, 1898-08-06
would accept. Yes, but after all, would

would accept. Yes, but after all, would
she?
The stage left in the early morning.
Lieutenant Glover noted the stir of de-
parture about the captains quarters.
Then he saw the captain and Mrs. Les
ter appear, and he ran ont to speak to
them. He half expected to find the colo
mel with them, but he was not there. a
flush dashed up to his face. Had she
really refused the offer? If so, why?
There vas no time for explanations.
She came out ready for her journey.
She gave him her hand, and her eyes
looked level into his.
81 shall never forget how much son
did to make my stay pleasant, she
said. 81 hope l shall meet you again,
Lieutenant Glover"
The drivers whip circled out over
the heads of the forward mules, she
waved her hand to him, and Lieutenant
Caldwell Glover was standing alone
with an aching heart with nothing in
the world to do but listen to 81 buglc
calls n day and follow the dreary routine
of an nd jutant's life.
Then there came a time when the
country called for troops. Boots and
Saddles" quickly followed, and Troop
X started for the south.
Army headquarters at Tampa was
thronged with officers. Orderlics were
speeding everywhere. Spurs :iinglod
across the floors, and the few army
wives who followed their husbands
walked up and down the rose trcllis
paths in the evening and talked of what
the morrow might bring. Lieutenant
Caldwell Clover was still adjutant to
the colonel. a telegram was handed the
latter. The colonel frowned, pulled his
mustache, then said: 'Licutcnant, |
have a telegram from a friend now at
Chickamauga. His sisternrrives at this
hotel tonight to join the Red Cross
forces at Key West. Please meet her
and see that she gets her train for Port
Tampa in the morning"
The lieutenant salutcd. When the
Pullman car backed into the spacious
hotel ground that night, a few officers,
a newspaper man or two and II WON
an alishted. AS she stepped forward the
waiting adjutant was startled at first,
then hurried toward her.
Miss Lacey! You here?"
"Ah, Lieutenant Glover! How glad l
am to see you again! 1t is good to sec a
face II knows. l felt rather lonely,
for there wasn't another woman on the
car all day"
II was to look out for a nurse said
tho lieutenant, glancing around, but
it seems she didn't come"
The girl stepped into the broader
light. sob, then you didn't know
She said and pointed to her sleeve. An
insignia honored tho world over was
sewed there-the Red Cross.
''Is it possible?" 1t seemed to him
that nothing but interiections came into
his mouth. "You are really going to
the 'front.'"
"Going to tho front" she repeated,
with a smile in his face. Il shall prob
ably meet you there" She said 1t as
though it would be Il pleasure. They
were crossing the wide veranda. Vladi-
mir Purisshoff's orchestra was playing
''The Serenade." "You will como for
me by and by and bring Inc to hear tho
music" she said. 1T will seem like
Olu tlHlts "litH We uillCcu W tue lluSlc
of the regimental band"
"Were you lonely after l left tho
post?" she asked No one but q woman
could have asked such a question.
81 never before knew what loneliness
was," he said. Il wonder if you would
forgive me if I told You Just how lonely
l was-but, no." For a moment ho
thought only of his love for her. Then
he remembered that she had refused the
flower of the army, that she had a mis-
sion in life.
Tell me- she said softly.
A man may spend the best of his life
in the dreary confines of an army post
two days journey from q railway sta
ton. He may listen to 81 bugle calls q
day and attend to an adjutant's thou
sand and one duties for years, but the
blossoms of his heart may remain eter-
nally fresh and fragrant.
There were tears in the girls eyes
when he finished his story. Il am
glad" she said as she put her hand in
his. 81 thought you would tell me be-
fore I left tho post. l should have
staid."
"And now, Agnes-now?"
"After the war;" she said.
So you, who pray for the safety of
those who go into battle and for bless
ings upon those who wear the Red
Gross, remember these two-country
first, self after and then, with his will,
long life and happiness. katharine
Hartman in Buffalo News.
Democrats aud Whisky.