The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-11-05

You are not one OF our army circl,
here at West Point, believer
mo. am visitor from New York
came TO chaperon my niece ! know
how girls enjoy West Point, for ] was
here when a girl myself. ! renembel
my experiences here with great pleas
ure-that Is. all except one. ! met my
first disappointment here cadet
was attentive TO me. | listened TO his
fhttering words. One day he asked
me to stroll down Filtration walk with
him. | was persuaded. He stopped
at little nook part way down. He
told me-.
Don't 60 any further. | beg you"
said the captain. you are the second
person | have met since have return.
ed to the Point whom | asked to be-
"You are Fred NolanT
mo; am Alec Ainsworth. Aren't
you Edith AndrewsY'
mo; I'm Belle Harwood."
"Ohw
ut is only case OF another cadet
and another girl. Doubtless there are
dozens Of proposals on that walk every
year. 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 gen
eral introduction.
Il am looking" said 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 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. lis
beautiful"
She went with him, and they stood
side by side looking up the river
Il 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 a visitor here The scenery
was the same as it is now and was
lighted. as now, by the moon. had
just passed from cadet to otIicer and
was to leave West Point the next day
Il had passed four years 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 | was taking on love that ! would
never be able to throw off Under the
impression that it was passing affair
like the others | 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. dared not re-
open the matter seriously with one
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.
Il, too" said the lady beside him.
had similar experience. My cousin
being cadet. | came with Others OF
our family nearly every summer while
he was at the academy. | soon learn
ed what meaning to attach to an avow.
al OF love from cadet What 1t is
now | don't know; then 1t was one OF
his privileges which were not consid
,red binding.
THE last summer | came here ! re-
,eived proposal from one OF the
class. At the time | con-
,idered it one of those West Point ar
'airs OF Irritation rather than OF the
leart never expected to hear again
rom the cadet. who went to post In
he far west, and | never did. But |
idmit that found. like you. that for
,nce in my West Point experience 4
lad flown too near the candle. My
wings had been singed. | have never
we'd
There was silence for a time. after
which Captain Ainsworth spoke:
Since 1t was the mans part, not
ours. to make good his words You
ire in DO way to blame. II he Is ex.
disable 1t is that. though he bad no
light to play with edged tools. he was
wing In little world where they were
'layed with. Being guilty myself. as
ie was. ! would gladly atone for his
ault Let me stand In his stead and
'ou will make me happy man"
She not resisting. he drew her 10 bin
nd kissed her as be had kissed her
ing before.
And there. a dozen years after
1ock love afYair on the part OF two
rihers. on the very same spot and un.
er the ga me moon. they plighted their
roth
I a,er II was announced that canfatn