Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-10

consrancy TO contemplate the change
that Immediately came over Lucy
Barton's heart. for she Immediately
withdrew IL from Abner ana gave Ii
TO the young British aid-de-camp.
And vet In view Of the circumstances
can we blame herr The contrast be
tween the Continental's garb and the
British regulars red coat. bun
breeches, high top boots and resplend-
ent decorations was too much for the
seventeen-year-old Lucy, who had
thus far seen men dressed only in the
nnsey woolsey of the period.
The British general concluded to re-
main a few days where he was, max
ing his headquarters in the Barton
farmhouse. In three days Captain
Arthur Claveriy made a greater In
road upon Lucy's heart than Abner
wicks had made in three weeks.
True. the Britisher had no use for her
heart. but a common sense view of
the situation had no place in either Of
them. At the end of the three days
he rode away. gayly kissing his hand
to the little girl who looked after
him. She had looked after Abner
with the same longing. but longing
that sprsng from a different source.
She had pitied him; young Claverly
had dazzled her.
Three years passed. Lucy Barton
remembered her two lovers with their
two very different uniforms. The
Britisher engaged the larger part Of
the thoughts she gave TO both, but IN
Abner's forlorn appearance there was
always something that caused little
ripples TO pass over her heart. More
over, she was now twenty years old
and had become deeply interested in
the struggle between what were now
the United States and England.
Then there were passings OF Ameri-
can troops southward-horse. foot.
dragons, artillery. They were going
to Yorktown for the last campaign Of
the war. One morning before day
light the watch in Philadelphia who
called the hour announced that the
British army had surrendered The
news spread all over the country and
reached the Barton farmhouse.
Not long after this the American
troops began TO pass BaTton's, moving
northward. 1t was late in October,
and the leayes had fallen from the
trees. One evening Lucy Barton, re-
turning from milking, heard a ciatter
OF horses hoofs behind her and turned
just in time to see the general and his
staff who three years before had spent
some days at her home gaIlop past.
Their heads were bowed in mortifica-
ton, for they were paroled prisoners
Of war going to New York to return
from there to England. Lucy saw
among them the young officer who had
so quickly taken her heart from the
Continental, but he failed to recognize
her.
= A week later regiment of United
States infantry marched northward by
the house and with very different
mien. Their heads were held high;
their step was springy, their whole ap
pearance triumphant. At their head
rode their colonel, a youngster who
had attained the command only a
short time before and in passing
through Philadelphia had purchased .
brand new uniform. He was Abner
Wlcks, who had for three years been
rising in rank and had especially dis
tinguished himself during the lighting
at Yorktown. He had resolved that
If he while yet a soldier should again
see Lucy Barton It should not be under
such demeaning conditions as before.
As Lucy's British lover did not rec
ognize her, 80 she did not recognize
Abner. Indeed, he looked so brave
and strong and proud in his new uni
form that she was about to give her
heart for o. third time to soldier who
this time was not only finely dressed,
but a victor. when the young colonel
threw himself from his horse and, IN
the exuberAlce OF his joy, took her
into his arms before the whole regi
ment.
So ended the story Of this love
which in its incipiency had no other
inducement than a tattered uniform,
but which after the two were married
and settled grew each year they lived
together till it absorbed all their being.
Yet lovers go on year after year tax.
ing their chances upon such small rea.
sons. but who shall say that those mar
riages that are better considered turn
out happier?