The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-08-11
The Girl
From the East
By Marjorie A. Barkley
COPYRIGHT, 1901, bH T. C. Mcclure


There was excitement among the
young officers at Fort Wayne when
Hicks, the little corporal who wore his
cap on the side of his head. spread the
report that the girl from the east had
come and had been escorted to Colonel
klein's house.
During that first day there was an
unusual amount of promenading in
Officers row. Lieutenauts, sergeants
and even corporals found time to walk.
in approved military STYLE past the
colonel's quarters, and there was one
who showed signs neither of excite
ment nor interest. 1t was Captain
Roberts. He told hiss friend, first
lieutenant, that he wouldn't so around
the corner to see twenty girls. Where
at the lieutenant grunted and said
something about behavior in the Phil
ippines, adding, with frank sarcasm:
You're peach. you are, to pose as
woman hater after cutting me out
with the little senorita so clean that
every fellow in the regiment was afraid
to have you see his girl. 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 head
ed corporal. l passed the house my
SELF" he owned boldly, land saw her
too. Shes a 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 walk in the river road
This, by the critical corporals, was con-
sidered stuck UP.
When the captain reached sandy
strip of beach a mile or more from the
fort he stretched out at full length
and passenger steamers passed on their
routes to the great lakes.
His thoughts, whether they were
upon commerce or navigation. We're
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 NOV
ed Il little, but did not look in her di-
rection until the girl stopped and said
softly: 81 beg your pardon. but ism t
this-it Is! Dick. I knew 1t was you"
Captain Roberts sprang to his feet
and looked into the girls flushed face.
ITS Margaret, Dick she said
Peggy"
| Roberts took the hand she offered
Peggy" he said wonderingly. Peg
gy, you take my breath away. Where
did you come from?''
Tin staying at Colonel Klein's. bu,
where did you come from?"
"You. at the fort?'' he asked in
credulously. "'rhat's where live. Sii
| down here on this rock. Peggy. Pc.
| gy Adams. do you renlize how yc,
have surprised me? When did you
strike these parts?"
This morning."
mo. Then you're the girl from tht
east? They've been talking about yor
for weeks"
How lovely Of them and your
"Why. I'm up there too
"Those clothes?" she said doubtful
ly.
Are Cts" he finished. smiling. :"
wear uniform up there"
"Oh! And what are yon-wha
rank?'
Captain" he said briefly. peggy
how you have grown up
'dave IY' she laughed. "And 81
have you, about two feet higher, ant
you went to West Point after all?'
/ Eyes. father insisted"
''Do you like the army?'
"Oh, yes, when we see active serv
ice"
"Then you have seen active service
In the Spanish-American war? Oh
tell me about it"'
Roberts laughed. 81 will some time
lie said. Il will tell you nything yo'
ask, but let's talk about you now
Where have you been all these years!
"School and college and around a
places"
"That means travelling. / suppose, ye
you never visited West Point?'
"Ncyes. l didn't know that you wer
there that you had gone back. Yo'
know you said
Eyes, said several things about tina
time. You haven't forgotten then?'
Forgotten? Oh, Dick, l couldn'
forget! Never! Wasn't it dreadful?"
1T was rather bad mess. but We
at least I-showed remarkably goo
taste, though you weren't as beautifr
then as you are now"
Il can't snub you for that" the gil
said, with carefully lowered lashes
''It sounds genuine. You always wer
. thoroughly genuine. Dick"
Eyes, I was in earnest them" b
said, smiling. You were my frs
sweetheart" He laughed aloud. "M.
how you cried when the minister r,
fused to marry us! l fiattered myse
that you were disappointed, but it rea
ly was your pride, you poor little girl
He regarded the poor little girl
blushing face with tender affection.
81 think that the old minister wa
the sweetest man ever met. He kne'