The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-21

| paper anu, healinR nnnBelf, proceed
ed to read the article indicated. The
general scanned the face OF the young
man keenly as he read and, while in
terest was plainly expressed there,
he saw no trace OF emotion, and GER
tainly none Of enthusiasm The gen
eral, greatly disappointed, asked,
We'll, Harold, what is your opinion
Of it?,
Il think the young American off,
Ger displayed great courage and abil-
ity," he replied "but how much bet
ter II would be II some international
agreement could be reached by which
all such difficulties could be adjusted
without the shedding of human blood.
War is a cruel relic ofla1 barbarous
age and one that our Christian. civill-
zation should--have long since out
grown"
The general thoroughly disgusted
fell into a moody silence and Harold
took bis departure.
After his visitor had gone the gen.
ersl sat long in meditation over the
sentiments he had expressed. He
was, like all brave men, possessed of
generous impulses and his first
thought was to find some reasonable
means by which to justify the young
mans attitude, for he did not desire
to condemn him If he could possibly
avoid It. But he finally found him
self forced TO the conclusion that the
opinions held by the young man
could proceed from no other cause
than an element Of cowardice in his
nature.
Usually, when he had reached a
similar conclusion concerning an in
dividnal, he felt for them contempt
only. For Harold, however, he had
no such feeling. But, on the con-
trary,, sorrow and disappointment
took its place. He had always been
fond OF the Young man and the dis
covery of what he believed to be a
yellow Streak 10 him caused him 4
keen pahs OF regret. ~ "A 'Vi ,
He watched with Concern the grow
Ing intimacy between Harold and his
daughter, and thought 1t best TO IN
tervene before their affairs assumed
more serious proportions, and was on
the point of going to Madge and de-
nouncing Harold as coward when
he learned incidentally that Harold
was about to leave on the following
week for Newchester to take a course
OF military training as final round
Ing out to his education
Gen. Hamilton was glad now that
he had not denounced the young man
to Madge as a coward, as he was
about to do. Now ne would wait
confidently.
When Harold had been three
months at Newchester, a fire occur
red, in one of the wings of the dor
mitory which placed the lives of a
large number of cadets In Jeopardy. Il
who weres however, rescued by the
cool head, and splendid nerve of
Knox. When the general read the
glowing account OF the young mans
''undaunted courage and matchiess
heroism," he wondered how he had
ever found 1t In HIS heart to have
branded him as a coward. 'i7''7
His military training having been
completed, Harold returned to his
home. The tall, broad-shouldered,
deep-chested young man had acauir-
ed new pose and an added dignity. /
and had also grown a handsome mill
tary mustsche. AS he walked up the
avenue leading to his house. the gem
eral remarked that he was '"every
whit soldier" He greeted the young
man cordially, and congratulated
him on his fine soldierly bearing.
Madge witnessed with pleasure tho
marked favor with which her father
regarded Harold. Harold had not
made formal declaration of love to
her, and yet the young people under
stood each other perfectly.
When congratulations were over,
and half-hour's pleasant conversa-
lion had ensued, the general invitel
big visitor to inspect new defensive
work that he had constructed during,
lis absence, at the rear of the house, Is
Although 1t, was but a mimic fortsthe
general had bestowed so much care f.
ipon It's plan and construetion,th that +
I complied in the minutest detail y
With the strictest requirements ''of
Military engineering bii7ys
II am informed" remarked the
general, when they arrived at the
ort, that they graduated you frorl
he academy as captain, that being
he highest rank that they are com
'etent to bestow. | am gratified 20
now 1t, for | am sure that nature
las fitted you to command men. Add
ng your military training to your
atural endowments, am confident
hat should occasion arise for you %
raw your sword in defense OF your
flag, you would give a good
ccount of yourself"
Attributing Harold's evident disin-
lination TO discuss the subject to the
royerbial modesty OF brave man,
he general invited him TO carefully
lspect his little fort. and to give
i'm his opinion concerning 1t as a I
efensiye work, supposing it to be OF
Ifflcient dimenRions IN ha available