Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-06-20
THE SERGEANT'S
DAUGHTER
lOriginal.]

Have you always lived hereT
asked.
"Oh, no, ma'am, but I've always lived
in the army. was born in the army
Are you attached to the army?"
II don't know anything else. l cant
say I'm attached to 1t, becaule father
Is only q nOncom., and we don't associ-
ate with the families of the officers"
whats nOncOm."
"A noncOmmssoned officer But
something may happen that will make
this different" she added In conf
dental tone.
"Who Is the officer?" asked.
"What otficer|
1.-THE one you are expecting to mar
ry."
"Oh, dear! How did you knOw?"
IL didn't know. 1 guessed"
HE Is lieutenant Of engineers. He
came here to make an estimate for the
department as to how much 1t would
cost to put the fort in repair. He stay
ed and stayed and stayed. When he
went away, we were engaged"
/ had known army people years be-
fore and understood perfectly the COM
plications likely to arise in this case.
The youngster just out Of West Point
usually wears his heart on his sleeve.
He may not necessarily come to grief
unless he makes mesalliance. The
most unfortunate match for him is
with one "from the ranks"
Before the close Of the summer q
young army officer came to the hotel,
and the same day l noticed on the
register the name Of Francis c. Bou
ton. United States engineers. He was
introduced to me, and we were soon
well acquainted. He told me that he
had come to make some corrections in
an estimate he had made on repairing
the fort. 1t was plain that he was the
lover of the sergeantS daughter. | did
not tell him that | knew her story,
but waited to be informed as to his in
tentiOns toward her. | was six years
his senior, and a boy Of twenty-five is
more In harmony with woman Of
twenty-eight than one near his own
age. 1t was not long before he con-
fided to me that he had given way to
fancy for the girl, knowing that
their marriage would blight the lives
of both, and once in loves meshes he
had not the firmness or the meanness,
which better expresses it, to break
with her.
1t was not long before | found my
self In a position to decide the fate of
these two people. Lieutenant BoutOn,
Notwithstanding his mistake In becOm-
Ing involved, was conscientious
young man and was about to sacrifice
himself to what he considered his hon
or. | had gained q considerable infu-
ence over him and could determine
what he would do. What should ad-
wise?
The more thought of the matter the
more wished to wash my hands Of it,
but l felt as Lieutenant BOutOn did |
about his own complication. Honor |
compelled me to help him. The result |
of my deliberations was an attempt |
to discover how the loss of her lover
would affect the girl. l went to the
fort and. seating myself on rampant.
waited for Julia. She soon saw me
and came out to chat with me.
Julia" ! said after we had talked
you. am engaged to an officer of the
engineer corps"
She paled She had seen me in COM
pany with her lover and knew what
was coming. had not the courage to
20 on.
"Oh. ma'am. you don't know how
you have stabbed me! You are going
to marry NY Lieutenant BOutOn. but 1t
is better shat you should have him
than |. have been thinking lately
what Il drag would be to him."
'If he had acted dishonorably toward
you. would not marry him for the
world"
Don't think that. He fell into it just
ns ] did-withOut thinking"
"And it won't break your heart to
lose him?"
THAT don't know. It's bleak here
In winter. and fear shall be always
Of him. but IL! try to remem-
Der how much better of he will be
with you"
When returned to the hotel, car
ried q verbal release TO Lieutenant
Bouton and sent him away without see
Ing the girl he had wronged. went
TO her every day to watch the effect OF
her loss, having promised him IL it
proved that she could not bear it l.
would bring him back to her. When
autumn came, l took her with me to
the city and began her education in a
field for which had seen evidence of
her fitness-art. Never for moment
lid she show me the least jealousy,
though knew she at times felt it and
struggled 3prd against it.
Years passed. Julia ConrOy had be-
come proficient In art and had made
some reputation. l saw her occasional
y. and she would ask me why | had
never married Lieutenant BOuton. |
Always eyaded giving the true reason.
rhe truth was that had undertaken
% bring Julia up to standard where
,he might be Lieutenant BOuton's wife.
When she had spent years associating
with people of education and refine
nent and had made name for her
,elf In her profession. brought Cap
ain mot LieutenanD Bouton back to
Ter. and they were married.
ROSAMOND ALICIA BUDD.