Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-10-23

you boys did n dozen yenrs ago. and
cadets will keep on doing It as long
as the academy lnsts. Come and dine
with US this evening. l wish you b
meet my husband"
A dance for the graduating class
and their friends was In progress. Cap
tain AinswOrth was among the on
lockers. He stood behind the chair OF
n lady. A young girl OF perhaps six
teen came 20 her to ask some ques-
ton and called her auntie. Later in
the evening Captain AinswOrtb was
introduced - the aunt.
"You nre not one Of nj army circle
here nc West roint, ! believer
"No. ! am n visitor from New York.
l came to chaperon my niece. l know
how girls enjoy West Point. for ! was
here when a girl myself. I remember
my experiences here with great piens-
ure-that Is. all excerpt one. ! met my
FIRST disappointment here. A cadet
was attentive to me. ! listened to his
Gathering words. One day he nsked
me to stroll down Filtration walk with
him. ! was persuaded He stopped
at a little nook part way down, He
told me-
Don't go any further. I beg you.~
said the captain "You are the Seconr1
person l have met since ] have return
ed to the Point whom ! asked TO be-
"You nre Fred Nolan3''
"No; I I'm Alec Ainsworth- Aren't
you Edith AndrewsY'
EMO; I'm Belle HarwOod"
"Ohl"
at Is only a case Of another cadet
and another girl. Doubtless there are
dozens Of proposals on that walk every
year. l wonder II any Of them ever
results In merriageI'
One bright moonlight night Captain
Ainsworth and a party OF his friends
were trying by the uncertain hight 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 gem
eral introduction.
II am looking" said a lady 10 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 IT. he told the lady that u
she would give him the officers name
he would try 20 find It for her, but
when she told him he exclaimed:
He was In my class. You can't zee
the letters at night, for they r 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. Els
beautiful"
She went with him. and they stood
side by side hooking up the river.
II remember" said the captain.
showing emotion in his voice. stand
ing on this very spot twelve years ago.
when / was a cadet. with q lovely girl
who was q visitor here. The scenery
was the same as it is now and was
lighted. as DOW. by the mOon. l had
Just passed from cadet 10 Ohicer and
was to leave West Point the ext day.
II had passed four yenrs in the acad-
envy and every summer had taken ON
a new love In passing from cadet to
lieutenant / had my last affair Of the
heart and though ! was not aware OF
It l was taking on a love that / would
never be able to throw or. Under the
impression that 1t was q passing affair
like the others l failed during the fol-
lowing few months eve to write to
the girl In question, assuming that she
considered It, as l did. a mere West
Point Irritation. When ] learned that /
had met the only gin l would ever
love 1t was too late. i dared not re-
open the matter seriously with n !
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.
IT, too" said the lady beside him.
chad a similar experience. My cousin
being a cadet, / came with others or
Our family nearly every summer while
| he was at the academy. / soon learn
ed what meaning to attach to an avoW-
n OF loVo from y chueI WhAt ~ ID
now l don't know; then It was n OF
his privileges which were not cOnsid-
cred binding.
THE last summer / came here I re-
eeiVed a proposal from n Of the
graduating class. At the time / con-
Gadered Il one Of thoa0 West POinJ at
Rairs OF Irritation rather than Of the
heart / never expected 70 hear again
from the cadet who went 10 a post In
the far west and l I've did. But l
admit that / found. like you. that for
Once In my West Point experience 1
had dOwn too near the candle. Ny
wings had been singed. ] have never
wed"
There was silence for q time, altar
. which Captain AinswOrth spoke:
"Since It was the mans part not
yours. to make good his words you
are in no way TO blame. II he Is ex-
eusable It Is that. though be had no
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