Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-04-02
Loves Labor
Won"
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.

uTILLIAM BLAIR is a Chicago boy
wv who for something over two
years has been a second lieutenant II
the United States army Blair was ap'
pointed to the service from civil life
and for a year or two prior TO his JOIN
ing il had been his intention 20 make
an electrical engineer Of himself, but
the army chance came and in be went.
Now this throwing in his lot with
Uncle Sam seemed likely 10 prove a
serious thing for Second Lieut.. Blair.
He had been ia love for several years
with pretty Jennie Boyce, who was
kind enough TO reciprocate and 10 love
Blair just about as hard as 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. | was willing as long as /
believed he was going TO take up a
decent, Woodworking profession but
this army officer business, at any rate
in these times Of peace, is something
/ won't stand. They're a lazy, shift
less lot who don't do a thing from
morning to night but loaf excepting
about once week, when as officers of
the day they have to go around and ask
the sentiuels a few questions"
Jennie pleaded, but found il was Of
no use. Her father had set his face
like stone. and the girl thought il
was all up. She told Billy about it, and
Billy was mad and exceeding sorrow-
ful at the same time. He felt the
slight put upon his chosen profession,
and he didn't want To lose Jennie.
Wen win the old fellow over some
way" be said to her, "and If we can't
do Il inside Of two years why you just
be brave and Wen marry anyway"
Second Lieut. Blair joined his troop
and was jumped to a small post in the
suburbs Of the town of San Huberto,
Porto Rico. Billy's mother went to the
island and kept house for her son.
Now after the separation from her
lover Jennie Boyce began to get little
peaked and pale Her father, who was
widower, noticed il and called in the
doctor. 1t may be that the doctor had
been approached. but whether this be
true or not he told old Boyce bluntly
that his daughter ought to go to the
West Indies for a 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 al her physical
condition was in the same measure as
his love. So it was that Archibald
Joyce and his daughter Jennie took
passage on a 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
wife old Archibald and his daughter to
come 10 the post to stay from Thurs
day night till Monday morning. Mrs.
Blair wrote both TO Mr. Boyce and to
his daughter. She was taking no
chance Of the old gentleman's keeping |
the Invitation a 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 cffi- /
Ger led in time of peace. "They don't |
do thing but loaf, Jennie" he said. /
III have no loafing son-in-law around |
me-"
San Huberto is a one-post troop. |
The captain of troop up" of the Tween |
tieth cavalry which was stationed at
San Huberto, was on detached duty, as
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 i
Mrs. Blair Mr.. Boyce." said Billy |
you don't know much Of army life, |
and possibly you'd like TO make my
round Of duties with me tomorrow"
The old fellow smiled a bit satiric- |
ally. well, yes, Mr.. Blair" he said.
an 60 the rounds with you. and
though I'm much more than double
your age, / guess it won't tire me
much. Jennie and | are to be here
ahree days, and I'm guarantee to go
your rounds with you every day and
not cry quits, and the old fellow
chuckled audibly.
"Well, Mr.. Bryce" said Billy, 1--WE
shall have to start early. The first cali
for reveille is at five o'clock. have 70
receive the report Of the roll call, and
/ will rout you out in good time 0
get dressed"
At 5:l5 a. m. the next day Archibald
Boyee stood on the little parade
ground at San Huberto and heard the
first sergeant rattle off the roll and
make his report 10 the second lieuten-
ana The frsun hroLp rovlrs tsNo,,.