The Iola register., 1900-03-23

Primes and other people at the Palace.
] think | saw you in the supper room.
There was much merriment at your
table. Mrs. Garrison seemed to be the
life Of the party. Now, you left your
overcoat with the boy at the cloak
stand?"
"No, Armstrong, that's the odd part
of it. / only used the cape that even
ing. The coat was hanging at its usual
place when i returned late, with
mass OF new orders and papers. No!
no! But here, l must get back to the
office, and what wished you to see was
that poor boys letter. What can you
hope with a nature like that to deal
with?"
Armstrong took the missive held out
to him and slowly read it, the general
studying his face the while. The let
ter bore 70 clew as to the whereabouts
Of the writer. IT read:
March l. 'ss.
at Is six weeks since I repaid all your
loving kindness, brought shame and sor-
row to you and ruin to mysclf by desert
ing from West Point when my commission
hour OF intense misery, caused by girl
who had won my very soul, and whose
words and letters made me believe she
would become my wife the month OF my
gradual ton, and who. as now believe, was
then engaged to the man she married in
| January, | threw myself away. My one
| thought was to hnd her, and God knows
| what beyond.
at can never be undone. My career Is
ended, and can never look you in the face
again. At first | thought should show the
letters one by one, to the man she mar
ried. and ask him what he thought OF his
| wife but that Ia too low. | hold them be
cause | have a mad longing TO ses her
| again and heap reproach upon her, but, II
| | fall and should | feel at any time thai
my end Is near I'm going TO send them to
you to r,ad-to see how | was lured, ane
then. II you can, to pity and forgive:
! VROLLIN."
Armstrong; firm lips twitched un'
der his mustache. The general, with
moist eyes, had risen from his chair and
mechanically held forth his hand
Poor iad!" sighed Armstrong. "Oi
course-you know who the girl WASP"
"Oh. of course" and Drayton
shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, we'll have to 60" and led on to
the misty light without.
Over across the way were the head
quarters tents of big parade, hope
fully awaiting orders for Manila. Tc
their left, separated by narrow space
so crowded were the camps, were the
quarters of the officers of the -teentl
infantry, and even through the veil OF
mist both soldiers could plainly see
along the line. Coming toward the gate
was Mr.. Prime, escorted by the maj ior
just behind them followed Mildred and
the attentive Schuyler. But where was
Miss Lawrence? Armstrong had al
ready seen. Lingering, she stood a
Billy's tent front, her ear inclined to his
protruding pate. lie was saying some
thing thai took time, and She showed nC
inclination to hurry him. Miss Prim,
looked back, then she and Schuyler eX
changed significant smiles and glances
There was rather a lingering hand
clasp before Amy started Even thei
she looked back at the boy and smiled.
."U'm!" said the general, as he ga2ed
that youn9ster wouldn't swap place
with any subaltern in camp, even if h.
is under charges"
There was no answer from the stronl
soldier standing obseryant at his elbow
But when the chief would have movet
Armstrong detained him. "One NOR
question, general. In case you wer
away and wanted something you hat
left in this tent, you would send an aid
or orderly, or-would an order signet
by one of your staff be sufflcient?"
"Hm, well-yes, ! suppose it would,
said the general.
CONTINUED