Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-02-17
BETWEEN LOVE AND DUTY.
AND SMITH DECIDED IN
FAVOR OF DUTY.
Would Not Leave The Service
Dishonarably Though a
Fortune Awaited
Him.

Fifteen thousand dollars aud pos
sibly bride is the reward to be re-
ceived by Frank Smith, an apprentice
steward in the hospital at the Marine
Barracks, for displaying those sterling
qualiaties which are ia such great
demand in the service of Uncle Sam.
Although offered a large sum if ne
would leave the service dishonorahly
he refused the offer. repudiated any
intention or wish TO leave with the
odium of desertion attached to his
name and thought that he had given
up all hope OF ever getting the money
which was offered him. Instead, how
ever, the money is his. He has re-
ceived letter which pleases him far
more than the money itself nd there is
every reason TO believe that he will
win the bride for when he has been
waiting.
On March next he will have serv-
ed his term of enlistment. will claim
his bride and then leave for his old
home in France. When he leaves il
will be with an honorable discharge
and conscious Of duty we'll perform
ed in the face of great temptation.
That he had the moral courage to re-
sist the temptation, TO still the voice
of his desires and follow in the paths
where duty lead. is probably respon-
sible for the pleased smile he wears
these days. When but a lad Smith,
who is still very young man, left
his nome in France TO come TO this
country. After travelling about for
some time he entered the Navy and
was enlisted as an apprentice hospital
steward. He was detailed TO the
Marine Barracks ON the government
far m and has since been located here.
Smith was making rapid progress
and another enlistment would prob.
ably have made him a full -fiedged
steward with chances for still further
heights to reach. But this was 10 be
changed. A letter which came TO him
from far over the sea, from an interior
town in the heart of France, worked
wonderful change in his future life.
After he had left France he kept MP
but desultory correspondence with
his father. A short time since he re-
ceived letter from his father. The
letter urged that he come on at once.
He said that he was growing old and
needed his son to smooth the pathway
of declining years.
Smith replied TO his father, stating
the nature of his employment and
that TO return TO France at once would
render it necessary for him to desert
and leave the service dishonorably
To this his father replied that he want
ed his son with him so badly that he
would counsel him to take any step
which would hasten their meeting.
Again did Smith reply and 20 into
details more explicitly with reference
to the odium which would attach to
him in the event of his desertion.
He stated that as much as he loved his
father and would be with him he
would not desert, but would serve un-
til his term expired.
AS his father had spoken of giving
his son large amount of money If he
would return to him at once, Smith
gave up all hopes of ever getting the
sum, as he feared he had wounded his
father grievonsly. In this, however.
he was entirely wrong. He is just in
| receipt of another letter from his
father, in which the latter is unable
to find sufficient terms in which to
commend his son for the stand ne had
taken. He felicitated him on his
bravery, ON the noble manner in which
he had decided between love and duty
and said that he awaited the time
when he could clasp him by the hand
| and claim him as son. Enclosed in
the letter was statement to the effect
that the old gentleman had disposed
of his business and had made over to
his beloved son seventy-five thousand
francs, which is but little less than
| $l5, 900.
Smiths pere stated that he did this
as a small token of that esteem and
respect in which he held his SON.
| Urging him to return to his home as
soon as he could honorably do so he
closed with further manifestations of
pride and fluctuations. To Smith
| the letter was timely, for when his
term of enlistment expires. on March
8 next, ne would have re-enlisted.
| All now is changed. He will leave
| the srevice at the end of his term and
return to France. When asked today
if he would go alone he said be tried
to think such would not be the case.
| He expressed the hope that when he
leaves, about ten days after his dis
charge, he may take with him a well
known Annapolis young lady to whom
the pleasing young man has been pay
| ing assiduOus court 70 some time.
All this. however, is not settled,
Dut IL Oiu1bn 10 os touhcAOus III bls
efforts to win the young lady as he
was TO remain here with honor rather
| than desert, he will surely carry across
the sea, to the land of sunshine and
| pleasure daughter to delight the de-
clining days Of doting father, who
| sits alone, day after day, and marks
the time which must elapse before he
can again see his son. In the mean.
init \ wr-1I ~
persuasion with which he is so pienti
fully supplied to satisfy the one of bis
choice that he needs her.