Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-07-14
THE TRUE ACID TEST
When Captain Showed Himself
Worthy Of the Uniform He
Was Wearing.


ously, els there really anything be-
tween you and Captain Rowland
He is certainly most attentive; and
yet they say one never can tell about
these army men," She sighed; il
was a heavy responsibility to matrop-
ize the pretty sister, ten years her
junior, 4 while five goed-looking
Union officers were taking their
meals at the house. i,
of you mean has he asked me
to marry him, y Annstte's long lashes
resting demurely upon her glowing
brunette cheeks, "why, he has
twice; and I've prevented him from
doing 50 on, two occasions. If you're
asking whether we're engaged-no y
"Then you refused him ?" Her
tone showed a certain surprise.
Somehow, Net thought you were
not exactly Indifferent"
"I'm not Indifferent Annette's
black curls shook with the emphatic
negative. Honestly, Judy; l think
he's just splendid, and if / was just
a little surer about one thing, /
wouldn't be putting on the brakes
like this l know / seem young and
Eighty to you; but really, I'd be
afraid to marry a man unless I'd
seen his disposition under fire, so
to speak, and I've only seen Phil
Rowland under fair weather condi-
tions. There; does that sound as
though my heart would run away
with my head?" She smoothed her
dark blue barege complaoently over
her hoopskirt and looked at Julia
for appreciation. .l-5- la.,t
%Very sensible" nodded the elder
sister, with an indulgent smile. "Per-
sonally, l like Captain Rowland very
much i hear he comes from a good
family, and his manners are charm
ing" 1s
'gTo ladies who are young and at
tractive-oh, yes, you are nice look
ing, and not quite elderly, either, in
spite of the old-maidy ways you have
to wear, as a clearinghouse missus!
And Pm not an actual fright myself.
But I'd just like to know how Phil
Rowland would act toward a woman
who was old and homely, and per-
haps cross and unreasonable they
say that's one way to tell whether
man is a gentleman at heart. I've
never had a chance to see him With |
that kind"
'How about our bulwark of re-
spectabihty, old Anne McCloskey ?"
laughed Julia; She's bit crotchety, |
but he's always pleasant to her"
"She's the cook. No sensible man
is rude to the cook, Judy! Well, l
just wanted you to know that you
needn't worry about his trifing with |
my young affections, sister mine. |
One doesn't live in a recruiting sta
ton like Elmira without forming |
some conclusions as to men in gen.
eral, and soldiers in particular. Be-
sides, father was such a perfect dear |
TO mother, and so chivalrous to wom-
en-, young or old, that my standard |
is high. Swear that you Will tr-r-rust
me " she detained melodramat- |
ically, with the spirit which made
her such favorite in amateur the
atricals. Julia laughed, and went
away to plan dinner, with a lighter
heart.
About twilight that evening, Cap
tain Philip Rowland stood in the
parlor waiting to be called to his
supper. He was hungry and tired, |
and bit out of humor, for his day
with the new draft had been a hard
one, and extra duties had DELAYED
him beyond his regular supper hour. |
Some one opened the door, and he
quickly turned, hoping that Mrs.
McCloskey had come to announce
his solitary meal. But instead, a
thin, stopped old woman came
toward him. She looked very plain,
with sharp features, many fretful
wrinkles, big, steel-bowed spectacles
and a shabby, unbecoming dress.
as this where Miss Matthews
lives, the one that boards army Off
GERS !" she demanded irritably. al
couldn't make any one hear at the