The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-28

told on him. aud slipping on the icy
pavement we went down did not
faint. The desire to keep awake and
see what the viper" (for II was him)
did was too strong. He was up in
moment and wrapping his overcoat
around mo. carried me to the sidewalks
And then l saw there WAS blood on
mis- gray school uniform. oh YOU re
hurt said, but he denied il. and
calling carriage, put mo in and gave
The driver my address. As he closed
the door smile crept into his beauti-
fui eyes, and he staggered for a mo
ment Then IL the viper" and
not me, that fninted
| reached OVERLY with my mind in
q haze. and found that Mary had ar
rived before me. did not mention
the viper" to any OF them. but
mace a secret vow never again 10 say
II word against him.
let mother and father know OF the
accident Immediately. and YOU can
Imagine my surprise when. nearly
Two weeks later. got a telegram from
Ralph telling me To come to the only
hotel In the town right away SO he
had come all the way from Colorado
to see II ] was all right. / might have
known 1t. Dear old Ralphy. was
in my furs in minute. and with a
rev words to Miss Grayson. phoned
for carriage and in "A short time
arrived at the motel. Ralph met me
on - porch. and behind him we're
Marshall and Dick and-yes, mother
and father We went up To their
apartments Gnd mother said, Nov.
dear. wo want to see the brave boy that
saved your lif"," and father said. Yes
send for him to come mere. never
knew Nanaevedder had enough spunk
for that"
l sat down hastily and wrote him a
note. and in less than an hour his card
was sent up. I hardly recognized him
when he entered the door. he was 80
thin from his long confinement in tho
hospital. Eut nc smiled when ne saw
me. and claspcd my hand
why GusSe." exclaimed father
thought YOU said IT was young Van
devedder."
1T was. | replied Then intro
duced them. and when he shook hands
with father. he said. You're not the
Nandevcdder thought YOU were" Ana
the viper flushed deeply
NO. ne said. only q distant rela-
tive. hut every one at the academy
made the same mistake"
Then 1t all came out how ii was his
second or third cousin George Vandc-
vedder. that had been so wicked and
deserted from the army in the Philip
pines and been a regular sport
why didn't YOU tell the girls and
boys that?" asked the father
Well replied Phil. r'the viper" no
lonser). "it would have looked like
was sneaking and laying the blame on
"nother fellows shoulders. when he
had enough To do to carr his own.
haven't been exactly ministerial my
self: ran away from school and Join
! ed IN" army when I was Just a kid
AVID ! was pretty Wild, but never did
anything 10 make every one turn
against me like they did am study
Ing now TO 20 TO West Point. unless
my wild career stops me"
fic smiled as he said this last ANA
looked nt mo until felt so mean and
little ! crept away while the others
We're talking and went out on the
inoonl!t verande. Down below on the
square band was playing The Moon
hsht sonata. How lovely ii sound
Cd! Some one stepped out of a door
behind me. Ralph: called, us that
your" No" came the answer In
Phil's voice; ITS some one who wants
70 know if YOU mind such a wicked
person sitting by you while they lis
ten TO the music" Please don't say
'hat' asked Forgive mo and |
wont he replied as he sat down be-
s'de me moved my chair away, and
he moved his, too
Little chum." nc said AS he took
my hand; and this time / did not stir.
winch would YOU prefer your future
husband to do he asked. graduate
| from West Point or settle down TO
civilian life?'
| did not have time to answer for
at that moment the star Spanglcd
Tanner began, and hand In hand We
rose ana stood 1T attention in the
| moonlight.
The End
HARRY T. CHADWICK
| Care William Chadwick, National
| Soldiers Home, Hampton. Va