The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-06-29
from Citizen
To Soldier.
IOrigfnal.1

IOrigfnal.1
Royal Trimmingham at eighteen went
to college, and the same year Elihu
Dubbs went to West Point. OF the
two Trtmmingham was the more Pop
ular, the handsomer, the more att1ac-
tive In every respect The young men
had no interest in each other except in |
one respect, and that may be called an |
antagonism instead of an interest |
they loved the same girl.
Genevieve Fay was the girl. 1t is |
somewhat difficult for a maiden of six !
teen to send either of two adorers |
about his business, thus depriving her |
self Of his alteration; but, since Gene |
We've had a decided preference for
Royal Trimmingham and he insisted
upon an answer before going to col
lege, she gave 1t and thus decided his
and her fate. Elihu Dubbs. when he
started for the Military academy. con-
sidered himself the most miserable
man in the world. At that time, how
ever, he had not experienced the mis-
cries of plebe at West Point
Now, birmingham had a hankering
for military life and had sought a
cadets warrant When he had been
at college six months he was appointed
an alternate for a cadetship, and the
party Of the first part failing to pass
the entrance examination the party of
the second part was put in his place.
birmingham left college and entered
the Military academy.
Had the young man fully realized the
position he was placing himself In with
reference to his rival he would have
| plunged into the Hudson river instead
Of stepping on to the wharf at West
Point. Not that Dubbs took the slight
est advantage Of being a third class
man to torment the man that had sup
| planted him. On the contrary, in ac-
cordance with the code Of honor pre-
vailing at the academy he not only re
Trained from the customary pranks
played on plebes, but persuaded his
fellow classmen for his sake to remit
hazing in Trimmingham's case.
Had Genevieve kept away all might
have gone well. But Genevieve could
not wait a minute after her f1ance had
reported at the academy before going
there to see how handsome he would
look as soldier. On the morning of
her arrival she went to guard mount
ing expecting to see Royal in command
either of the retiring or oncoming
guard or both. Royal was not there
but Elihu Dubbs happened to be the
officer Of the retiring guard, and the
clean cut uniform he wore, with his
shining accouterments, the whole sur
mounted with various colored cock
feathers nodding every time he turned
his head, quite took her breath away.
When the ceremony was over she went
back to the hotel thinking how beauti-
full Mr. Dubbs looked and how much
more beautiful dear Royal would look
in the same paraphernalia. She was
told that the gold lace on the sleeve in
dictated an officer, and as she knew
nothing about the customs of cadets
supposed that her lovers arm was Gov
cred with gold lace from shoulder to
wrist
She had written to Royal to meet her
at the station, but If he didn't get her
letter in time to spend the morning
, with her at the hotel. Royal didn't ap-
) pear at the station or the hotel. He
5 could as easily have met her In the
White House. So about the middle OF
I the morning she went down toward
the encampment to find him On the
! plain she saw squads of youngsters in
citizens dress standing in line being
! drilled by the older cadets. Now, there
e is nothing more inappropriate, inartis
tic, inapt, incongruous. than q squad OF
!, plebes in coats and hats of all sizes
colors and materials being turned into
soldiers. They are not yet soldiers. and
as citizens they are beneath contempt
: Genevieve drew near one of the
= squads, her expression indicating be-
supreme disapprobation, when sudden
= ~ in one Of the plebes she recognized
her lover. he was standing like /:
- ramrod between two short men, tn,
I one very fat, the other lean. Thei
coats were of a light color and short
, while his was dark and very long
They wore straw hats, while he wor,
a derby.
n Poor little Genevieve's heart wen
right down into her high heeled shoes
Was this the man she had worshiped
His eyes were upon her. and she forces
faint smile. At the moment trin
little drillmaster yelled in unneces
sarily severe tones, Eyes 'front.'" an
Trimmingham's eyes left hers Us i
= they had been turned by a crank.
- Genevieve would have relieved tn
m situation by going away had she no
,e felt that she might hurt her lover
" feelings by going without q word wit
N him. But birmingham, red as a tut
g key cock, didn't heed an order, an
r, the little drillmaster began to rat
him numerically. There was nothin
is for the poor girl to do but retreat
In I must tell the rest of this story b
g citing events rather than feeling
al What Genevieve's feelings were sh
was by no means sure herself. Sh
Of went to q cadet hop that evening