Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-12

Sandy was wild to go to West Point, and at the bottom of his heart Maj. Ray would have rejoiced had he thought it possible for Sandy to pull through; but ruefully he minded him how hard task was his own, and how close he came to failure at the semi-annuaE exams. Sandy hates Math. even more than did" said he, to Marion, his devoted wife. Ut was all could do to squirm through when the course was mo- where near as hard as it is to-day, so don't set your heart on it, little woman"
 The appointment was not so hard friends in his native state and an old chum at the Point assured him he could coach young Sandy through the preliminary and, indeed, he did. Sandy scraped in after six months vigorou work, managed to hold his own through the first years tussle with algebra and geometry, which he had studied hard and faithfully be- fore, was a pet in his class, and the pride and joy of his mothers and sis ter's hearts in yearling camp, where he blossomed out in corporaPs chey- rons and made as natty and active first sergeant as could be found while the ''furlough class was away.
 But the misery began with 'an- a1ytica1' and the crisis came with calculus, and to the boys bitter sor- row, after having been turned back 1a 4os1 1s,,os utterly on the latter, the verdict of the academic board went dead against him, and stout old soldiers thereon cast their votes with griev-s ing hearts, for Billy Rays boy was lad they hated to let go, but West Point rules are inexorable.
 It was hard to reconcile the lad at first. The major set him up as a young ranchman in a lovely valley in the Big Horn range, and there he. went sturdily to work, but before the winter was fairly on the country was rousing to the appeals of Cuba, and before 1t was gone the Maine had sunk, a riddled hulk, and the spring came on with call to arms.
 Together with some 200 young fel- | went up for examination for the va cant second lieutenancies in the army, and he who had failed in analytical and calculus passed without grave, trouble the more practical ordeal de- manded by the war department, was speedily commissioned in the artil- lery, and, to his glory and delight, promptly transferred to the cavalry.
 Then came the first general break. up the family had really known, for the major hurried away to Ken lucky to assume command of the reg iInent of volunteers of which he had been made colonel. Billy, Jr., lad of barely IT, enlisted at Lexington as bugler in his fathers regiment, and swore he'd shoot himself if they didn't let him serve. The. kentuck- ians were ordered to Chickamauga, the young regular. to the Presidio at San Francisco, and Mrs. Ray, after seeing her husband and youngest son started for the south, returned to Leayenworth, where they had just settled down week before the war began, packed and stored the house. hold furniture, then, taking Middle" with her, hurried westward to see the last of her boy, whose squadron was destined for service at Manila.
 The lieutenant, as they delighted in calling him, joined them at Dem yer, looking perfectly at home in his field uniform and perfectly happy. They left Maidie to spend a week with old army friends at Fort Doug las, and as soon as Sandy was settled in si1is new duties and the loving mother had satisfied herself the cav airy would not be spirited away be- fore July, she accepted the eager in vitation of other old friends to visit them at Sacramento. and there they were, mother and daughter, again united this very raw and foggy even ing, when Mr. Ray, as officer of the guard, stood at the. bend of the road way east of the Presidio guard-house. gazing after the vanishing forms of Capt. Kress and the burly stranger in civilian clothes, and wondering where on earth it was he had seen the lat ter before.
 So engrossed was he in this that it was only when a second time ad- dressed that he whirled about and found himself confronting tall and slender young officer, with frank, handsome blue eyes and fine, clear cut face, a man perhaps five years his senior in age and one grade in rank, for his overcoat bore the single loop and braid of a first lieutenant.
 He was iii riding boots and spurs, as Ray noted at first glance, and there behind him stood an orderly holding the horses of both.
 (To Be Continued)