The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15
The Duty Soldier.

They had FIRST met when he was thirty.
three and she fifteen; they had not seer
each other since he had turned forty and
she had awaited herself OF her majority to
marry foolishly, so their early relations. il
familiar, were unromautic. Thanks TO the
line OF forhears wearing in succession the
Wig OF Jurisprudence, be had been already
staid and serious when she had cast her
chiids glance upon him; and now. a quar-
ter OF century later her widows scrutiny
found him much the same, save that the
frame of his badness. like his mustache.
/ was grey, and the seriousness Of his face
become gravity, almost sterness.
II he had changed not very greatly. in
| the shade Of her own strategically plan
ned drawing room she seemed to him to
have aged not at all The girl was grown
full woman, and. indeed. widow Of forty
cannot properly affect righteousness. but
her weeds were rather becoming to her
| beauty than illuminative Of her sorrow.
They were alone. and would Intentionally
remain alone: for the game of hide and
seek chastened hearts is not to be played
n company.
You are looking well" she observed.
Better than when l saw you last
The occasion to which she referred was
her wedding breakfast. and certainly the
then captain of foot was not looking his
best that day.
Thank you said he. nodding stiffly:
I'm pretty fit And yOu-youre as well
as ever, | suppOse?"
She smiled at the awkward speech.
You are as ironical as ever. 1 perceive"
Me ironical,' he blurted /, But
l thought you seemed SO well. and / re-
member you always seemed well. We're
you not always well?"
She had not intended herself to open a
Irritation with him, but this temptation
was irresistible.
She was silent, with fire east eyes. be
fore she answere: Yes. when you knew
me | was we'll" little pause Since
then have not always felt so very very
we'll" Another brief pause. Then. as the
eyes Travelled gayly from the fire to his
face, to fall demurely on his watch chain.
But you see l am quite myself again.
Colonel Jemmett was entranced: wrin-
kles Of twenty years standing faded from
his eountenance, and he tried to recall
speeches; imagined before the wrinkles
came; but the futf1ity Of the phrases
crushed him now. and he said. with a very
little emotion. so you missed grandpapa,
after alp
Used | to call you grandpapa?" she
asked; she really had forgotten it. why
should l have called you grandpapa? '
His right hand assembled to his crown.
he said
Il think at first. it was because of that
She started. Because Of what" she
begged.
Colonel Jemmett writhed in his chair
Because Of not having any hair on the I
top Of my head. l wasn't so very 3D. :
don't you know" he answered.
Laughter rippled from the window "Yuu
are avenged" she said my own hair
is growing thin now, and I'm only thirty /
nine"
In spite Of himself he started he had I
just ordered a bracelet to be given h6r
on her forty-frst birthday
She saw she had made a slip and hast {
ened TO recover here balance. Don't tell
me you know better" she rallied him
since nv birthday is in February I may
be forgiven for keeping it only in leap
year. But truly, / shall very soon have /
less hair than you. Don't you believe [
me-"
She deliberately Ioosened some ha-f
dozen pins and took from the centre OF /
her couture a plat Of not very great pre- I
portions. 1T is my own" she remarke 2
incidentally. 1T was cut off when l WIS
very-not very, very WE'LL had it made .
up. Now come and look at my .
bald spot"
As one approaches a shrine Colonel ,
Jemmett did her bidding. Two Of her /
long fingers diving into her hair discovered ,
to him a perfectly bald disc. certainly net !
bigger than a EiX-+1uy piece; perhaps it /
bpp NrE aT he Of
Gus patch Of grey.
Can YOU give me nothing to make it
grow again." she asked pitifuly.
Colonel Jemmett's heart fluttered IS he
stopped and kissed the place. but the Hiss
itself was reverential The widow sur
prise was divided evenly between his gal
iautry and his austerity. She wondered l.
what would come next.
Il hope you are not offended with me.
de said.
"Oh, no. dear grandpa" she answered.
with trace Of malice. Sit down and tell
ne all about yourself; about your exploits
in the East. 1 want TO hear particularly
about them for the newspaper reports are
50 stupid l never can understand them
Exploits" said the colonel. Il never
had one to my name"
Don't be modest with an Old crOny.'
ihe returned. Il heard of what you did in
he Black Mountains or were they the
Blue although I confess I could not
..I1non M, toTo,. :. ,5-e,sroi tb, ,,1o-.1
4 ne,-er 5i5 ar,l,tbir,, a. an :,
WHAT" a-riaf11ed Tho widow 1s,,gb-
,gJ,. w., - - -. -
,Iare to the reIfef oT some otber Mac
arriving YOUR guns over snow noun
afn?"
.Ab, know what Won are thinking Of
aid the colonel 1T was man called
ybipDett did that A spIrndid chan be is.