Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-09-30
Long Life
To Death

colonels hand-hour homily to the hot
blood of youth. mo crown of years
and honors for me, please"
"A short death and a merry one la
good enough for Latimer," Burke in.
terrupted.
with quick death and a sure
one," some one else supplied.
"And large cold bottle and an
other one" Burke continued, running
the toast down to finish.
Above this uproar of protest and ap-
2lause clear soprano lifted.
For he's jolly good fellow"
and the colonel, having gotten only SO
far as the battle of Gettysburg in his
remarks, joined with will In the
chorus and forgot to finish the rest Of
his one, time-honored speech.
Whether the drawn lips framed the
words or the cry of her soul thrilled
the question to his own, Latimer could
not have said, but against his will his
eyes turned to those of the woman be-
side him.
For a send-off, he explained with
overdone nonchalance. Il got my or
ders yesterday"
Other than an all but imperceptible
Strengthening of her shoulders the
girl gave no sign she had heard.
"Azalie is more radiant than ever
tonight plump matron leaned
across the colonel to say to a red-hair-
ed girl, noting the effect of the un-
wonted pallor and burning eyes.
"Why shouldn't she be?" the red
haired girl snapped in answer, with
a two-million-dollar count for hus-
band?"
els it announced?" the plump wom-
an gasped. 81 had heard nothing Of
it. She has decided then between the
count and General Espendola?"
"The mere fact of the colonel's
sending her in to dinner with no
body-in-particular like Lieutenant
Latimer points to the fact that she
has decided upon one of them but is
not going to announce it yet" the red
haired announced with an air of SUI
perior wisdom.
"Ah, yes" agreed her fat friend
with something like a sigh; II sup
pose even Azalie could not stand out
long against two millions"
Here a sudden outburst of laughter
at the other end Of the table gave
Latimer the further chance to add:
"Of course, this is sudden. A sol
dier's movements are bound to be,
you know"
The shadow of the waving, inter
lacing vines fell in delicate tracery
like the meshes of a net upon the
man and the woman at his side, and
the heavy fragrance Of the air drug
ged it with bitter-sweet memories
that would not down.
"But you are ordered back to the
United States-not to Mindanao?"
The voice Of the questioner and the
terms of the question brought Lat-
mer up with a pride in the sporting
blood of the Dons. He could not see
the wicked little half-moons her nails
were cutting into her palms.
Noting their apparent lack Of inter-
est in each other man leaned across
the table with story meant to st1mu-
late conversation, at which Azal1e
parted her lips in smile that seemed
to pass for mirth. A scarlet camelia
had fallen from it's high estate in the
blue-black masses of her hair and
hung rakishly over her ear, but she
did not care.
'Latimer is at 1t again, making hay
with the last ray left" the colonel
bent toward the plump matron to say,
who, seeing farther than the happy
faces and the cleaning shoulders
dimpling into the fluffy whiteness
against the uniforms of the men, nod
ded, adding: "The days Of our youth
are the days of our glory" and the
two gray heads leaned closer TO mourn
together their lost paradise.
"This Is an exchange Of your own
seeking?" a lifeless voice at his ell
bow aroused Latimer.
'T am acting under orders" Latimer
repeated, reaching for the tray In
front of him, but the hand that rolled
his cigarette was not now the hand
of the man who held medals for mark
manship.
The red-haired girl, springing cat
like upon Latimer's unguarded mo-
ment, caught, too, Azalie's futile eff
fort to raise her fork to her lips.
why, what's the matter with you,
Azalie?" she asked, directing the 9TH
ers' attention to the girls nerveless
hand; your ring positively clatters
against your plate trying to hate her
for her beauty and great luck.
And Azalie, darling Of the gods,
looking into the glitter Of light and
color before her, saw only swirling
blackness. The night was sultry to
suffocation, but the erect, white fig
ure shivered. Twirling the heavy seal
ring on her finger, this is most
interesting ring" she said quietly,
turning the point of contact from her
hand to the heavy ring upon 1t. ut
has a history"
"And that is-?" Burke questioned,
carrying on an animated conversation
with his neighbor and hearing every
thing else that was said.