Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-07-15


you boys did dozen years ago, and
cadets will keep on doing it as long
as the academy lasts. Come and dine
with us this evening. I 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
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, I am a visitor from New York.
I came to chaperon my niece. l know
how girls enjoy West Point, for I was
here when girl myself. I 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. l listened to his
fattering 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-
Don't go any further, beg you,"
said the captain. "You are the second
person I have met since have return
ed to the Point whom 1 asked to be-
"You are Fred Nolan?"
mo; l am Alec Ainsworth. Aren't
you Edith AndrewsY'
mo; I'm Belle HARDWOOD"
"Ohv
ut 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 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 gen
! eral Introduction.
81 am looking" said a lady to Cap
tain AinsWorth, sfor 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 if
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
Ainsworth and this lady fingered.
"The view from a little farther this
way" he said, moving northward, ''is
beautiful" '.~e-xpsssss-. ~
She went with him, and they stood
side by side looking up the river.
IT remember said the captain.
showing emotion in his voice, stand
ing on this very spot twelve years ago,
when | was cadet, with lovely girl
who was visitor here. The scenery
was the same as it is now and was
lighted. as now. by the moon. l had
just passed from cadet to officer and
| WAS 10 iedNe w L U1uC lie uCAL ddy
II had passed four years in the acad.
envy and every summer had taken on
a new love. In passing from cadet tc
lieutenant 1 had my last affair Of the
heart, and though l was not aware OF
it I was taking on a love that | would
, never be able to throw off. Under the
, impression that it was passing affair
ho fai1o1 6I1rincr tho fol
lowing few months even to write tC
the girl in question, assuming that she
considered it, as I did, mere West
Point Irritation. When / learned that
had met the only girl 1 would eve1
, love it was too late. I dared not re
, open the matter seriously with one
, had so shamefully neglected"
+ Doubtless this was the only trutl
the captain had ever spoken on thu
2 subject in question, though after hi
graduation he had told no more lies.
Z 81, too" said the lady beside him
had similar experience. My cousi1
being a cadet, I came with others o
our family nearly every summer Will
he was at the academy. soon learn
ed what meaning to attach to an avow
al Of love from a cadet. What it
@ now don't know; then it was one o
y his privileges which were not consid
l. cred binding.
1.-The last summer l came here l re
ceived a proposal from one of tn
II graduating class. At the time l col
sidered it one Of those West Point al
e. fairs of Irritation rather than Of tn
u heart. l never expected to hear agai
from the cadet, who went to post
the far west, and l never did. But
e. admit that found, like you, that f(
a once in my West Point experience
had flown too near the candle. NJ
wings had been singed. I have nevt
~ wed"
There was silence for time, aft
which Captain Ainsworth spoke:
es "Since it was the mans part, n
n, yours, to make good his words ye