The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-06-13
Ole
GALL
1t Occasions a Struggle
Between Love
and Duty
BY CLARISSA MACKIE
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1871.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Sylvia Moore was visiting at her I'M
cle's Texas ranch when she read the
Aaring headlines announcing that Tim
othy Robeson's regiment had been or
dered to Ell Paso to take part in the
maneuvers on the Mexican border.
She stared at the newspaper until the
members of the family made no secret
of their alarm.
what is the matter, SylviaT' de-
manded Annie Lake curiously. 'Has
Timothy eloped with pretty widow.
or is he the victim Of
"He might as well be dead and bur-
led" cried Sylvia tragically as she
tossed the paper across the table.
Hes gone to war;
WAR; they repeated. what warp
sWhy, the war with Mexico, of
course. Hasn't the president ordered
large force to the borderT
Mr.. Lake picked up the newspaper
and read aloud the surprising intel
igence that the war department had
ordered large body Of men. arms and
supplies to Ell Paso to take part in
army maneuvers. He read that troops
were already on the way and that
within few days at the latest tent
ed city would spring up beside the
southwestern border
Last of all he announced that the
regiment of which Timothy Robson
was a lieutenant was on its way to
Texas.
ION the strength of this report you
are positive that Tins going to be
killedT asked her uncle. with quiz
Kical smile at Sylvia.
YES" said Sylvia positively. II had
the queerest feeling when said good
by to him in New York. You know
he's always joking, and when he said,
BE sure to return In time to dance
at your own wedding, Sylvia it came
over me that might never come back;
that there might never be wedding
at ALL But l never thought Of Tim
being the one Tears came into Syl-
Was forgetmenot eyes, and her cousin
extended sympathizing handkerchief.
"Poohl' uttered Mr.. Lake contemp-
tuously. You make me extremely
weary, Sylvia. AS an American girl
/ thought you had more pride Of coun-
try than to weep because your young
man is called to arms"
"A mans first duty cannot always
be to his country. Oh, l know that's
reasonable or something horrible. but
I would not have thought SO much
about it If we had not gone over to
FL Paso the other day and witnessed
all the fighting across the river In
Juarez."
I'VE didn't see very much, just some
pufts of smoke and lots of noise. It
wasn't nearly as bloody as l antici-
pated," remarked Annie thoughtfully.
II saw enough. ] wouldn't go there
again for anything in the world" de-
clared Sylvia. rising from her chair
and dropping good night kiss on her
aunt's unconscious brow.
"Then you won't ride into 81 Paso
with me on Thursday and see the
troops arrive?" suggested Mr.. Lake,
returning to his newspaper with an
Indifferent air. Want to go, AnnT
"Of course | do. dad. And you, Syl-
WAR; she questioned her cousin.
II must go, tool" cried Sylvia eager
ly. Why. might see Timothy
there"
"You probably will, my dear, II he
has arrived" And Mr.. Lake buried
himself in his newspaper, this time
oblivious to everything save the good
night kisses. to which he submitted
with genuine pleasure.
The next morning Sylvia and Annie
mounted their horses and rode to the
farthest boundaries of the ranch.
From here, on the highest ridge, they
paused and looked under shading
hands toward the southwest, where a
cloud hung over the place where was
the city of El Paso.
perhaps by tomorrow he win be
there" said Sylvia aloud.
Annie nodded her black curls. ut
may be that he will arrive today" she
suggested. with CLEAN Of amuse-
ment in her dark eyes.
Sylvia's blue eyes turned to the east
ern horizon, where against the pale
gray blue of the sky there blurred a
dark plume Of smoke. Perhaps that
is his train now. Ann" She pointed
with her whip at the smoke.
at may be. honey. l think you're
the luckiest girl In the world, Sylvia
Moore Tins such a fine fellow. l
wonder Annie stopped abruptly
and fell to musing, with her black
eyes fixed on the rolling alfalfa that
rippled before her.
What do you wonderr asked Syl-
via curiously. withdrawing from her
| own reverie
Il was wondering If you really meant
what you said about asking Tim to
stay away from a battle II there is to
be one" said Annie, her eyes now
gravely fixed on her cousin.
"a man owes some duty to the girl
he loves, and there are plenty Of men
who can fight for the country-men
who have no friends or relatives or
have no ties to bind them How self
ish am, Annie, and yet somehow I
can only seem to think Of two things
today. One is Timothy Robson, and
the other is myself"
Lets talk about something else"
said Annie And SO the conversation
turned to the beauty Of the March day
and thence to the absorbing topic OF
clothes.
1t was not until two days after this
conversation that the little party set
forth to go to Ell Paso. They started
| just at daybreak
All the way to Ell Paso Sylvia's ears
were eagerly alert for the sound OF
warfare. She did not dare voice heI
fears. but they were very large fears
and very agonizing ones too
She had been proud indeed that hel
| future husband should be an Officer
| In a fine regiment. She thought the
sight Of Timothy in his uniform the
dearest thing in the world, and the
very thought Of the military wedding
that would mark her marriage to the
handsome young man sent her into &c
| stasies of delight.
This was the other side Of the wal
| picture. Here was the beat of the
drum calling to arms. Real powder and
shot had been issued to the men, anC
real shot would be fired In fancy shs
saw her beloved killed at the head o.
his column, always leading. always
waving his sword and shouting encour
agement to bis weary men.
They came upon the new city, thu
tented one. all Of sudden and looked
with awe upon the results Of q deeI