Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-07
"LoVe's Labor
 Won
By EDWARD B. CLARK.

" years has been a second lieutenant in the United States army. Blair was ap- pointed to the service from civil life, and for year or two prior to his join ing it had been his intention to make an electrical engineer of himself, but the army chance came and in he went. Now this throwing in his lot with Uncle Sam seemed likely to prove a serious thing for Second Lieut.. Blair. He had been in love for several years with pretty Jennie Boyce, who was kind enough to reciprocate and to love Blair just about as hard as a girl can. Now when Boyce pater heard that Billy" Blair was going into the army he sent for Jennie and said: You never can marry young Blair with my consent. I was willing as long as l believed he was going to take up a decent, hard-working profession, but this army officer business, at any rate in these times of peace, is something I won't stand. They're lazy, shift less lot who don't do a thing from morning to night but loaf excepting about once a week, when as officers of the day they have to goaround and ask the sentinels few questions"
 Jennie pleaded, but found it was of no use. Her father had set his face like stone, and the girl thought it was all up. She told Billy aboutit, and Billy was mad and exceeding sorrow full at the same time. He felt the slight put upon his chosen profession, and he didn't want to lose Jennie. "We'l win the old fellow over some way" he said to her, land if we can't do it inside of two years why you just be brave and we'll marry anyway"
 Second Lieut.. Blair joined his troop and was jumped to small post in the suburbs of the town of San Huberto, Porto Rico. Billys moth Ter. went to the island and kept house for her son.
 Now, after the separation from her lover Jennie Bcyce began to get a little peaked and pale. Her father, who was widower, noticed it and called in the doctor. It may be that the doctor had been approached, but whether this be true or not he told old Royce bluntly that his daughter ought to go to the West Indies for couple of months. This was last winter. Even though the old man had put his foot down on his daughters marriage proposition, he loved her, and his fright at her physical condition was in the same measure as his love. So it was that Archibald Joyce and his daughter Jennie took passage on steamer for San Juan, Porto Rico.
 Now it is perhaps needless to say that Billy Blair knew all about the Boyces' movements. He made his mother in- vite old Archibald and his daughter to come to the post to stay from Thurs day night till Monday morning. Mrs. Blair wrote both to Mir. Boyce and to his daughter. She was taking no chance of the old gentleman's keeping the invitation secret. Archibald Boyce said no, but Jennie pleaded and looked so pale that the old man re- tented and said that he'd go to the fort at San Huberto if for no other purpose than to show his daughter what an utterly lazy, useless life an army off, cer led in time of peace. s.They don't do a thing but loaf, Jennie" he said. I'll have no loafing son-in-law around me"
 San Huberto is one-post troop. The captain of troop "P" of the Twen- .tieth cavalry which was stationed at San Huberto, was, on detached dutyas an instructor at West Point The first lieutenant was on second duty in New Orleans. Second Lieut.. Blair was in command of the outfit, and as there was but one troop at the fort he was also post commander.
 Archibald Boyce and his daughter reached Fort San Huberto late in the evening. They were in the snug little parlor of Billy Blair's quarters, which were presided over by the motherly Mrs. Blair. MT. Boycey" said Billy, "you don't know much of army life, and possibly you'd like to make my round of duties with meto-morrow.'
 The old fellow smiled a bit satiric- ally. 'Well, yes, MT. Blair," he said, 'I'll go the rounds with you, and though I'm much more than double your age. I guess it won't tire me much. Jennie and I are to be here three days, and I'll guarantee to go your rounds with you every day and not cry quits," and the old fellow chuckled audibly.
 ''Well, MT. Bryce said Billy, "we shall have to start early. The first call for reveille is at five o'clock. have to receive the report of the roll call, and I will rout you out in good time to get dressed"
 At 5:15 a. m. the next day Archibald Boyce stood on the little parade ground at San Huberto and heard the first sergeant rattle off the roll and make his report to the second lieuten- ant. The troop broke ranks. Now, MT. Boyce," said Billy, ''as this is g. one-troop post, and I am the only of ficer here, l am officer of the day every day and adjutant all the time, so now l must go and inspect the men'smess.' They walked to the little mess hall, and Billy conscientiously tasted all the food to see that it was up to the mark. Then with his visitor he went to his quarters, and together they break lasted. 'I have to hurry a Httle," said iRilIy "because as commandinp officer