The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-07

sI wish / didn't have to have a
cent" she sobbed. II wouldn't if it
weren't for Ned and Chrissie and BabX
Nell-Td go there-I don't care what
Cen. Merriam says! I'd dress in mans
clothes and be bugler boy--or pow
der monkey, Or"
you'd be blessed little nuisance"
he answered, smiling sadly down into
the flushed, fearful. red-eyed yet love-
" face. She had been a spoiled child, a
petted darling at home, fathers pride
and delight, and, despite the fact that
he had half a dozen sons and daugh-
ters, the idea of Nell's marrying-above
all. marrying in the army-was a sore
blow to him. He had said ugly words
to the artillery lieutenant who won her
heart. He had accused him of being a
fortune hunter and other evil things
that might have been natural, but were
by no means true, and Mr.. Edward
. Ross had taken them sorely and un-
necessarily, perhaps, to heart. In his
soldier pride and bumptiousness he had
| told the wealthy mine owner that it
/ was his daughter-not his dollars-he
| wanted, and his daughter was all he
would take.
Indeed, Mr.. Carson swore that the
/ lieutenant had sworn, which was a rep
/ rehensible thing to do in the presence
| of a devout member of the Presbyter-
| ian Church, and fear there was truth
in the statement, for Ned Ross had
served many years in the mounted SER
4 vice. both cavalry and artillery, and
4 we'll, that explains what perhaps can
A rot be condoned. He did sometimes
\ swear. He was whole-souled, high
. minded, high tempered fellow. He was
SO when he fell in love with pretty Mel
lie Carson-fell so deeply, honestly and
sGuarely in love with her that parental
objections and objurgations passed for
nothing. Heaven opened on his path
way when Nellie blushingly, weepfully
owned that his love was amply return
ed, and the quiet wedding that fol-
lowed as soon as she was Il settled the
matter so far as they We're concerned
She came TO him with a pretty trous-
seeu, to be sure, but not an earthly
cent. He said he preferred her without
He had thousand or two put by. He'd
be captain in the course of few
years. and if she were content he could
ask no more.
They were as happy a pair as could
be found in the army He had been
stationed at the Preside when first
they met, but he was sent inoppor-
tunely to Alaska. often thought Car
son and a senatorial friend had much
to do with that, but they were check
mated. Ross hadn't had a leave in four
years sadsitsaoutd-no tsbe denied him,
and Nell, who had wept her eyes out
Wnen her lover was sent to the Are
tic Circle, beamed with joy when he
came hack to Frisco and to her. Then
was ii that they were married, and
then was Ross, a little later ordered to
West Point, and there young Ned and
Chrissy were born, and never a cent
cid the couple seek from the old folks,
and Carson could neither stand or un-
Gerstand it. The idea, by-by--by
gravy!" Che came from New England
and chung to its explosives, even in
the glorious climate of California; the
idea of my dauhgter living and being
happy on twenty-five hundred a year,
with two babies, too" He sent her a
check for a thousand dollars at Christ
mas, and Nell wrote dutifully, CRATE
fully, affectionately but reminded him
that he himself had stipulated they
should never have dollar, and--they
wouldn't.
A few years more and then came
Baby Nellie, the first girl, and then
the war, and Ned's promotion to the
light battery, and then, woe, woe, lis
orders to Manila! She with the chill
dren three was cozily slowed in quar-
ters at the Preside with other army
trends and families. The "old man"
and her Their had long been recon-
ciled 10 her happiness and her hus-
Rand. for v hom even Mr.. Carson was
compelled &C feel a sneaking adIn,ra-
hot hot
and her children should come ana
make their home under the wide
spreading parental roof, but Nell did
not even need to glance at her stall
wart husband to know her duty and
to promptly shake her head. Il shall
do very we'll at the Presidio," she de-
clared, and, of course, will be glad TO
bring the children and pay you all
visit now and then whenever you send
the carriage" but that was the limit
OF her promises. Mr., Carson ripped out
some comments that were more pro-
fame than Presbyterian, but little Mrs.
Ross stood pat to her colors, and those
of the elders were lowered in defeat
Ross had left on deposit in her
name at the Bank of California just
six hundred doilars-all he had in the
world, and much more than is owned
by most of his cloth, even at his age,
which was now AZ. After 20 years serv-
Ice his pay as commander OF a crack
light battery was two hundred and
thirty three dollars and thirty-thr
cents per month, with no allowances
Whatever, all newspaper statements to
the contrary Notwithstanding. A roof
sufficient for his family, fuel for his
Kitchen, forage for the horse he rode
and a physician for all were indeed
provided by a paternal government,
and this was the sum total on which
he was expected to live like a gentle
man. keep up appearances and provide
literally for the wife and bairnies.
You have that six hundred for
nest egg, Nell, darling" he said, as he
kissed her ripping hair, land the pay
master will send one hundred and sew
enty-five ton the last day of every
month to your credit at the bank"
But what will you live on. NedT'
vas her anxious query. 1T leaves you
less than sixty doesn't it?"
1t must cost me much less than six
", but / shall reserve something like
mat for the present We don't know
what the cost of living will be, and
must have a little sum for emergencies.
NOW, you've got your check book and
Know how to number and fill out the
checks, and Mr.. Alvord will take the
very best care of you
And so, financially. at least Ross
mad no grievous worries as he went to
war. 1t was sore wrench, this first
parting with the wife and little ones,