Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-01-11

| q Anotser VINO Cannot g
is Aapear &
I1 b. GEORGE l. BYINGTON /
+ Copyright, lsl0 bv American Press
/ Q Association. q
100000 100
One morning after guard mounting
the commandments orderly came to my
quarters and said that Mrs Comman-
dant (alias Mrs. Colonel Seymour
/ would like to see me. l obeyed what I
considered an order and betook myself
to the most pretentious house in the
garrison. where the lady lived
"Mr. Boynton." she said, my neph.
ew. All Rogers, Is In lot Of trouble.
At the supper table after the hop the
other night be drank too much wine
he's just out Of West Point you know.
and has no practice at winebibbing-
lnsulted Major Whipple and Is now
under arrest. have invited LDcia
Edgerton. a girl in whom l am much
interested. to visit me especially to
meet All. To confess, l wish to make
q match between the two. This stupid
business Of Alfs getting tpsy on two
or three glasses of wine has spoiled
everything.
ITO tell a girl that the man l have
been praising to her and have indi-
Gated l wanted her to marry is under
arrest for drunkenness would be an
irreparable blow to my matrimonial
plan. l have thought out q scheme for
a substitute. Would you mind person
ating ALI for short timer
Anything to please you. Mrs. sey-
mour."
II could tell Lucia that ALI had been
ordered away on special duty. but rye
thought 1t over and have concluded
that such a subterfuge wouldn't be
wise. would rather post the officers
and their families that you are to act
as ALI. and as soon as he Is restored to
duty we can turn 1t Of as a joke"
Our little post was so dull that not
only l. but the officers and the'~ fami-
lies. were quite pleased with L Sey-
mour's plan. We all enjoyed tie pros
pect Of feeling her protegee. watching
her while we were doing % and OBJ
serving her actions while receiving the
attentions Of the wrong man.
Miss Edgerton arrived. was welcom-
ed by her hostess, and was invited to
dinner. II seemed queer to be address
ed as Mr.. Rogers. but 1t was very nice
to be expected to make myself agree
able to one Of the most winsome young
girls ever met. She was barely eight
| cen, innocent, unsophistocated and ap-
Darently very easy person to perpe-
trate any fraud upon. 1t did not seem
possible to me that the deception could
be carried on very long. but l had no
sooner made Miss Edgerton's acquaint-
| ance than ! hoped 1t might be inter-
| minable.
While found myself in one respect
in clover. In another was troubled
1t was 6ne to be dancing attendance
on a girl intended for Rogers while he
| vas languishing In his quarters. but
the fact was ever present that the day
would come when l must resign her to
her rightful owner. i attended her at
Sunday morning inspection. guard
mounting and such ceremonials as
were possible at q small post. | gal
loped by her side over hill and dale: I
danced with Der. sang duets with her
In short. did everything except make
love to her. which under the circum-
stances would have been dishouorable.
Every one who came In contact with
Miss Edgerton enjoyed Immensely the
innocent ruse that was being perpe-
trated upon her. They were all very
puncrilious in addressing me in her
presence as Mr. Rogers He was very
popular. and there was not one person
at the post who would for the world
have baked the plan to hide the fact
that he was under arrest for intoxica-
ton. ! had expected Mrs. Seymour to
find some way out of the matter with
In few days. but she did not. and II
went on. An order for the converting
OF a court martial to try the real Rog.
ers for conduct unbecoming an officer
and gentleman was daily expected.
but did not arrive. However. there
were few of us at the post. and every
one bes'ame so used to palmiDg me Cd
as Lieutenant Rogers that 1t seemed
the substitution might 60 on inde6.
nitely.
One evening Miss EdRerton. who had
been very shy. surprised me BY init
mating In delicate though unmistak
able way that she was cognlxant oi
Mrs. Seymour's matchmaking scheme
and showed disappointment at my moi
having evinced tender interest in Der
II was hard enough before for me Il
get on without making love. but afteI
this II was impossible. l don't NEAR
that | had fallen 10 love with Miss Ed
ErnoD. We soldiers. prone to extremes
are given as much to iovemakinf
A To fRhfiuR II In however rnfhel