
serve you in even so slight manner.
Brown saluted the officer, raised hi,
cap to Alice and galloped away towart
the fort,
"Why, how internally courteous th'
fellow is.' said the colonel, gazing
after the retreating figure with admir-
ing eyes. "And how soldierly his bear
ing. He's handsome dog, too. See
how he sits on that horse, daughter
how like n knight of old he poses il
the saddle. ! believe Colby told me h,
had him booked for promotion, and 10y
Jupiter I'll see that he doesn't forget IL
4 pleasure TO be able To serve me, eh
like that. No wonder he knockeS
, that popinjay off his dainty feet"
And Cant. Colby saws he distin