Evening journal., 1899-10-21
ROMANCE OF
THE CUBAN WAR.

1t was breakfast time at Avondale,
and General Higgerson, for the fifth
time, wondered what kept his daugh-
ter as he fidgeted with his paper and
stirred his hot coffee. Just as his
patience was at an end the door open
ed and admitted tail, handsome girl,
with bright blue eyes. She held big
bunch of clematis in her hands.
Where have you been, Mona| in
Quired her father.
Down at the river; l found the
stone wall near the boathOuse ablaze
with these blossoms. 1 am sorry TO
be late. dear"
''The Southern mail is in," observed
the general, nodding toward a small
pile of letters at her plate.
She flushed slightly as she laid the
clamatis on the sideboard and took her
seat at the table. A conscious smile
crossed her fathers face as she broke
the seal of the first letter. He turned
to the paper in his hands, and his eyes
caught this heading: "A Romance in
Real Life"
"With the invalIded officers return
ing this week is young Colonel Law
renee WHO was ctNtll1 nhAA III Ailt
charge at San Juan. Among the
nurses who went TO look after the sick
was a handsome young woman whom
the colonel formerly ADMIRED. Family
misfortune had forced her TO adopt
nursing as a profession. Their friend
ship was renewed, and when the
colonel came home he was engaged
to his old love. Colonel Lawrence is
/ to be married very shortly. Report
says that he had entangled himself
with another lady, who will now find
/ that she must look elsewhere for con-
solatiOn'
As he laid down the paper the gen
eral glanced at his daughter. She was
sitting. with a dazed expression on
her face, gazing at a letter she held.
Father, what does this meanT she
exclaimed holding out the letter. He
took il from her, and this is what he
read:
"Dear Mona-You may have seen in
the papers an account of my being
wounded: | maze light Of it in my last
letter. fearing to alarm you. but the
truth is l am n wreck, as the papers
/ have accurately stated. / am invalid
ed and crippled, and If it had not been
for devoted nursing / should not be
here to-day. Under the circumstances
40 not feel justified I'm holding you tO
your engagement; Notwithstanding the
pain is causes me to do this l want to
release you entirely and leave you free
to marry some one who is not so shat
tered as myself; but believe me. dear
est. that whatever my future life, You
viii always be shrined deep in my
heart Of hearts. Your faithful friend
HENRY LAWRENCE"
"What does il meanT7 almost shout
ed the old general. 1T means thai
your lover is n scoundrel, Mona; read
newspaper containing "A Romance il
the lips; a mist before her eyes pre-
Real Life The girl grew white tC
vented her for a moment from read
ing the article; slowly she grasped it
full purport
1t was terrible blow to the general
he had always liked Colonel Law
renee and consented to the engage
ment Just before the young man wa'
ordered to Cuba. Both Mona and he
I father had so thoroughly believed il
Lawrences love and faith that his
c letter and that story in the news
paper came upon them like Dol
from n calm sky.
e gave vent TO his feelings in swearing
3 volubly. THE scoundreli I shoul,
{ like to horse-whip him myself for
= whelp of cur if he were not wound
[ ed. What are his hurts to the stal
a he mas given Mona-ahl when Gil
ol hert hears this" and then the gen
J. eral remembered that his son wa
gl coming home that week. 1t was
o. satisfaction TO have a man around I
L whom he could give vent to his out
L ragged feelings
: AS though in answer to his thoughts
the butler at that moment brought il
n telegram Eyes Gilbert was coming
o and. Fortunately. a day earlier thai
! expected. bringing n friend with hin
\ lust as well to distract her attention,
y Thought her father. as Mona ioine
y him with her hat on and letter 4
= her hand.
l. "Going out, dearT
IF "Only to the village to post a note.
"Gilhert Is coming tomorrow at
with an old college friend who.
seems. has just turned up in Ne'
n York"
u n 81 am glad" said Mona, quietly
- Gilbert arrived in high spirits with hi
friend. a Major laurie, Just returne
: from Puerto Rico. AS soon as the
2. were alone the general poured out hi
+ Indignation and woe TO his son, VIII
lie was much incensed at the behavior {
1t Moua's fiance.
is "Ry George" exclaimed MaiC
II Laurie. after excusing herself early
f. the evening. Mona had left the thrC
RI men In the billard-room smoking
n sbut Miss Mona is stunning. If
a were not engaged TO the dearest gi
e.
IS The man who votes here simply
I'd tbo friond mr. opa,,v of ENGLAND