The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-07-10

- ~ANOAS N"S W.
lockers. He stood behind the chair Of
a lady. A young girl of perhaps six
teen came to her to ask some ques-
ton and called her auntie. Later in
the evening Captain Ainsworth was
introduced to the aunt.
"You are not one Of u army circle
here at West Point, l believe"
mo. I am a visitor from New York.
l came to chaperon my niece. l know
how girls enjoy West Point. for l was
here when a girl myself. I remember
my experiences here with great pleas.
ure-that is. all except n I met my
first disappointment here. A cadet
was attentive to me-, ! listened to his
f1attering words. One day he asked
me to stroll down Filtration walk with
him. I was persuaded. He stopped
at a little nook part way down. He
told me- IT," a
Don't go any further, l beg you,"
said the captain. You are the second
person I have met since l have return.
ed to the Point whom I asked to be-
"You are Fred Nolan?"
mo; l am Alec Ainsworth. Aren't
you Edith AndrewsY
"No; I'm Belle Harwood."
"Ohv" .... =.
1T is only a case of another cadet
and another girl. Doubtless there are
dozens Of proposals on that walk every
year. l wonder If any of them ever
results in m~arriage?"
One bright moonlight night Captain
Ainsworth and a party Of his friends
were trying BY the uncertain light to
read on the monument on the north
ern end Of the plain at West Point the
names of officers who were killed in
the war between the states. Several
others came up, and there was a gen
eral Introduction.
Il am looking" said a lady to Cap.
tain Ainsworth. "for the name Of my
cousin who was killed at Antietam."
The captain started. He had heard
that voice before and had never for
gotten it. He told the lady that II
she would give him the officers name
he would try to find it for her. but
when she told him he exclaimed:
HE was in my class. You can't see
the letters at night, for they are In
shadow. Tomorrow you will find the
name without any trouble"
When the others passed OF Captain
Ainsworth and this lady fingered.
"The view from q little farther this
way" he said. moving northward. ia
beautiful" 80
She went with him, and they stood
side by side looking up the river.
II remember" said the captain.
showing emotion in his voice. stand
ing IN this very spot twelve years ago.
when l was a cadet, with a lovely girl
who was a visitor here. The scenery
was the same az it is now and was
lighted. al now. by the noon, had
was to leave West Point the next day.
Il had passed four years in the acad-
envy and every summer had taken on
q new love. In passing from cadet to
lieutenant l had my last affair Of the
heart, and though l was not aware Of
it l was taking on a love that l would
never be able to throw Oh. Under the
impression that 1t al q passing AFFAIR
like the others I failed during the fol-
lowing few months even to write to
the girl in question, assuming that she
considered It. as l did, q mere West
Point Irritation. When l learned that !
had met the only girl l would ever
love 1t was too late. l dared not re-
open the matter seriously with one l
had 20 shamefully neglected"
Doubtless this vas the only truth
the captain had ever spoken on the
subject in question, though after his
graduation he had told no more Lies.
Il. too" said the lady beside him,
had q similar experience. My cousin
being a cadet, l came with others OF
our family nearly every summer while
he was at the academy. ! soon learn
ed what meaning to attach to an avow-
al OF love from q cadet. What 1t IL
now l don't know: then It was q Of
his privileges which were not consid-
cred binding.
The last summer l came here l re-
ceived a proposal from one Of the
graduating class. At the time I con-
sidered it one Of those West Point At
fairs Of Irritation rather than Of the
heart never expected to hear again
from the cadet, who went to a post in
the far west, and l never did. But /
admit that I found, like you, that for
NICE In my West Point experience l
had flown too nee the candle. Ny
wings had been singed. have never
we'd"
There was silence for q time, after
which Captain Ainsworth spoke:
"Since it a the mans part, not
yours. to make good bis words You
are in no way to blame. II he II ex-
cusable It is that, though he had no
right to play with edged tools. be was
living in a little world where they were
played with. Being guilty myself, as
he was. ! would gladly atone for his
fault. Let me stand in his stead and
you will make nj a happy man."
She not resisting. be drew her to him