Middletown transcript., 1901-11-02

He's lovely, Mary breathed. TT
bowed to me this morning. Oh. Tempt
wish could ask him if he knew m
grandmother"
Lets" Temple said boldly. Il ain
afraid. Come on-I dare YOU to con
on-'fraid catr' he taunted as MAJ
hung back.
The General looked at his watch viii
the children hesitated. Evidently !
thought it time for him to be at ii
Lyceum, for he started up the walk !
the direction of the house. Mary's cou
age rose. With the opportunity vanisl
ing, the desire to speak to the great ma
overcame her.
"He's goingp,' she gasped. "Quicl
Temple, catch himr'
The two scrambled through a gap i
the garden fence and scurried up th
walk in pursuit of departing greatness
The General rounded the big rose-bus
by the gate, the children in his wake.
His coat-tails p' Mary cried in an age
nized whisper, forgetting her dignity
"pull bis coat-tails. Hurry, Temple
hurry, or he'll be gonep' p
Thus adiured, Temple grasped the Gen
erals coat-tails firmly, and bracing hi
feet against a hillock in the path, pulled
The great man found himself brought tt
sudden and ignominious halt. "Why
what is this?" he demanded, turning t.
face an embarrassed little boy.
Temple had forgotten his manners il
the excitement. Now the politeness care
fully instilled in him by his mother and
respect for his elders preached to him
from babyhood came back with rush.
He stood before the General, cap in hand
his face red, his heart in his mouth. He
had swung on the Generals coat-taiIs;
what awful judgement would fall on his
head?"
"I-I-you wouldn't stop-we wanted
to speak to you's-he stammered and
could go no further.
''You wanted to ask me what, young
man ?" the General said There was a
twinkle in his eye and he laid reassur-
ing hand on Temples shoulder
'tMary," Temple began again, and the
General looked over the boys head at
the other culprit.
''This must be the little girl whom I
saw in the flower parade this morning, :"
he said, and Temple gathered his scat
tered wits.
"This is my friend, Miss Mary Baird
Dudley, General" he said, drawing Mary
forward, "and she wants to meet you aw-
fully"
The General took the little girls hand
in his and looked into the wistful brown
eyes, big and frightened now.
81 want to ask you if you knew my
grandmother, sir" she said shyly; "she
lived here in Pattonsburg when you did,
you know, and I'm named for her-Mary
Baird-and they say l look like her.
Back across forty years the Generals
memory slipped. He was a lad again
just home from West Point. He was
dancing at the Commencement Ball, and
his partner was girl Of eighteen dressed
in a sprigged silk frock, her brown eyes
dancing, the flushed oval of her face
framed in tangle of golden brown curls.
Then the waltz was over and he was out
in the starlight with the belle Of Pattons
burg and an old story was on his lips.
In the hush that followed her answer the
music floated out from the ballroom, and
10 this day it hurt the General to hear
that waltz. And presently they went
back to the lights and the crowd, but
ring that the lad had brought all the way
rom New York lay in his pocket refused,
md the book of the Generals love-story
vas forever closed.
''Mary Baird's granddaughter rp' the
General said,> still holding the child's
land, far-away look in his eyes. Il
hought this morning that she was very
ike Mary. Her eyes, her very eyes
Nv dear, you are the image of your
A quarter of an hour later when the
chancellor came in search of the General,
le found the great man seated on the
,ench in the garden with the children
'eside him.
'T'm coming to the public reception
o-night, General" Mary told him, 80
III see you again, and if mother will let |
ne I'll wear my sprigged silk dress.
The General bent over her and lifting
be little girls hand, he kissed it as gal
antly as he might have kissed her grand
A string band from Memphis had been
ngaged to play at the reception that
light, and after the crowd left, few of
le students persuaded some of the girls
nd their chaperones to stay for a little
ance.
Mary was sitting in quiet corner be-
ind the palms when the General found
er. He sat down beside his little friend
nd talked to her of the music, the crowd,
er childish interests.
ssMy dear" he said at last in his court
est manner, s'you remind me much of
our grandmother. | loved her very
early, but you are too young to under
and that. Because you bear her name
Id because you are SO like her, want
give you something that | meant to
We her years ago. Tell your mother
lat Mary Baird refused to accept this,
i'd that a lonely man leaves it on the
nger of Mary Baird's granddaughter as
pledge of his constancy to his first
veetheart-and his last. !" And the
eneral took Mary's hand in his and
ipped ON her finger band of gold set
ith single flashing gem, a ring that
tile Mary Dudley will treasure all her