The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-07-26

cial circles. The gem loses lts value
when 1t falls from its setting into the
gutter. Is not your argument little
shaky, Mrs. Colbv9"
'Alice, my dear child, you force me
TO palmer words, and I must talk to
you as II were your own mother. In
my conversation with Brown to-day
several times mentioned your name,
and when did so l could read him az
an open book. Every time your name
fell from my lips new light came into
his eyes, his face glowed with increased
animation, and at one time an unmis-
taxable sigh which he vainly endeav-
Ored to suppress caught my attention.
Alice, that man Is desperately in love
with you, and your tell-tale eyes while
conversing Of him too plainly indicate
! that there is growing feeling in your
young heart far stronger than one of
friendship and sympathy for this sol
der. My dear child, answer me truly,
are you not falling in love with this
man in the ranks?"
The face of the young girl was red
with bushes, and she threw her head
down into the lap of her motherly
friend to hide her confusion. Mrs
Colby stroked her hair tenderly, and a
smile of intermingled sadness and
sympathy lit up her face. After few
moments Alice partly regained her
composure, and raising her head she
looked with trusting confidence into
her friends eyes and replied:
T-I-don't know, Mrs Colby. Mr..
Thornton impresses me as no gentle
man ever before did. l have seen so
few gentlemen, you know. He is so
gentle, so kind in nature, so manly and
so heroic in bearing the load placed
upon his shoulders that THAT I
think-a-great-d of II him per
haps."
MY dear girl, feared as much, and
that is why have pointed you to the
/ impossible barrier which lies between
! you-at present. You must master this
! growing fondness before IL masters
! You, for love, my child, when once IL
! gains supremacy rules its victims as
with rod of iron, and laughs to scorn
the rules of propriety. Think of the
distressing scandal which would agi-
tate the military circles of the whole
land were it to become known that the
beloved daughter of one of the most
distinguished officers of the army had
bestowed her love upon a humble pri-
vate soldier in the ranks. The finger
of scorn would be pointed Mt you, dear,
and your old father, were he to survive
the shock, would resign his proud posi-
ton and seek to bury himself from the
world in obscurity and retirement
You are troading dangerously near the
brink of an awful prccipice, Alice, and
/ would lead You away to safer
ground"
"Oh. you brighten moi the girl said,
with am appealing look 81 cannot
smother the emotions which God placed
in my soul, cannot change the nature
lie has given me. and believe it would
oe wicked to torture my own peace of
mind even to preserve unbrokcn the
lines of army social distinction. Mrs.
Colby, confess to You that my eyes
have not been blinded to the growing
regard feel for Mr. Thornton. have
even felt that he might be necessary
TO my future happiness Never 10y
word or look has he shown me any at
tention that would indicate that he en-
tertained toward me aught but feel
lug Of simple friendship, and what you
have told me of his-of hiS--thinlSing a
great deal of me comes as revelation
and confess it, a most pleasing one
But, Mrs. Colby, assure you, on my
honor, that have never once thought
of the military world knowing aught OF
any tender feeling which might exist
between myself and private soldier
did not even intend that you should
know it. dearly as | love you, until
Private Brown Ehould disapuear from
life, and Mr. Thornton, with his mill.
tary service but memory of the past
should step into our social circles. II
this should be brought about, what
them
"Ah! that might make wide diff
ference, dear. Now | begin to under
stand you and you h ave lifted "A great
load of apprehension from my heart
There would be no improperly in q
refined, honorable and worthy gentle
man in civil life aspiring to the hand
of the daughter OF military officer
Many do So and the most happy re-
suits usually follow. Alice, | know
what n woman's love is. | have felt its
nil-consuming fire in my own soul,
feel IL yet, for Capt. Colby and myself
are just as fond lovers, and oftentimes
just as foolish ones, as we were when
our love was sealed with marriage
Now, dear, win be your friend anC
adviser in this matter, if you will Sc
permit. There Qiissing herr is the
seal of my friendship, and want you
TO confde in me. There is but on,
pathway leading to your future hap
piness, and it must not be strayeC
from. While Edward Thornton re
mains as Private Brown you must lool
upon him as but soldier in the ranks
You must avoid him all You can, and
If it be possible, his discharge from tn,
service must be brought about.
think it can be. When that consum
nation is reached he may feel at lib
erty to sue for your hand, and SHOULD
he do SO you must refer him to you
father. His past life must be investi
gated, for you must remember, dear
] haf bat It -.