West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-02-17

rule AMI do not he offended nt what
am going Ia say. | have. as you sur
missed purl,oscly avoided incctiny YOU
hs once ,iii. " y,,u will try.to fully
understand nc viii frankly explain
my position. To our little world here
| You arc known but asa private soldier
ih the ranks. on the same footing with
your comrades"
YES. but YOU know /"
Pardon ine moment. know what
others slo not knowing you hut ns n
private soldier, what would I've the v,,,
diet of the official NircleS were IL to be-
COME matter of fcossip that the
daughter OF the comnan,linW officer
was In the habit uf meeting YOU on
terms az social equality? II would I've
looked upon almost rs n crime Inv thoSc
who regard the social barrier between
official circles aud the ranks us I'M.
| pregnnblc. Now, MY friend, with all
'candor will say to you that ! hold MIR.
Edward Thornton I'm the highest 90.
tocm and feel honorcd with his friend.
ship. believe him TO be my equal In
everything that goes Co mako up true
manhood and womanhood, nnL cutire-
" worthy of my highest regard. But
as long rs he is unfortunately com.
PEELED To move In sphere Of life be.
meath That In which nm pinced must
not allow nay re1nrsl for the gentleman
tn overstep the line drawn by the hand
OF propricty and myself descend To- his
temporary level. think have cor
rccty interpreted your nature. my
good friend. and believe you would
suffer Sny pcrsonna disappointment
cheerfully rather than IN tho least
degree compromise myself or draw upon
mo the rebulse Of my friends. ljo you
not think IL best that we should seo
less of each other7'
Miss sanford" no replied, II fully
appreciate the stand you have taken,
and your action increases my regard
for you. IL has occurred Co me nj
times that by cyincing Friendship for
one far beneath you In the social scale
you might bc chidcd 10y your friends
for disrcgnrd'ng the rules of military
etiquette. ] would suffer ~, iscchly as
| yourself were you to bc la the least
compromised 10y your ussnciation with
mo. Am 20 understand. then. that
the meetings. which hnve afforded me
10 much pleasure are to be discon.
tinucd?"
Not altogether. ! trust wo may
meet Mt times and that. wc will remain
! good friends. The day will come, Mr.
Thornton perhaps sooner than we ex-
poet. when you will cast aside your
soldier chHrHctcr and rcentcr your
proper sphere In life. and when Il does
come hops to yet be numbered among
your fricnds. I will mt times DC pleased
! 10 sec your sketches. and. believe me,
I though rrorricty demands 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 rcarirg papn.
| VIII you sketch tomorrow? | think I
will take ride down the Mesa trail"
81 will. Miss sanford, NJ my old rock
scat Before we part ! must express
my thanlSs and gratitude TO You for
this conycrsation. Ny heart will be
! lighter. for, though .inny but seldom
sec you ] will feel that you are my
friend God bless you."
THANK you. .Ir. Thornton. WHY,
how pleasantly papa IL smiling That
means i;oodIiatmcd scolding for mo"
"Ahu! y0u little truant." the cnloncl
cried Your rtaatc5 nre very eccentric
] must say, Miss Sunshine. You run
1
accept the attentions OF "a young officer,
then discard him for private soldier
of better looks and, dammc, must say,
more aolli,'rly bcuring. ! thought you
would never get 10 me, you rode 20
slowly with your new escort"
80. papa. my poor pony was so tired
could not push him. This IL Private
Brown, the young artist OF whom told
you"
Private Brown, CHI? Ohol zee IL
now. This Is the young man who was
recently brought TO my attention
through the proceedings of court
martial. and ! can understand why
Vnndever cut and run when he saw
him approaching. lie feared the mans
temper might again lose step. and the
dose be repeated. Eh, Sunshine?"
20, no, papa. Mr.. Vandcvcr did not
know the young man was approaching
us. He chose 70 return TO the fort by
another route, that Is ALL"
That's all. sb7 Well, you don't
know whether he saw him or not
/ am inclined 20 think he did. But
now for home. This insatiablc, unrca-
sonable, tyrannical appetite OF mine
demands immediate attention. thank
you, Brown, for the trouble put you
To In chasing this runaway. You oan
go your own way now. Comac, dahgh-
ter"
Instead OF being a trouble. sir, AS
sure you II was pleasure TO be- able 20
serve you Ira even ~ slight mnnncr"
Brown saIutcd the officer. raised his
cap TO Alice and galloped away toward
the fort.
'Wny. how internally courteous the
fellow isi" said tho colonel. gnzing
after the rctrcating aguro with admir-
ing eyes. And hoN soldieriy his bear
ing. He's n handsome dog. too SEQ
how hs sits ON that horse. daughter
( how like knight Of old he poses ln
the saddlc. I believe Colby told mc he
had him hO0kcd for promotion aud by
Jupiter I'll see that he doesn't forget Il.
a pleasure to he able to serve me. eh7
] like that. No wonder he knocked
that popinjay OF Isis dainty feet"
And Capt Colby says he distin-
guishcd himself in several actions with
( the Indians. papa"
Distinguished himself? Of course
he did. Ny experienced old eyes can
not be fooled Sunshine, and they zee
soldier In that uaau-aa soldier who syfii