Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-02-07

and recruiting service for over three years
Mrs. Bolton read IL over several times,
not quite grasping the words, yet con
scious of the meaning. Her lips felt cold,
and the blood hummed in her head. Then
wainwright came and Was greeted with
smile even sweetor and Rayer and happier
than usual. Only twice she seemed lit
Gle absentminded and did not answer
question, but she caught herself with
laugh. wainwright thought he had never
heard her laugh so easily lie asked her
II she had had good news.
Every. The resurrection OF ones youth
full pleasures Is always so sweet-intensoiy |
sweet. Don't you think sof"
This time wainwright did not understand |
her.
Mrs. Bolton wondered what Strickland |
would have thought of her now, If he |
could have overheard what this brass but !
toned Adonis was saying TO her and what
she was allowing him TO say. Yet when
Bolton camo in from the cold, snowy
windy, outside world, his brother at arms
and his wife were languidly discussing the
outcome Of the rife contest, topic which
It did not occur to him was slightly thread
bare.
And the affair went on apace, steadily
developing. Even the men began to won
der what was coming. Strickland arrived.
| The day he drove into the post, the mules
| OF his ambulance drew up painting In
| front of the commanding officers beside a
sleighing party about TO start OIL Strlck-
| land recognized among the fur wrapped
| figures that Of Eleanor Bolton. she was
| humming "Jingle Bells" He wondered
| why her lips were so tightly drawn. lie
ascrbed it 10 the cold, but IL was not be-
| no, Ind MI hapn nf old. OF
| old-he shook himself impatiently, that
| was what he was going TO forget, as that
merry woman in the sleigh evidently had.
Eleanor stopped her song to greet him.
| There was nothing more than the ordinary
| exchange of civiltics, not even covert
| glance nor tho tremulous smile or hctlon.
Strickland replied TO her spoken hope that
she should see him soon that he would
surely call upon her at the earliest possible
moment
II didn't know you knew Mr.. Strick-
land, Mrs. Bolton. Why didn't you tell
us?" asked the woman in the seat In 'front.'
Of her, turning around.
ayes, knew him several years ago, be-
fore was married"
Whats he like2 Will he be an acquisi-
tom"
'Oh, 1 think SO. What's he likeP Well,
the motto of the Chevalier Bayard will tell
you that.
Strickland found wainwright with Mrs
Bolton when he called on the following
day Bolton was ut the troop quarters.
After time wainwright went away. When
the Navajo blanket portiere had fallen be-
hind him, there was moments pause
only o moment s-a look OF inquiry on
both sides, an understanding and resolve,
| q ha DO - frivO1ifinc rpl1nH
After Strickland had gone Eleanor stood
looking out over tho snow covered parade
ground watching tho shadows that the
flagstaff and flag threw in the straight.
white rays Of the setting sun. First call
for retreat was just sounding. She lis
tened to the notes that shrilled out across
the white prairie In q wailing, defiant
challenge and followed the trumpeter with
her eyes as he went into the adjutant's OF
fee, with one OF the post ours at his heels
Then she drummed on the window pane
with her finger tips and tried not to think
But In the next few weeks she thought
a great deal, for two people, for Strick
lands reasoning powers had left him, ant
he was back under the spell of years he
fore--a noxious spell now. There wa
,, only one thing OF positive, unassailabl'
good left - Mrs. Bolton; it was Strick
land S respect; only one unshattered ideal
Strickland himself Beside these his Low,
{; was as nothing 10 her. She must keel
them ut all costs, but to do that she mus
give up his love, and 1t was very dear. II
had said nothing rs yet, but she knew tina
no soon would. The one man whom sh
, had endowed with superhuman strength
: was about TO show himself weak, and he
cause of her. To stop his fall and her owl
? would cost her much. But she would d
II. Whatever the regiment thought
. Strickland should always believe her to b
O noble woman.
The moment when Eleanor Bolton pu
:, out her slender arm TO stop the downfall
. Of two desperate creatures came soono
> than she had expected. She walked bcsid
Strickland, keeping step with his rogula
. ton stride, for she was tall enough TO d
IL with ease. They had been strolling /
y the keen night Dir. Her hands tore tn
!. lining from her mufI, but her voice wa
. low and even:
a ~ am sorry you said that, Jack, but
:, knew you would Perhaps It's just as We
to have IL over with. Oh, Jack, if you onl
!, could know, II you only knew! You hay
~ been unhappy, you say, but / have bee
= unhappier. I've been "a flirt, / know i
!, but wasn't always so, was i? didn
= honestly fancied was not worthy of vol
!. thought l was doing painful duty.
, was only IL then, remember, and wo
SHIPPED you more than l loved you. No
= Il love you more than l worship you.
thought you had forgotten me- that's al
q, Do you know what I've done, Jaol
a One Ia not a charming woman for notl
= ing. The powers that be are like oth'
. men. One Of the powers took fancy
:. me once, and have made use of 1t. Ere
- will be ordered away from here within
:. few days. asked the power, rs speci
70 favor to be taken away from this purg
;s tory as soon as possible. He granted II
;. petition. OF course l didn't tell him VIII
- suppose he will think It's the climat
. It's best so. But IL Is. You'll sec il son
= day. There are others besides ourselves,
=, future as we'll as past. The past
:, ruined; let's not ruin the future Son
. time IL will all ho over We shall ha'
outgrown ii, l suppose. Do you hope S
| I don't Take mo home now, and don