Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-08

Don't worry about It, captain.
These cadets are doing the same thing
you boys did dozen years ago. and
cadets will keep on doing 1t as long
as the academy lasts. Come ard dine
with us this evening. wish you to
meet my husband"
A dance for the graduating class
Ind their friends was In progress. Cap
tain Ainsworth was among the on
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 our army circle
here at West Point. believer
mo. / am visitor from New York.
I came to chaperon my niece. I know
how girls enjoy West Point, for was
here when a girl myself. remember
| my experiences here with great pleas
ure-that is. all except one. l met my
first disappointment here. A cadet
was attentive to me. listened to his
| flattering words. One day he asked
me to stroll down Filtration walk with
him. I was persuaded. He stopped
at little nook part way down. He
told me-
Don't go any further. beg you,"
said the captain. you are the second
person have met since have return
ed to the Point whom I asked to be-
"You are Fred NolanT'
"No; l am Alec Ainsworth. Aren't
you Edith AndrewsY'
mo; I'm Belle Harwood"
"Ohw
at is only a case Of another cadet
and another girl. Doubtless there are
dozens of proposals on that walk every
year. I wonder II any Of them ever
| results In marriage?"
One bright moonlight night Captain
Ainsworth and 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.
II am looking" said q 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 1t. He told the lady that If
she would give him the officers name
he would try to find 1t 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
Ainsworth and this lady fingered.
THE view from little farther this
way" he said, moving northward. sis
beautiful"
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 on this very spot twelve years ago.
when l was a cadet, with lovely girl
who was a visitor here. The scenery
was the same as 1t is now and was
| lighted, as now. by the moon. had
| Just passed from cadet to ofricer and
was to leave West Point the next day.
II had passed four years in the acad-
envy and every summer had taken on
a new love. In passing from cadet to
lieutenant I had my last affair OF the
heart. and though was not aware Of
it was taking on love that would
| never be able to throw OF. Under the
impression that it was a passing affair
Ike the others l failed during the fol-
lowing few months even to write to
the girl in question, assuming that she
considered it, as did. mere West
Point Irritation. When learned that
had met the only girl would ever
love 1t was too late. l dared not re-
open the matter seriously with one l
had so shamefully neglected"
| Doubtless this was the only truth
the captain had ever spoken on the
subject in question. though after his
graduation he had told no more lies.
II, too" said the lady beside him,
"had similar experience. My cousin
being cadet, l came with others of
our family nearly every summer while
he was at the academy. l soon learn
ed what meaning to attach to an avow-
al Of love from cadet What 1t is
now l don't know; then it was one 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 | con-
sidered it one of those West Point af-
fairs of Irritation rather than of the
heart never expected to hear again
from the cadet, who went to post In
the far west, and never did But
admit that found. like you. that for
once in my West Point experience 1
had flown too near the candle. My
wings had been singed- ! have never
| wed"