Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-07-11
DOZEN YEARS
AFTER
A Story OF West Point
F'lirtatiOnS
BY EUNICE BLAKE


Captain Alexander Ainsworth. after
n dozen years absence from the Unit
ed States Military academy at West
Point. was ordered there as instructor
in artillery He was twenty when he
was graduated Now he was approach
Ing middle life. The day after his ar
rival. no, yet having entered upon his
duties. he stroIlcd about. recalling here
and there scenes aud incidents of his
cadet life.
Mounting To old Fort Put. he unused:
What a day that was when | came
up here with Jennie! How my heart
warmed toward her. can smell this
minute the delicate perfume there was
about her | can feel the silken soft
ness Of her sleeve. the sweet touch of
her fingers when mine came in contact
with them Those beautiful blue eyes.
How conidinsly. how lovingly they
looked into mine"
Descending, he crossed the plain and
soon found himself on Filtration walk.
Again he unused at was right here In
this little recess when with Belle |
stopped to tell her that | loved her.
She knew what was coming and look
I'd out on the river and the hills be
yOnd. waiting for me 10 speak. | told
her that. though we had met but n
week before. had come to love her
with an unquenchablc flame re-
member that at the time tho word I'M
qucnchable seemed to me very we'll
chosen was then yearlug with
nearly three years OF study before me.
What mattered IL? We were In the
summer encampment with little to do
but make love 10 the girls who had
sprung up all over the Point like dai'
sizes In the sweet Springtime. In Sep
TENDER they vanished. and We We're
again grinding away ut our books"
lie returned to the plain and strolled
past the monument 10 the West Point
graduates who had fallen IN the war
and. standing on the declivity directly
north of It. looked out upon that view
up the Hudson river. as beautiful II
not more beautiful than any in Amer
lea.
1T was right here that | stood with
Alice Ward on that moonlight night OF
the day graduated My cadet days
were over. and was an officer in the
army But the boy had not yet all got
out OF me. | had been sitting on the
porch OF the hotel with Alice. There
were dozen other couples there. and
TO escape the clatter OF tongues ] pro
posed walk in the moonlight. We
came here and stood looking out on
this very view. though then instead OF
flashing In the sun II was mellowed by
moonlight should have known bet
ter this time. was OF age. did
know better. but failed to act on that
knowledge. | drew her to me and
kissed her"
The blsod Of shame mounted TO his
cheek when he remembered that he
had told her she was the only girl he
had ever loved
But" he added. though did not
know II nj the time. II was the truth"
He turned away from the scene be
fore him, taking the path that led
around by the officers quarters. On
the way he met Il lady with a boy five
or six years old the child running
about chattering to his mother The
lady was tho wife Of one stationed at
the Point and. recognizing an officer
by his uniform. bowed TO him. He
doffed hls hat and said:
Il presume, madam. You are one OF
our army family heref"
IL am"
~ have just arrived after an absence
OF twelve years.
"You are Captain Ainsworth"
II am"
II have heard of your coming We
keep posted on the changes as they
occur You relieve Lieutenant Wa
tiers. believer
II do"
Does the Point look the sane to you
M when you left it,
West Point can never change.
NHuhEu ito buithItiES may NAVY btth
visiting old haunts."
"lndecdr'
"Yes | first visited Fort Put re
membercd being up there once with
very lovely girl ="
''She was"-
Her name was Jennie Upon my
word. my memory is getting shaky"
WAS II Marston:"
"Marst0n. Certainly. How names
do fail us when we try to recall them!
Did you know her.
she has always been an intimate
friend Of mine
lis she married. asked Ainsworth,
assuming mn anxious look
"Oh. yes: shes married but II re-
Quir,4l some time for her 10 get over
that visit Ia Fort l'ut"
"Y"m don't mean u, That was the
episode OF my life !ut was moth
Ing hut II plcbc
Jennie was very Young too. She Is
happily married now