West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-01-20

"
duty faithfully and TO bury your in.
clinatiou to load n dissolute lifc In tho
hardships and rigors OF scrvieo In tho
army h a noblo ono. pray God that
yonr future may shine out all the more
rcsplendcnt from such n dark back.
ground. There In, hope, no shadow
OF doccit I'm my nature, and l frankly
tell you that believe you 10 bo a true.
honest and upright man whose hoart
Is swayed by the most noble impulses,
even though you may wear the garb OF
private soldier. am glad mot you,
and shall highly prize your friend.
ship nnd will do all can To Tighten tho
dark hours of your service. You must
call upon me at my homo and"
Pardon the Interruption, Miss San
ford, but YOU have forgotten my station
In life I'm your sympathy for thc unfors
tunnte man, In your kindness Of heart
you lose sight OF the fact that Col. San.
ford would nevor permit n private SOL
dior 10 enter lila house, unless In the
line of military duty"
A shadow nitted over her bright
young face, and In u tender tone OF
i voioo she replied:
Yes, had forgotten In contemplate.
Ing tho man my eyes were closed to his
station In iiie. What you say Is but too
true. Papa Is unilinchlngly. firin In his
ideas of the inprcgnnbility OF the so-
cial barrier which separates tho men In
the rnnks from those I'm official life.
Yet hupo TO see you frequently when
| you urc out slSctching. feel worry
deep interest In you, Mr.. Thornton,
and I do trust uncloudcd happiness
mny doHn upon you and ever remain
with you ut the close of your army life"
God bless you for your cheering
words" he warmly responded They
touch my heart with thrilling tender
ness, and the knowledge that possess
one friend above tho ranks of tho
rough soldiers will DO q cheering re-
Election ns I plod on In submission 20
my self-imposcd pcnance. i shall look
mp to your sympathy as bright htar
nlumining the dreary days OF my term
Of scrvice. and the knowledge that you
arc watching me with friendly interest
will lighton every uncongcnial duty i'm.
poesd upon me-"
"Your torn of service will soon pass.
and IL must DO cheering reflection 20
you that you will then return 10 tho
cnjoyments OF civil lifo and to the So
cicty for which you are SO woll fitted.
fool that bright future lios before
you, Dir. Thornton, and you will appre-
cinte the blessings of life all the moro
with this experience To look back upon.
But ] must 40 now. Papa will become
uneasy at my long absence. VIII you
kindly assist nle 10 mount my pony?"
With his MD she sprang lightly into
tho snd'ls. and onco more extending
her hand said:
'Good-by. thank you for the pleas
ure your Slsctch afforded ne. You
rlIst ~ me see IL whom ~ Is oom-
plctcd"
IL would be only too happy II you
would accept u ns gift. Good-by,
and may the Master above bless you
f1r tho light you have brought into my
distastoful life"
With u sniilo and farewell wave of
the hand slic was off mt a brisk gallon,
but soon drew In her pony md permit
-, ,-..n u walk lelsurcly toward tho
Tort.
rriYate Drown had strangely Ira
l,schsed her. Hnd as ahe rode along
she cndcavorcd ~ nnalyco hor feelings
toward hin and determine what II
wns that caused her to feel such
n deep interest in tho handsome
young soldier. In her garrison life
slIo had mot but few young mon. and
these were mostly officers OF the army
True, they were polished gentlemen
and studiously polite Ia their dcmcan-
or toward her. yet In the actions OF
each she could observe an cir of disci-
pljncd dignity that seemed 20 cast n
chill over his social qualities, and
even impart IN Icy ring TO his laugh
ter WHOM called upon 70 do honor 70 a
refined joke or sally of wit. In Phi
vato Brown she read noble nature,
unselfish and devoid of auRht but man
ly pride, nature luminous with tho
gold OF self-sacriAcIng hcroism ia his
battle with life. She saw In him n
gentleman OF culture--a man as great
ly out OF place Ia his present position
as diamond In the filth OF the Ruttor.
She recognized in his every action a
courtly mien which could not be hid
den beneath the blue blouse Of the
lower ranks. She found herself draw.
ing comparisons bctween this man of
tho ranks and the gaudily uniformed
officers whom her father had taught
her were true gcntlomen, and Private
Brown did not suffer in the least by
tho comparison. by tho time sho had
reached her homo the fact had fixed
itself IN her mind that she had never
before mot a man who had 80 fnvorably
impressed her az this private IN the
ranks. She disnountcd from hor pony
and entered the house breathing the
fcrvent wish that rnilitory rank were
blown away by tho winds. so she could
meet her new friend on terms OF
equality.
As for Brown. his heart went away
with the fair equcstrienno. Hc thought
her llc most winsomc creature he Ind
ever met, and as lac gathered ~ bis
sketching material and started toward
bis cherries quarters the bonds of
army scryitude cut yet deeper into his
soui.