The Iola register., 1901-08-30
! am sure they will warmly well

warm were the congratulations poured
upon him over his recovery. Again he
crossed the porch as he had done few
weeks before, but not now with fear
and trembling.
Entering the hall he raped b"t
8: s:.o So.0ners door. The same sharp, |
harsh Come in" greeted his ears, but
1t did not now fill him with alarm.
Turning the knob, he entered.
Private Brown, by all the gods OF
war;" cried the bluff old soldier aris-
ing and grasping his hand. "Out |
again, eh? Once more on your pins?
That's right. Take a chair. | am
very glad to see you"
For half an hour they conversed re-
garding his wound, his return to duty
and various other topics, but the young
soldiers thoughts were in another
apartment with his loved one, and he
longed to greet her for the first time in
her own home. Unable TO suppress
this burning desire he finally said:
"Col. Sanford, before | return to the
hospital will you not permit me to pay
my respects to my faithful nurse, Miss
Sanford?"
The old officers face assumed cold,
stern look and his genial air seemed to
vanish as before an icy wind as he re-
piled:
Private Brown, we may as well
come to an understanding right now.
You nobly rislSed your life to restore
my beloved child TO my arms, and
am deeply grateful to you for doing So
1t was but her simple duty to nurse
you through the long days of suffering
which you were called upon TO endure
from a severe and dangerous wound re-
ceived in her defense. She performed
that duty, and with my full approval
and consent. Her duties as your nurse
are now at an end, and | regret that
may give you pain after all you suf-
fered for her if, in doing what con-
slider to be fathers duty | use harsh
language toward you. You may think
it cruel and heartless, sir, when | tell
you that | cannot permit her in her
own home to receive a call from pri-
vate soldier, no matter how worthy
! that soldier may be-"
Browns face paled, as the cruel
words cut into his heart as n knife A
great fear came upon him, and he al
most gronned aloud in his agony of
| spirit He tried to speak, but with Il
gesture the officer stopped him.
Nor, sir hear my decree, from the
enforcement of which | will never
swerve a jot. After th5 visit Private
Richard Brown will never again be per-
mitted to enter this house. and | shall
forbid my daughter to ever again men
tion his name in my presence. This may
seem damnably cruel to you, sir, after
what you have done for us, but there
are rules of propricty in army life that
cannot bc disregardcd. My daughter
cannot maintain friendly relations with
private in the ranks"
lie paused and regarded the young
man closely. Brown sat as dumb as a
marble statue and almost as pale, for
his heart was completely crushed al
the cruel decree.
"But," the colonel resumed, with q
strange twinkle in his eyes, Lieut.
Edward Thornton will always be q
welcome guest at my home. There is
your commission, sir, you trembling
rascal, fresh from the hands of the sec
retary of war Lieutenant Thornton, lei
me be the first to congratulate you upor
your promotion, and to assure you thati,
YOU prove as faithful in the discharge
of your duties as an officer as Private
Brown always proved as a soldier il
the ranks, the stars of general maj
some day rest upon your shoulders"
AS he spoke he handed the younl
man his commission, and warml,
| xsrhf1 10 r,.i,
played over his face.
Thornton took the paper mechanic
ally. In his wild astonishment he coult
not utter n word. He stood there trem
bling and turning white and red b,
; turns until the old officer broke into
loud laugh over his embarrassment.
"Paralyzes you, my boy? Just pet
rifles you with amazement BY God
frey. have had that document hi,
away for two weeks just to have thi
fun with you. Never mind, lieutenan
(slapplng him familiarly on the shoul
der you'll get over it and regain ful
use of your paralyzed tongue afte
while. | will find something that viii
restore your speech. Alice! Alice!"
Coming, papa, in a moment" cam
a silvery voice from another part of tn
house.
Like ray of loveliest sunshine sh
entered, and an exclamation of pleas
ure fell from her lips at sight of he
lover.
Lieut.. Thornton, allow me to pre-
sent my daughter, Miss Sanford Alice
dear. this is First Lieut. Edward Thorn
ton, new officer just assigned to dut
with b Troop, Sixth cavalry
The old man daIted out of the doc
to hide the tears that he could no long
er force back, and the lovers wer
clasped in each others arms.
Ned, dear, what is the matter wit
papa2 What did he mean by such a
introduction?"
AS an answer he placed the commits
y sion in her hands, and hasty glanc
At the document told her all. With
: glad cry she again clasped her arm
around the Young officers neck and tC
> gether they wept tears of joy.
AXonr fafhar saws Won must naUa