Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-06-01

we nevah quarrel
"Ohl Then you have settled which
was the greater general, Lee or Grant"
individually we have, but not collect
lively"
Indeed ~ and she laughed in u way
that brought Captain Benton from be-
hind his paper.
Talking about quarreling," he began,
Il can't understand how it is when YOU
and a certain young lieutenant quarrel so
much that always within ten minutes
after you come to pay your old uncle a
visit see him coming across the street to
pay his respects.
Amy peepcd from the window and then
drew back, with n blush of confusion. 1t
was the turn of the captain and colonel to
laugh, and they enjoyed it to the full
! Il rathuh thought my nephew would
come today, said Colonel Bostwick, "even
though | know he is very busy preparing
for tho war that seems to be brewing"
And had suspicion that my niece
would call, though she is not busy about
anything in particular except breaking
hearts" said the captain. But the teasing
Of the old fellows was interrupted by tho
entrance Of the young lieutenant.
War hasn't been declared yet, " he ex-
claimed, after the first greeting "but the
afternoon papers say it is inevitable and
everybody says that our regiment will be
one of the first ordered to the front, We're
all inst whooping at the prospect.
Right, " said the colonel. That's the
spirit to have | remember when my regi-
mcnt was called -
And T." began the captain.
Hey! Hold ont" shouted the two
young people together.
Don't begin tho war at the beginning, !"
said tho lieutenant, with mock pathos or
you will never end your dispute. Begin
with it nearer the close, y
Why don't you smoke the pipe of
peace and give up useless disputing alto
gether?" inquired Amy.
Abr said the colonel, with one of his
finest bows. Il am afraid we came neah
forgetting ouah duty on such occasions as
this. BY the way, captain, I have some
very fine cigars in my room. Would you
not like to try one of them?"
Nothing would please me better, - said
the captain. my physician has ordered
me to smoke several cigars during the
course of every day"
by the way" said the lieutenant
brazenly, won't you have a smoke on
me? l have special brand here that 1
feel sure you will enjoy.
Diving into an inner pocket, he brought
out two cigars done up in silver paper and
handed one to each of tho old soldiers
These cigars were the longest in the mar
ket, and the old fellows looked at them
and then looked at each other.
"Whew |" whistled the colonel There
must be lot to talk ovah today" And,
followed by the captain, he bowed himself
out of the parlor. AS soon as their two
unclos were gone the young people drop
ped their banter
80 you think there must be WARP
asked Amy almost piteously.
Certainly, said the Lieutenant, land
am glad of it. 1t will give me u chance
to do something and show that l am
worthy of you"
You are worthy of me now, and /
wish you didn't have to go to fight.
But wouldn't be worthy of you If I
didn't go. Now, would I?'
Many years before the war Bostwick
and Benton Were classmates at Princeton
and the warnest of friends At that time
the differences that existed between the
north and the south were not discussed
with the bitterness of later years, and even
though the war made the friends take op-
posing sides and break off all communica-
youthful friendship Fortunately they did
not meet again until the struggle was
over and largely forgotten, and both being
old they renewed their friendship almost
rs if they had not once been ranged in the
contending armies. Both had prospered
in business and had retired on their in
comes, for, being bachelors they had no
one to provide for beyond themselves.
Finding themselves in the same city and
in such similar circumstances it followed
! almost as matter of course that their re-
lhtions had again become very intimate,
and they found so much pleasure in one
another s company that they finally decid-
ed to tako adjoining apartments in Il com
Portable hotel Between them they had a
parlOr in which they met their friends and
spent much of their time
Though unincumbered themselves, they
We're blessed with n sufiiciency of nephews
and nieces, who frequently called to pay
their respects and consequently formed
one anothers acquaintance in tho little
parlor OF these acquaintanceships one
ripened into love, and it was by no means
because of any opposition that either en-
countered that the parties to it continued
their meetings in the parlor. 1t was be-
cause they had first met there and cherish
ed an affection for it and perhaps because
the meetings seemed always trifle clan,
, destine and for that reason more roman
tic.
But though the colonel and captain
| were the best OF friends their little differ,
ences sometimes alarmed people who were
not familiar with their ways. Only on
one point did their disagreements ever
lead to anything approaching permanent
unpleasantness, and that was regarding
, the decoration of their little parlor Both
: agreed that there should be something
, about 1t to give 1t a military flavor. But
they disagreed as to what that should be,
or rather as to how the different relics
; they possessed should be disposed. The
, captain argued that his relics, being those
of the victorious arms of the north should
be given special prominence, while the
colonel, imbued with the warm sentiments
, of the south, could not bear to think OF
? the sword he had received from the hands
OF General Lee or the other mementos
, each of which was associated with some
phase of tho lost cause, being anywhere
but in the place OF honor. This difficulty
: almost caused them to part, but finally
She suggestion was made that each shoul
. use the relics he had gathered to dccorat
, his own den and leave the parlor withou
, military furnishings of any kind. TIL
} suggestion was carried out, but neverthe
' less the question would come up iron
! time to time and cause an argument.
The conversation of the lovers ha
grown and lapsed into silence many time
: bnfore the lopu cioars xypro rpI,cad 4