The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-04-10
- | eome In. Malor?'

tho Major pushed toward him, and
slowly tlled his pipe from the prof
fered jar
Major Wright" said he, at last, Il
want to leave tho post"
The old gentleman looked UP quick
". Leave the post man? Why, what
for?"
The young officer arose and stood
In front of the commandant.
you've been more than a friend
and kind commander to me, sir, and
come to you to ask this favor
"You did right to come to me.
What's the trouble, my boy?"
Years ago, when he was a young
ster, he had loved the boys mother,
and when her son had come from the
Point" he had tried to be more than
a kind commander and a friend TO
him" It was with the solicitude of
a father for his son that he asked:
Curtis, my dear boy, what is the
matter? I thought you were content
here, and you've made an old man
feel like living; but now tell me,
what's on your mind?" and he rested
his hand on Burke's shoulder.
The lieutenant walked up and down
the room twice before he began.
Margaret"
Il thought So" broke In the Major;
Il thought it was the little fiirt."
mo, no, sir; not that. 1t isn't her
fault" and Burke sank into his seat
again and hid his face in his hands.
-lts Robinson"
The other man recalled an episode
in his own youth as he gazed at the
boy he loved
Major, listen; I'll tell you all.
You're the best friend l have on
earth, and you will understand, You
know Margaret and were as good
as engaged for nearly a year. Well,
when Robinson became sick at Fort
LeaYenworth and was exchanged to
this post, you know how glad | was;
for Ed was my chum and classmate,
you know. Well, he hadn't been here
long when I saw how it was. lie was
trying to win Margaret"
mot he, your best friend?"
Friend! A true friend doesn't
steal away the girl you love. l saw
this a month ago, and didn't say a
word to Margaret or to him. Finally,
Peggy"-he half smiled-I mean Mar
garet, began to like him; so today
/ went to her, Major, and released
her from every obligation she had
toward me-"
The old man nodded musingly.
"And she told me she didn't love me
any more, and she did love Ed Rob-
inson," Burke went on; but she
fatty denied that he had ever told her
his feelings, or tried to prejudice her
against me in the least. She wanted
10 defend him, you know. So, Major,
I've thought it all over, and I've
come to you to ask if | can't leave
the post. can't stay here and see
her His voice half broke as he
hid his face in his hands
mot tonight, my boy. Stay"
mo sir" insisted the younger man
you'd better take man with you.
mo, sir, l want to be alone. And
Row, good-by, dear sir. You've al
ways been so good! You seem like
a father. You know mine died when
I was so young never knew how il
felt to have one"
A half hour later a horseman left
the post by the west stockade gate
He rode at walk with his chin on his
breast, and seemed Obvious to every
thing. The cool mountain breeze sans
softly to the tall grass as each blade
bent It's head to hear the music. Tit
blue hemisphere above glistened witt
O thousand eyes, which with thell
merry twinkle tried to make the MAJ
forget his sorrow. but on he rode
Burke's was not the only note OF CHS
cord; for if he had noticed the north
west sky, he would have seen the re
lection of many fires, and had he lis
tened attentively he would have hear
the weird notes Of an Indian song an
the beat of many dancing feet. But Of
he rode, and as the morning sun faint
~ tinted the mist high up on the noun
Gains, he entered the foot hills and wa
lost to view.
That morning, as the major re
turned from guard mount, a girls
voice called to him from the balloon
OF the post surgeons house:
major, want to see you. Com
over, do"
The commandant bit his lip as h
turned and saw Margaret.