The Press., 1914-08-19
.ADOzEN YEARS: AFTER
A Story of West Point
 FIirtatiOnS
By EUNICE BLAKE

| GU SCALeS Mtl1IdEy dCduSuy ut VcS@ 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, not yet having entered upon his duties, he strolled about, recalling here } and there scenes and incidents of his . cadet life.
 Mounting to old Fort Put, he unused: 9 up here with Jennie! How my heart a warmed toward her! l can smell this minute the delicate perfume there was about her. 1 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 confidingly, how lovingly they looked into mine!
 Descending, he crossed the plain and soon found himself on Filtration walk. Again he unused: ''It was right here in this little recess when with Belle l stopped to tell her that I loved her. She knew what was coming and look ed out on the river and the hills be- yond, waiting for me to speak. 1 told her that, though we had met but week before, I had come to love her with an unQuenchable flame. l re member that at the time the word un- Quenchable seemed to me very well chosen. 1 was then a yearling with nearly three years of study before me- What mattered it? We were in the summer encampment with little to do but make love to the girls who had sprung up all over the Point like dai- Sies in the sweet sprtngtime. In Sep tember they vanished. and we were again grinding away at our books"
 He returned to the plain and strolled past the monument to the West Point graduates who had fallen in the war and, standing on the declivtty directly north of 1t, looked out upon that view up the Hudson river, as beautiful if not more beautiful than any in Amer lea.
 "It was right here that stood with Alice Ward on that moonlight night of the day I graduated. My cadet days were over. and was an officer in the army. But the boy had not yet all got out of me. I had been sitting on the porch of the hotel with Alice. There 1 were a dozen other couples there, and to escape the chatter of tongues pro- | posed a walk in the moonlight. We | came here and stood looking out on this very view. though then instead of flashing in the sun 1t was mellowed by moonlight. should have known bet \ k0n hi 0& know better. but failed to act on that knowledge. I drew her to me and kissed her.
 The blood 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 I did not know it at the time. it 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 lady with a boy five or six years old, the child running about chattering to his mother. The lady was the wife of one stationed at by his uniform, bowed to him. He doffed his hat and said:
 II presume. madam, you are one of our army family here?" q am."
 "I have just arrived after an absence of twelve years"
 You are Captain Ainsworth?'' "I am.''
 "I have heard of your coming. We keep posted on the changes as they occur. You relieve Lieutenant Wa. ters. I believeP' "I do.'
 Does the Point look the same to you as when you left it?'
 'West Point can never change, though it's buildings may. have been visiting old haunts' "Indeed!"
 "Yes. 1 first visited Fort Put. re membered being up there once with very lovely girl"
 "She was"-
 Her name was Jennie Upon my word. my memory is getting shakyw
 Was it MarstOn?''
 "Marston! Certainly! How names do fail us when we try to recall them! Did you know her?'
 ''She has always been an intimate friend of minP."
 ''Is she married?' asked Afnsworth, assuming an anxious look.
 'Oh, yes; she's married. but 1t re- quired some time for her to get over that visit to Fort Putt"
 You don't mean it! That was the episode of my life. But-I was noth- ing but a plebe"
 Jennie was very young too. She is happily married now"
 "She must be an intimate friend of yOurs."
 My husband accuses me of loving her more than him."
 You are'-
 ''I was Jennie Marston. am now Mrs. Farnum."
 There was a twinkle in her eye. A shamefaced look came over Ainsworth, and he smiled feebly. Don't worry about 1t, captain These cadets are doing the same thing 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. l wish you to meet my husband"
 A dance for the graduating class and their friends was in progress. Cap tain Amsworth 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- tion 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. l believe?"
 "No, I am a visitor from New York. | came to chaperon my niece. l know