The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-07-16

IueSe cHuetS are uOlnS the same tnlng
you boys did dozen years ago. and
cadets will keep on doing 1t as long
as the academy lasts. Come and dine
with us this evening. wish you to
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
lady. A young girl of perhaps six
teen came to her to ask some ques-
ton and called ber 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?
"No, | am visitor from New York.
l came to chaperon my niece. | know
how girls enjoy West Point. for was
here when a girl myself. remember
my experiences here with great pleas
ure--that is, all except one. met my
first disappointment here. A cadet
was attentive to me. ] listened to his
fattering 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 go any further, beg you,"
said the captain. "You are the second
person l have met since have return
ed to the Point whom asked to be-
"You are Fred NolanT''
"No; | am Alec Ainsworth. Aren't
you Edith AndrewsT'
"No; I'm Belle Harwood"
"Ohp'
at is only q 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 marriageY
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 a gen.
eral introduction.
81 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, '1s
beautiful"
She went with him, and they stood
side by side looking up the river.
81 remember" said the captain
showing emotion in his voice, stand
ing on this very spot twelve years ago
when was a cadet, with lovely girl
who was a visitor here. The scenery
was the same as it is now and was
Just passed from cadet to officer and
was to leave West Point the next day
II had passed four years in the acad
emy and every summer had taken or
new love. In passing from cadet tt
lieutenant l had my last affair of the
heart, and though l was not aware Of
it | was taking on love that ! woulC
hr oh 10 off nd
impression that it was passing affair
like the others | failed during the fol
lowing few months even to write tt
the girl in question, assuming that she
considered 1t, as l did, mere West
Point Irritation. When learned that
had met the only girl | would eve
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
subject In question, though after hi
graduation he had told no more lies.
Il, too said the lady beside him
had a similar experience. My cousin
being a cadet, | came with others o
our ldully ueuIly every Sulhhei WIN
he was at the academy. l soon learn
ed what meaning to attach to an avow
al of love from cadet. What 1t i
now don't know: then it was one o
his privileges which were not consid
cred binding.
1.-The last summer l came here | re
ceived proposal from one OF tn
graduating class. At the time | con
sidered it one of those West Point at
fairs of Irritation rather than of tn
heart. ! never expected to hear agail
from the cadet. who went to post II
the far west, and never did. But
admit that found, like you, that TO
once in my West Point experience
had flown too near the candle. NJ
wings had been singed. have neve
wed"
There was silence for a time, afte
which Captain Ainsworth spoke:
| Ia ri rr