The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-04-13
Love and War

7 IEUT. JOSEPH M'KENNOY had
been to the war--as far as Chicka-
mauga. The inducementP He loved
q girl; he hoped, but dared not ask, that
the girl loved him; but all girls love
hero; therefore he would perform glo-
rious deeds and make the matter sure.
Now the war was over and he was
mustered out, his only scar Of battle
q stif neck, souvenir of o case of mumps
contracted in camp. Alas, hard was
fatei
And 30 It was with doubling heart
that he paid his first call. 1t was sad.
He heard sung the praises Of the gal
liant rough riders and the heroic
Dewey; he heard the girl declare that
did the women have votes Roosevelt
should be the next president. Nor was
that all. In heartbreaking desperation
he had seized the worst possible mo-
ment 10 make an offer Of his heart and
hand, and the same had been almost
contemptuously refused.
1T seems evident" soliloquized Lieut..
McKennoy, vending his way sadly
homeward, shat my war record Is not
my strong suit in this deal. But we
shall see, we shall see," and he sat late
in his room, smoking many big, strong.
meditative pipes.
The next evening he honored Miss
Fremont with another call, at which
she was scarcely able to conceal her sur
Prise. 1t did not seem the natural order
of things for the rebuffed-nay, almost
ridiculed-suitor to bob up serenely.
Perhaps her sarcasms had not been ap-
preciated. She would make it certain
that this young gentleman should no
longer be in doubt rs to her sentiments
regarding soldiers who allowed them
selves to be kept safely in camp, while
their brothers-men of sterner stuff
were battling in blood for their coun-
try's glory.
II am SO glad that your poor wound
ed neck does not keep you indoors" was
her sarcastic greeting. "Such serious
hurt was enough to keep any man ont
of battle"
McKennoy smiled grimly. "You are
pleased to be facetious, Miss Fremont.
But 1t was not 30 easy as you imagined
to get to the front. We tried our best"
"Yes, you are right. It needed men.
Why, from the beginning even the
newspapers knew that il there was to
be any fighting Teddy's Terrors would
be right in the thickest Of 1t, and they
were. Col. Roosevelt IN man with q
win. All! II we poor women could vote,
how quickly we would make him presi-
dent!"
Eyes. 20 you said last night" inter
rupted MeKennoy. hoping to get her
out Of that strain.
"Ah, jealous!" she cried, Jealous!
Really. Mr.. McKennoy. II you are 20
jealous of those who have proven them
selves men Of sterner stun than your
self, you should at least have the tact
to conceal It."
Women were always cruel" the heu-
tenant remarked. sadly.
"Cruell" she cried, Indignantly,
strengthening up In her chair. ''Cruel!
But noticed that company d was SO
utterly lacking in cruelty, 20 fearful of
hurting some one, of wounding the poor
Spaniards' honor, that they were care
full not to leave their camp. Lieut.. Nc
Kennoy, should think that you would
expire from shame. Twenty thousand
heroes bore. the suffering OF crowded
transports and bearded the enemy in
his lair. The gallant rough riders
charged him the first day. Their broth
ers. their fighting brothers, were not
behind. Their names are writ In blood
on the slopes of Caney and San Juan.
Nothing kept them from the front.
Forward. ever forward. they went right
up to the cannon's mouth; gums to the
right Of them, guns to the left Of them;'
men dropping around them like hail
or = err bullets = bullets, dropping
around them like hail, men falling as
er-as grass before the scythe. Heroes
they were, ETC."
McKennoy had always known that
she was beautiful girl, but a. she
stood before him now with eyes fash
ing, burning red spot in each cheek.
trembling in her enthusiasm, she made
such glorious picture that he vowed
Q mighty vow In his inmost soul that
she should be his; and the rough riders
and all the other heroes. individually
and collectively, might rot in their
graves before they got her.
"In the drama Of war. Miss Fremont"
he said. "en the star parts arc not cast
ON the held OF battle. Some Of the sub
limest scenes are acted out In the quiet
camp. unheralded 70 the public, seen