The daily Alaskan., 1915-05-20
A Lifelong Regret
By F. A. MITCHEL


 though born in America myself, l thought 1t would please my father if volunteered to fight the allies. So went of to Belgium with a company of uhlans and got into the thick of it at once.
 My chief delight was scouting. While the German army was reducing the forts about Liege there was work to do in different way, and was much better pleased at doing 1t than hanging about camp, though even the cavalry WAS pretty busy. l would ride out tn neutral ground with a small camera and take pictures of fortifcatiOns-that Is, when could get near enough to do 80 without being discovered.
 One day had been unusually sue eeSsful and on my way back to my command stopped at farmhouse foI refreshment. A pretty Belgian girl served me, but evidently with q very poor grace, regarding me as an enemy of her country. Between the sexes there Is always special interest in making a conquest where the party to be conquered resists the would be cen. Queror. said so many pleasant things to the girl that 1t was not long before congratulated myself upon having quite won her over.
 Having rested for some time. | was about to mount and ride away when she made an excuse to detaiu ae. was not unwilling to be detained and spent an hour longer with her during which period 1 did more uvamakiug than had ever done before l rrade several efforts to tear myself away, but my little girl looked so reproach ful al my going that l consented 10 re main just a little longer.
 ! stayed Just little too long. Sud. denly hearing the beating of horses hoots, started up with view to get ting away. but before 1 could mount my horse a squadron of Belgian cav, airy came down oU me and made ne a prisoner. With them was boy of fourteen whom l had seen about the place when l had first arrived. It was evident that the girl had detained me while she sent him 10 inform the sol diers Uf my presence.
 heard the officer in command thank her for the information sue had sent him, and she seemed quite proud of what she had done. was searched, and the photographs l had taken were found on me, to say nothing of my camera. Upon this the officer turned to the girl and said:
 "Mademoiselle. you have helped us to quite a prize. While the captive you have given US Is in uniform, he has been taking photographs of oui works and will be treated accordingly
 How Is that?" asked the girl, pal ing.
 He will be shot"
 If any blood remained In the girls face it vanished, and I thought she would svoon It occurred to me that she had not considered the importance to herself in the part she was playing But there came another turn in the affair had gone so long on my scout that my captain, fearing l had got Into trouble. gallOped out on the road I had taken to look after me. Suddenly while the Belgians were of their guard he appeared at the head O. his troops. dashing around a bend II the road from behind trees. The Bel gians took to flight, and was rescued They were pursued for some distance while l was pulling myself together and getting the arms and accouter nents that had been taken from me. When l had collected everything ] could find ! turned to the girl who haG betrayed me.
 have never in my life seen such q perfect example of sudden change Bringing Before me she looked up into my face with supplication for for | giveneSs. returned it with q stony stare. in which ! threw all the con tempt could express. She covered beneath 1t, and, turning my back upon her. stalked out of the house, mount. ed my horse and rode away with m! comrades.
 We advanced on Paris. were driver back in the battle of the Marne, and six months after the episode l have related l one day found myself fight ing again in Belgium. Upon tempo nary cessation of the fight l looked about ne, and the region seemed ia miliar to me. I was near a house that 1 recognized as the one in which l had been betrayed.
 had always regretted having, un- der the strain of narrowly escaping death. dealt so harshly with the gir' who had betrayed me l went to the house and called for her, intending tC speak a kindly word to her. but when asked for her was told that she was dead.
 l winced. She was beyond either my contempt or my forgiveness.
 Did she die of an injury" l asked.
 No. A young uhlan came by here one day. and she detained him while ske sent her brother to inform some Belgian cavalry of his presence. They