The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-05-01
1--WE Were Engaged to Be Married"
He Acknowledged Frankly.

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He Acknowledged Frankly.
her eyes away. Her breath came swift
cred from fright, and her face in the
dim light looked white and drawn.
Yes, you can" she began slowly,
81 am sure you can. II ar1e to you
because there was no n else in
whom l felt the same confidence. |
know that sounds strange, but | can
not eXplain-only it seems natural to
trust some people even when you do
not know them very well. l do not
suppose l know you very we'll; just
those few hours we were together, but
somehow l think you are true"
Il certainly hope So" he put in ear
nestly. 81 couldn't very well help
being-with you"
Il believe that" and she lifted her
eyes to his face.
"Yet do not wish you to think me
bold, or-or indiscreet. You do not
think SO, do you?"
THAT idea has never once occurred
to me, Miss Mcdonald. / am only
too glad to be of service"
ut is good of you to say that; you
see, there was no one else"
Your father?" he suggested.
But that is the very trouble" she
insisted, rejoicing that he had thus
unconsciously opened the way to her
confession. ut is because my father
is involved, is completely in her tolls,
that / am compelled to appeal to you.
He will not listen to a word against
her"
Her? You refer to Mrs. Dupont?"
"Of course; why, l hadn't mentioned
her name! How did you guess?"
Because l am not entirely ignorant
Of conditions" he answered soberly.
Although l have only been at the
post a short time, / have managed to
see and hear a good deal. You know
l CHANGED to become involved in the
shooting Of Lieutenant Gaskins, and
then l saw you riding with Mrs. Du-
pont, and recognized her"
Recognized? ?" in surprise. "Do you
actually mean you knew her b~efore?"
mot as Mrs. Dupont, but as Vera
Carson, years ago. She knew me at
once, and sent your driver over to the
barracks with a note"
why, how strange. She asked me
SO many questions, | wondered at the
interest shown. DO you mind telling
me what the note was about?"
mot in the least. Sh" referred to
the past, and asked me to meet her"
Were you-very intimate? Great
friends?"
1--WE were engaged to be married."
he acknowledged frankly, his eyes
upon her face. THAT was at the
breaking out Of the war, and l was in
my senior college year. We met at
school, and | was supposed to be the
heir to large property. She is a beau
tiful now, and she was a beau.
tiful girl then. l thought her as good
and true as she was charming. Since
then l have learned her selfishness
and deceit, that it was my money
which attracted her, and that she real
ly loved another man, a classmate."
She glanced up at him as he paused,
but he resumed the story without be-
ing interrupted.
THE war came, and I enlisted at
once, and received a commission. AL
most u entire class went, and the
man she really loved was next below
me in rank"
Eugene lie Fevre?"
Eyes; how did YOU know? Oh, l
told you Of him out there in the sand
hills. Well, l urged her to marry me
before l went to the front, but she
made excuses. Later, l understood
the reason. She was uncertain as to
my inheriting the property OF an
uncle. We were ordered to the Army
Of Northern Virginia. Once I went
home on ~furlough. severely wounded.
We were to be married then, but l had
not sufficiently recovered when / was
suddenly ordered back to the front. /
did suspect then, for the first time,
that she was glad of the respite. I
afterwards discovered that during all
this time she was In correspondence
with LIE Fevre, who had been detailed
on Early's staff. 1t was his influence
which brought about my sudden, un-
expected recall to duty. A few months
later / was promoted major, and, at
Fishers Hill, found myself command
Ing the regiment. Early in the action
LIE Fevre brought me an order; it was
delivered verbally, the only other par
ty present a corporal named Shultz,
a German knowing little English.
Early's exact words were: Advance
at once across the creek, and engage
the enemy fiercely; a supporting col
umn will move Immediately Desper-
ate as the duty involved appeared,
there vas nothing in the order as CIV.
an to arouse suspicion. In obedience
| flung my command forward, leading
them on foot. We charged into q trap,