Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1913-01-17

to being spoiled.
After graduation from Columbia
instead Of from West Point, as the
colonel would have desired II such
choice could have been realizld In the
natural course Of events-Frdnk Haver-
Ill entered the banking house Of the
Towards. relatives of his stepmOther.
This had seemed a promising connec-
tlon-it might have led, possibly. to an
other matrimonial alliance through one
of the pretty daughters Of the family
on whom the young clerk was known
to have made most favorable impress
sion-when suddenly be ran away
with and married Edith Maury, a nice
enough girl. rs it was said, but two or
three years his senior and the daugh-
ter Of an impoverished southern family
whose home was In New Orleans.
This was bad enough. Still rash
love match IL not in itself an unpar-
donable sin. Frank was forgiven. At
least truce was patched up and the
prndigal son went back repentant, as 1t
seemed. TO his stool at the bank.
Alas. the prodlgal climax was yet
TO come. Its beginnings had dated
back even to the college days. Edward
Thornton had been much In New York
then. He had first met the Haverills
ut Saratoga. Handsome, reckless,
social favorite and sportsman Of no
small pretensions, Thornton had i'm
mediately exercised over young Frank
an influence amounting to fascination
and hero worship. Those were flush
times of racing. OF gambling, Of drink
Ing and-south Of Mason and DiXon's
line especially-of dueling. Thornton
took the eager. precocious boy in hand
and made man Of him." 1t was
such a man" az the colonel, his IA
Their. absent most Of the time on west
ern duty. never dreamed
Matters were in such strained rela.
tons now when the colonel and his
wife stopped at Charleston on their
way north. And it was at this fateful
moment that the last stroke fell.
The day before the Ellingham ball
Colonel Haverill learned from the New
York newspapers and simultaneously
by letter from Shis lawyers there that
his son was an absconder and fugi
tive. Under suspicion on account Of
Irregularities discovered at the Howard
bank. he had fled. no one knew with
er. to escape arrest. leaving his wife de-
serted and without resources.
Colonel HaYerill's grief and rage
were fearful.
81 might have expected It," he said.
And yet, hadn't l enough else on my
mind Just now without being brought
to face thing like this? Well, let fate
deal with him. He deserves the worst
that Gun happen. am through with
him. have always done my best by
him: now | have other and moro i'm
portant duties to perform. am an
officer of the United States army"
Don't judge him too hastily, John.
May it not have been that 1t was only
after another was dependent on him
that the debts of thoughtless spend
thrift-for he was nothing worse
drove him to desperation-to fraud,
perhaps-I will not believe crime"
His wife shall he provided for-my
lawyers have their instructions" re-
piled the colonel CURLY. ..
Mrs Haverill stole softly out Of the
room, closing the door behind her,
passed through the spacious galleries
and down the broad winding stairs to
the drawing room.
Everywhere, as Mrs. Haverill de-
scended after her troublous interview
with the colonel. the younger people
were blissfully lounging or circulating
about. still talking love and war.
They had a new and breezy accession
to their ranks In the person OF Jenny
Buckthorn, q. 8. A. She was the
daughter Of bluff old General Francis
Buckthorn of the regular army and
had been born and brought up In q
military camp on the western plains.
Were going to see active service
now-sooner than you civilians seem
to suspect" announced Jenny to an at
tentive group Of listeners under the
front portico. "Our boys are already
under marching orders in washington.
Your General Beauregard is riding bis
high horse. 1t seems. Tell him for me
that he'd better mind what he's doing
or we'll have Heartsease down here
after him."
"And who Is Heartsease, pray" In
quired Gertrude Ellingham. who OF
late was developing an unwonted in
terest in the federal military service.
"Heartsease? Brevet Captain Hearts.
ease? Why. he is-one Of my favorite
cavalry officers. You'll hear about
him."
"Yes-wherever Miss Buckthorn is
for FIVE minutes or So" whispered Bob
Ellingham to Madeline West. II know
Heartsease: Not bad fellow, but the
biggest flop that was ever misdealt into
the cavalry. You ought TO hear what
General Buckthorn says about him.
Wears a single eyeglass at guard
mount. and carries scented lace hand.
kerchief at cross country drill"
Gertrude Ellinghum drew Jenny
aside and asked her:
How Is it to have a sweetheart who
Is soldierT'
Its all right answered Jenny
promptly. 81 wouldn't have a sweet.
heart who wasn't a soldier-a north.
ern soldier, of course"
A flush Of pleasure stole over Ger: