The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-07-03
THE MAJORS RETURN
Ry ANNA RENrLEY.

Nnlttu states cavalry anu uA0 just
come from the far west She was a
npinster Of twenty-eight. She protect
cd herself from the suns rays by an
elaborate parasol, which she held in a
Bhapely gloved hand He sat on her
sunny side with the parnsol between
them. He changed his seat 80 that he
could see her face.
"Can you tell me-" he said, stepping
up to her and raising bis hat defer
entiaily, when this building was erect
cdr
y cannot." she replied. looking up
at his sta1wart figure.
"Th1 reaeon ask he said, drop
ping, into confidential tone, Us that
right where this building stands TWEEN
" years ago today parted with a
woman who was to have been my
wife. have returned TO visit the
spot on this twentieth anniversary"
You are rare example OF con-
stancy.- she said sympathetically.
Soldiers are usually models Of con-
gtancy."
AAcy UAUt Oub buhutneI west
Point cadet proposed to me. learned
that he had been engaged to three
girls In two seasons"
~Boys, mere boys. those feIlowsl But
took no general interest in your sex
while at the Point. loved when 4
went there. and when left spent my
leave before joining here with the girl
! loved.~
"And you lost herr"
Yes" Then, after several efforts to
speak: "But the story Is too cad to
tell. Her father owned a cottage here.
For aueht l know she may sim be
spending her Summers here"
"We have a cottage and spend every
summer here. II you VIII con6de her
name 20 me I may be able to tell you
something Of her.
"Hsr name be hesitated. was 1t
that he shrank from giving It to a
stranger7 Her name Is or was Mar
garet HeYsns."
~How strangeF said the girl after
brief pause. Margaret Ravens is my
aunt"
He started Her aunt Did the
word tell him Of crusty old maid or
a fat lady with childreng Then his
voice trenabied as-he asked:
Els she mariedY
~NO.-
There was parse. during which the
sad sea waves rolled in, saying. 1--WE
are passing on. We are passing on"
"What was your class at West
PointT' she asked.
Let. me see." thoughtfully. "It was
1898. we were graduated IN a hurry
and sent or to Cuba"
Then you must be In error as 70
this being the anniversary Of that
parting. The Spanish war took place
only q decade age"
ibid say twenty yearsl Oh. no;
not twenty meant to say ten"
Soldiers are notorious for their care
lessnees IN aman matters, especially
as to time. suppose they all expect
be killed and never grow old. But
thsAA love Of yours for my aunt--how
singular that you should meet me
hereF
-very.
@And how fortunate!S
She looked into bis eyes to see If he
really considered an opportunity to re-
turn to hts lost love blessing. He
kept the secret.
''That depends" be said Il am but
a battered soldier she was when we
parted not only beautiful, but wealthy.
She may have kept both beauty and
wealth"
mot her beauty Twenty years IL a
long while Tor woman TO preserve
that"
You foEgot; It is only tenn
''Dpen ten years bring their changes.
Ny aunt is not beautiful She met
with an accident. she wears glass
eye.r
A pause. after witch be said impas-
siveEg, ~Do you suppose that In an
affair Of the heart any marTing Of a
woman's beauty could turn a soldier
from his hover
"A soldier doesn't walt for a WON
ans beauty TO be marred or to fade
He doesn't giwe 1t time"
You speak ironically. Am to re-
gret having conhded to you matter
nearest my hearth
sNo. I aympathize with you 80
heartily THAT am going to reunite you
with your lost love. The cottage over
there with hodge Is ours. Call this
afternoon for cup OF tea at 5 and
you shall see her"
What passed through his mind be-
tween N and no one knows. Did he
realty wish to meet one who had
passed the freahness Of yoath--one
who wore d glass eye? Though lie
had displayed con6dlng nature this
secret he kept % himself 1e called
at s. The lady he had met in the
morning came, superbly dressed. into
the drawing room to receive him.
''fEere Is my aunt, she said, taking
Up photograph album and turning to
. psstuBe OF girl Of eighteen.
He looked at the picture. then up at
the ceiling. He seemed wrapped IN the
past.
'TEumbugg' she exclaimed. breaking
into laugh. you don't even remem-
Der ne as was then. The picture Is
nina taken about the time you pro
posed to me during the graduating hop
at west Point / am not astonished
that you dent recognize me. after
ten years change. but that you
shouldn't remember me as you saw me
on that occasion Is humiAating,"