Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-17


there was bond of sympathy between
them which was none the less strong
because, on Primes side, 1t could neith-
er be admitted nor alluded to-that
they were desperately in love with the
sisters, and it was not long before it
began to dawn on Prime that pretty
Nita was playing a double game-that
even while assuring her guardian sister
that she had only mild interest in
Latrobe, she was really losing or had
lost her heart to him, and in every way |
in her power was striving to conceal
the fact from Margaret, and yet meet
her lover at hours when she thought it |
possible to do SO without discovery.
AS the friendship strengthened be-
tween himself and Latrobe they began
using him as Cupid's postman, and
many little notes and some big ones
found their way to and from the Fourth
division of cadet barracks. Mrs. Frank
was only moderately kind to her civil
ian adorer then, granting him only one
dance at each hop, and going much
with other men, but that dance was
worth seeing. Primes was the only
black "claw-hammer" in the room, and
therefore conspicuous, and cadets-who
know good thing when they see 1t
and many pretty girl partner would
draw aside to watch the perfection OF
their step and the exquisite ease with
which they seemed to float through
space, circling and reversing and wind
ing among the other dancers, he ever
eel solr nc md
1.-THE and strong as panther-she all
yielding, issome, airy grace. That dance
was "Gov" Primes reward, and almost
only reward, for hours of impatient
waiting. Other women, charming and
pretty and better women, would glad
ly have been his partners. Some two
or three whom he met at the hotel even
intimated as much. But not until Lady
Garrison told him he must-to protect
her from scandal-did he ask another
to dance. At last came the end of the
summers encampment, the return OF
the corps to barracks and studies, one
blissful week in which he was enabled
to spend several uninterrupted hours
each day at her side, and then .
cataclysm. A letter intended only for
Nita's hands fell into those of her sis
ter. It was bulky. It was from La
trobe. She hesitated only moment,
then, with determination in her eyes,
opened and read-all. Two days after
Nita was whisked away to New York,
and within another week, leaving two
most disconsolate SWANS on the Hud-
son, the sisters, one Of them bathed in
tears, went spinning away to the west,
where Frank Garrison was on duty at
department headquarters. Prime was
| permitted to write once fortnight Che
sent volume), and Latrobe forbidden.
but already the poor boy owned thick
packet of precious missives, all breath
ing fond love and promising utter con-
stancy though she had to wait for him
for years. For month Nita would
hardly speak to her sister, but in Oc-
tober there were lovely drives, picnica
and gayeties Of all kinds. There were
attractive young officers and assidu-
Gus old ones, and among these latter
was Frost, with his handsome gray
mustache and distinguished bearing,
and that air of conscious success and
possession which some men know SO
well how to assume even when their
chances are Simmer than my lady's
hand. The sisterly breach was healed
before that beautiful month was over.
Frost dined at the Garrisons' four
times a week and drove Miss Nita be.
hind his handsome bays every day or
two. In November he asked ques-
ton. In December there was an an.
nouncement that called forth score
of congratulations around headquar.
tiers, and in January the wedding cards
went all over the union-some to West
Point, but to Latrobe, who had beer
looking i'll and anxious for six weeks
said his classmates, and falling of fear.
fully in his studies, said his professors
only a brief note inclosing his letters
and begging for hers. At reveille next
morning there was no captain to re-
ceive the report of roll call from the
first sergeant of company B. where's
Latrobe?" sleepily asked the officer Of
the day of the cadet first lieutenant
II dn' know" was the answer, and
to the amaze Of Latrobe's roommate
who had gone to bed and to sleep right
dAlSi tdp5 luC AlS Nv OCio1SS tuCy 4OuuU
evidence that pat" had left the post
He had not even made down his bed
ding. His cadet uniforms were all
there, but suit of civilian clothes
usually in snug package up the chin.
ney, that had been used several times
running it" to the hotel after taps in
August, was now, like its owner, miss
ing. After three days waiting and
fruitless search, the superintendent
wired Latrobe's uncle and best friend
old Gen. Drayton, and that was the last
seen or heard of pat" In the spring
and ahead of time his class was grad.
uated without him, for the war with
Spain was on. In the spring an irate
and long-tried father was upbraiding
another only son for persistent failures
at college. "'Gov' Prime will get the
sack, not the sheepskin," prophesied
his fellows. And then somehow, some.
where the father heard 1t was mar.
ried woman with whom his boy wa,
SO deeply in love, and there were bit
ter, bitter words on both sides-so bit
ter that when at last he flung himself
out of his fathers study Gov" Prime
went straight to Mildred's room, 81
lently kissed her and walked out Of
the house. This was In April. The
next heard of him he had enlisted fol
the war and was gone to San Fran
cisco with his regiment with the pros
pect Of service in the Philippines ahea,
of him, but that was full four month
after his disappearance. Thithsr, lat