The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-08-03
THE FORTUNES OF WAR

Il lM FUklUNES VI WAX
| Warwick stood on the river bank silently
contemplating the swift-running waters be-
| low and wondering II he had the nerve to
make the leap.
Life had lost all its charm for him. He.
could see nothing ahead but cold, cherries
promise. and he thanked a woman for it
a sweet, tender, blue-eyed little woman
| whom he had often in his day dreams pic
tured as his wife.
1t had never entered his head that she
might refuse him. Blind to his own i'm
projections, he did not imagine that others
might see them and 80 when to his earnest
pleading she had replied mo Dick, it's
quite impossible" 1t left him incapable
of speech. 1t stunned him. He could hard
ly realize that the end of his dreams had
come. He had SO long thought of her as
his own that her answer was startling
revelation. and he staggered from her pres
ence with the terrors Of disappointment
staring him in the face.
| He could not understand why she would
not accept him, faults dissipation and all.
| so unreasoning and selfish Is man when
his affections are involved. And 50 selfish
| was Warwick that he could see no sorrow
in any other heart than his own. and he al
lowed his bitterness full swing as he wendell
his way toward the river.
Yet when the cool breeze from the valley
famed his cheek it brought some reason
| back. 1t sobered him. 1t reawakened his
conscience and dimly he became conscious
of his moral delinquencies. Then he re-
membered why. Yes. she was right. For
an instant he admitted it, then his selfish
ness reasserted itself and he blamed her for
the encouragement she had given him
that hollow refuge sought by every lover
when refused for cause.
| A single glance at the river suff1ced. It
was cold and dark and gloomy. No. he
hadn't the nerve. Besides the vision of his
| sweet old mother lowered between him and
the water, and shivering he turned and
wandered toward the city. He passed hun
dreds of people without seeing them. And
no one needed him. He walked on and on,
| scarce knowing whittier he went until the
sound of great cheering attracted his at
| tention. He stood an interesting spectator
of an inspiring scene.
They were recruiting men for the war.
The intense patriotism was infectious. The
fever caught Warwick. For the time his
troubles were forgotten. He elbowed his
way inside and was soon under the hands
and keen eyes of the examining surgeon.
| AL" was the officers brisk verdict after
hasty examination. Warwick stood aside.
Mechanically he raised his hand, and like
man in dream, swore allegiance to the
| stars and stripes. He was led into an inner
room where he Invested himself of his civil
ian habiliments and assumed dress of
the boys in blue.
| Report in the morning at 8 o'clock; we
may move at any moment ordered an in
dividual with three white stripes on his
arm; Warwick nodded and again turned
toward the street.
The crowd cheered him as he issued
from the door. They had seen him enter
the door and remembered his face and
broad shoulders. He woke up He glanced
up and down his once placid front and was
startled as he caught the CLEAN of the
trappings of war; His soul was electrified.
| He was no longer his own. He belonged
to Uncle SAM He had sworn away his
| liberty. He thrilled to the very finger tips
when his ears drank in the sound Of the
Gathering bayonet at his side. The ex-
element of the hour permeated his whole
being and he became proudly conscious of
the admiring glances of the throngs. His
eyes lighted up, his step became brisker,
bis figure erect and solderly, and almost
before he knew it he stood on the threshold
i of his boarding house.
The patient little landlady, who had so
often condoned his faults and pleaded with
him to cast aside his dissolute habits, was
surprised but not sorry. Warwick had not
been an ideal boarder. His habits and idle
ness had often provoked her to bitterness.
| She had regarded him a son, and had
| treated him as one. She could never bear
the thought of turning him away, despite
his growing obligations, but now that he
| was going of his own will, 1she secretly re-
| joiced. She felt it might be the beginning
| of new and better life. AS he stood there
| awaiting her opinion she felt a pang of
| sorrow. His uniform was eloquent of his
| intentions. He was bent now on the grim
| uncertainties and sanguinary conflicts of
the battlefield tear splashed down her
cheek as he turned and began packing away
the few worldly goods he could call his
| own.
| II may never need them again, Mrs
| Molyneaux," sadly, meantime keep them
| awhile for me if 1 dont-come-back-
why, do with them as you please. They
are valueless, anyway"
''You have no message to leave for any
| one? ''she asked, significantly, he paused
and looked about the room
| He shook his head
"None," he answered, thoughtfully and
bitterly. "She doesn't care. I'll write to
| mother tomorrow. She is the only one who
! cares
! She made gesture of reproach.
Besides you," he said, hurriedly.
She smiled little and stretched forth her
| hand.
LET me hope you will return a better
i man-if you are spared" she said feel
| ingly II feel every word 1 say. Nothing
would please more in this world. nothing
would make me feel prouder than to have
| you develop into the man I am sure you
are destined to be. 1 will pray for your
safe return
Warwick took her hand in both his own
| "You have been a mother to me-" he
said, kindly, land 1 have rewarded you
shamefully. Never mind. I will redeem
myself if 1 come back. Say to any one that
| asks that I answered my country's CALL and
| left no word behind. Goodbye and God
bless you
| The morning papers heralded the informa-
ton that the regiment would move the
| following day. Things were becoming seri-
| Gus at the front, and every man was need
J ed. Warwick's preparations were few and
soon made. He wished that the hour for
j departure might be hurried. He would
! find difficulty in passing the time. He
| dared not trust himself near her. He had
too much pride for that Besides, he would
not be welcome. He restrained a rising
throb as he realized that he could not say
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