The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-05-20
THE SERGEANT'S
 l DAUGHTER
IorlrlnaLl

and on reaching it was shown about by the sergeants daughter, Julia. She was very pretty, and there was an individu' allty about her which rendered her un' forgetable.
 "Haye you always lived herer asked.
 "Oh, no, ma'am, but I've always lived in the army. I was born In the army.
 "Are you attached to the armyP
 "I don't know anything else. can't say I'm attached to it, because father Is only a noncom., and we don't assocl' ate with the families of the officers"
 "Whats Q nOncom.T
 "A noncommissioned officer. But something may happen that will make this different" she added in a conf dental tone.
 "who is the oficerY' asked.
 "What oticerp
 ''The one you are expecting to mar ry."
 "Oh, dearl How did you knowr
 'I didn't know. l guessed"
 'He Is lieutenant of engineers. H6 came here to make an estimate for tho department as to how much it would cost to put the fort in repair. He stay cd and stayed and stayed When h' went away, we were engaged
 hnd known army people years be fore and understood perfectly the com pncntions likely to arise in this case The youngster just out of West Poln usually wears his heart on his sleeve He may not necessarily come Co griei unless he makes a mesalliance. Th' most unfortunate match for him U with one from the ranks"
 Before the close of the summer a young army officer came to the hotel and the same dRy l noticed on th' register the name O. Francis c. Bou ton. United States engineers. He wal introduced to me. and we were soor well acquainted. He told me that h' had come to make some corrections 1T an estimate he had made on repairing the fort. It was plain that he was th' lover of the sergeants daughter. diC not tell him that l knew her story but waited to be informed as to his in tentlons toward her. I was six year hls senior. and a boy of twenty-two i' more in harmony with a woman of twcnty-elght than one near his owl age. It was not long before he con gGcd to me that be had given way t' fancy for the girl, knowing thai their marriage would blight the livei of both. and once in loves meshes h' had not the frmness or the meanness which better expresses 1t, to breal with her.
 It was not long before found my self in a position to decide the fate oi these two people. Lieutenant Bouton notwithstanding his mistake In beccm Ing Involved. was conscientious young man and was about Co sacrifice dmsclf Co what he considered his hon or. had gained a considerable innu Cnce over him and could determine what be would do. What should ad yisc?
 The more thought of the matter th, more wished to wash my hands of lt but felt as Lieutenant Bouton dlC about his own complication. Honoi compelled me to help him. The result of my deliberations was an attempt to discover how the loss of her lovel would affect the girl. went to th' fort and, seating myself on a rampant waited for Julia. She soon saw m' and came out to chat with me.
 "Julla." I said after we had talked awhile. "I am similarly situated tC you I am engaged to an officer of tho engineer corps"
 Sue paled. She had seen me in com pany with her lover and knew what was coming. I had not the courage C so on.
 "Oh. ma'am. you don't know how you have stabbed mel You are goini Co marry my Lieutenant Bouton. but | Is better that you should have hin than I. l have been thinking latei! what drag would be to him."
 "Tf be had acted dishonorably towart you. would not marry him for th' world"
 Don't think that He fell into lt jus as I dld-without thinking"
 And it won't break your heart t' lose hlmi"
 "That l don't know. It's bleak her, in winter, and I fear shall be alw0yi thinking of him. but rI try to remem Der how much better on he will b, with you"
 When I returned to the hotel, car rled verbal release to Lieutenant Bouton and sent him away without sec ing the girl he had wronged. I went to her every day to watch the effect oi her loss, having promised him if | proved that she could not bear it would bring him back to her, Wher autumn came. took her with me C the city and began her education in ( field for which had seen evidence oi her fltness-art Never for a momen did she show me the least jealousy though I knew she at times felt 1t and struggled hard against 1t.
 Years passed. Julia Conroy had be come proficient in art and had madt soune rcDutation- I saW her occasional