Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-26
The Daily Story
A Dozen Years After-By Eunice Blake.
Copyrighted 1914 by Associated Literary

came to cbaperon my niece. know
how girls enjoy West Point, for I was
here when a girl myself. I remernhe,
my experiences here with great pleas.
ure-tbat is. all except one. I met NV
first disappointment here A cadet
was attentive to me. / listened 10 his
fattering words. One day he asked
me to stroll down Filtration walk with
him. / was persuaded. He stopped
at little nook part way down lie
told me-
Don't 60 any further. beg YOU"
said the captain. ''You are the second
person I have met since have return.
ed to the Point whom L asked to beo-
"You are Fred Nolan?'
mo; 1 am Alec Ainsworth. Aren't
you Edith AndrewsY
mo; I'm Belle Harwood"
"Ohp
at IS only a case Of another cadet
| and another girl. Doubtless there srs
dozens OF proposals on that walk every
year. I wonder If any Of them ever
results in marriage"
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.
81 am looking" said lady to Cap
tain Ainsworth, "for the name of nv
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 on Captain
Afnsworth and this lady fingered.
1.-THE view from a little farther this
way" he said, moving northward, aIs
beautiful"
She went with him, and they stood
side by side looking up the river.
az remember" said the captain,
showing emotion in his voice, stand
ing on this very spot twelve years ago,
when 1 was a cadet with lovely girl
who was a visitor here. The scenery
was the same as it is now and was
lighted, as now, by the moon I had
just passed from cadet to officer and
was to leave West Point the next day.
II had passed four years in the acad-
envy and every summer had taken on
new love. In passing from cadet to
lieutenant had my last affair Of the
haorf nd I ,of 80
it was taking on a love that would
never be able to throw OFF. Under the
impression that it was a passing affair
like the others 1 failed during the fol-
lowing few months even to write to
the girl in question, assuming that she
considered it, as I did, a mere West
Point Irritation. When learned that
had met the only girl 1 would ever
love it was too late. I dared not re-
open the matter seriously with one
lad so shamefully neglected"
Doubtless this was the only truth
he 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 similar experience. Ny cousin
,eing a cadet, 1 came with others of
'ur family nearly every summer while !.
lie was at the academy. I soon learn
d what meaning to attach to an avow-
i Of love from a cadet What 1t is
.ow don't know; then it was one OF
is privileges which were not consid-
red binding.
THE last summer I came here re-
eived a proposal from one OF the
raduating class. At the time | con-
dered it one of those West Point af-
airs of Irritation rather than of the
cart / never expected TO hear again
ON the cadet, who went to post in
le far west, and 1 never did. But
INIT that found, like you, that for
ace in my West Point experience
al flown too near the candle. Ma
ings had been singed. l have never
ed"
There was silence for a time, after
hich Captain Ainsworth spoke:
Since 1t was the mans part, not
'urs. to make good his words you
e In no way to blame. II he is ex-
sable it is that, though he had no
,ht to play with edged tools. be was
ing In little world where they were
ayed with Being guilty myself, as
was, l would gladly atone for his
ult- Let me stand in his stead and
viii make me happy man."
she not resisting. he drew her to him
kissed her as he had kissed her
g before.
And there, s dozen years after a
ok love affair on the part of two
1ers, on the very same spot and I'M
the same moon, they pughted their
til.
alter 1t was announced that Captain
1sworth had met an old fame OF his
o was visiting West Point. and the
lple were to be married in the an-
nm