The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-19
Love and War

IEIJT. JOSEPH M'KENNOY had
been to the war-as far as Chicka-
mauga. The inducement? He loved
a 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
a stiff neck, souvenir Of case of mumps
contracted in camp. Alas, hard was
fate!
And SO 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 to make an offer of his heart and
hand, and the same had been almost
contemptuously refused.
"It 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
Standardization to bob up sereneIy.
Perhaps her sarcasms had not been ap-
preciated. She would make it certain
that this young gentleman should no
longer be in doubt as 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 out
of battle"
McKennoy smiled grimly. "You are
pleased to be facetious, Miss Fremont
But 1t was not SO easy as you imagined
to get to the front. We tried our best. ,
eyes, you are right. 1t needed men
Why, from the beginning even the
newspapers knew that if there was tc
be any fighting Teddy's Terrors would
| be right in the thickest of it, and they
were. Col. Roosevelt is man with {
will. All! If we poor women could vote
how quickly we would make him presi
dent!"
Eyes, so you said last night" inter
rupted McKennoy, hoping to get hel
out Of that strain.
"Ah, jealous!" she cried, Jealous
Really, Mr.. McKennoy, If you are 81
jealous Of those who have proven them
selves men Of sterner stuff than your
self, you should at least have the tao
to conceal it."
"Women were always cruel" the lieu
tenant remarked, sadly.
"Cruell" she cried, Indignantly
Strengthening up in her chair. Cruel
But I noticed that company d was s.
utterly lacking in cruelty, so fearful o
hurting some one, of wounding the poo
Spaniards' honor, that they were care
full not to leave their camp. Lieut.. Nc
Kennoy, should think that you woul,
expire from shame. Twenty thousan'
heroes bore the suffering of crowde
transports and bearded the enemy Il
his lair. The gallant rough rider
charged him the st-day. Their broth
ers, their fighting brothers, were no
behind. Their names are writ in bloo
on the slopes of Caney and San Juar
Nothing kept them from the from
Forward, ever forward, they went righ
up to the cannon's mouth; gums to tn
right of them, guns to the left of them;
men dropping around them like hail
or = er- bullets = bullets, droppin
around them like hail, men falling as
er-as grass before the scythe. Heroe
they were, ETC."
McKennoy had always known tina
she was beautiful girl, but as sh
stood before him now with eyes fasf
ing, burning red spot in each cheel
trembling in her enthusiasm, she mad
such a glorious picture that he vowe
a mighty VOW in his inmost soul tha
she should be his; and the rough rider
and all the other heroes, Individual
and collectively, might rot in thei
graves before they got her.
"In the drama of war, Miss Fremont,
he said, "all the star parts are not cas-
Z on the field of battle. Some of the sui
Imest scenes are acted out in the quie
camu uuharalde to the <uh1ip 600