The San Francisco call., 1904-02-28

During that first day there was an
unusual amount of promenading in
Officers Row. Lieutenants, sergeants
and even corporals found time to walk.
in approved military style, past the
coloners quarters. and there was one
who showed signs neither Of excitement
nor interest. 1t was Captain Roberts.
He told his friend, a first lieutenant
that he wouldn't go around the corner
to see twenty girls; whereat the lieu
tenant grunted and said something
about behavior in the Philippines, add
ing with frank sarcasm, You're a
peach, you are, to pose as woman
hater after. cutting me out with the lit
tie senorita so clean that every fellow
in the regiment was afraid to have you
see his girl. 1 know you all right, old
pal, and I'll bet with the rest that you
take your little stroll in the row on the
heels of some big-headed corporal. L
passed the house, myself" he owned
boldly, "and / saw her, too. Shes
regular beaut Dick"
But even his best friend failed to
awaken the interest of the captain. He
went so far as to get into citizens
clothes that same afternoon and leave
the fort for a walk in the river road
This by the critical corp0rals, was con-
sidered stuck up.
When the captain reached a sandy
strip of beach a mile or more from the
fort he stretched out at full length and
gazed at the water where freight and
passenger steamers passed on their
routes to the Great Lakes.
His thoughts, whether they were on
commerce or navigation, were profound
indeed for he started when he heard
the rush of a woman's skirts and saw
from the corner of his eye that girl
was approaching. He moved little,
but did not look in her direction until
the girl stopped and said softly, Il beg
your pardon, but isn't th1s-lt Is! Dlck'
1 knew 1T was you!
Captain Roberts sprans TO ms 1eet
and looked into the girls flushed face.
'Its Margaret, Dick, she said.
Peggy"
Roberts took the hand she offered.
Peggy he said wonderingly. Peggy,
you take my breath away. Where did
you come from?'
I'm staying at Colonel kleins, but
where did you come FROM?
You at the fort?'' he asked incredu-
lously. That's where 1 live. Sit down
here on this rock. Peggy, Peggy
Adams, do you realize how you have
surprised me? When did you strike
these parts?''
This morning"
No! Then you're the girl from the
East? They've been talking about you
for weeks.
How lovely of them-and you?"
why, I'm up there, too"
'"Those cIothes?'' she said doubtfully.
Are 'cits,'" he finished smiling. Il
wear a uniform up there"
"Oh And what are you-what
rank?"
-
Have I?" she laughed. And so nave
you, about two feet higher; and you
went TO West Point after all?'
Yes, father insisted"
do you like the army?"
"Oh, yes when we see active service
Then you have seen active service.
In the Spanish-American war? oh, tell
me about it.
Roberts laughed. Il will some time"
he said. Il will tell you anything you
ask, but let's talk about you now.
Where have you been all these years."
school and college-and around at
places"
THAT means travelling, 1 suppose, yet
you never visited West Point?'
Never. 1 didn't know that you were
there, that you had gone back You
know you said"
''Yes, 1 said several things about that
time. You haven't forgotten then?"
Forgotten? Oh. Dick, couldn't for
get. Never. Wasn't it dreadful?"
"It was rather bad mess, but we
at least I-showed remarkably good
taste, though you weren't as beautiful
then as you are now"
'I can't snub you for that" the girl
said with carefully lowered lashes. 1T
sounds genuine. You always were thor
oughly genuine, Dick"
Eyes, 1 was in earnest then" he said
smiling. You were my first sweet
heart" He laughed aloud. MY, how
you cried when the minister refused to
marry us. / flattered myself that you
were disappointed; but it really was
your pride, you poor little girl"
He regarded the poor little girls
blushing face with tender affection.
'I think that the old minister was
the sweetest man ever met. He knew
that we were eloping. How gentle he
was and tactfuI. have always thought
of him with thankfulness akin to love.
1T thought he was regular old