Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1916-12-29
! TWICE
TOLD TALE.
By SADIE OLCOTT

Lieutenant Colonel Beverage, COM
mandant of cadets at the West Point
Military academy. had been busy all
day with his duties pertaining to the
graduation of the first class Of the
corps Of cadets and in the evening
strolled up to the West Point hotel.
Colonel Beverage had met so many
strangers that he could not remember
them all, though being a prominent
person at West Point he was himself
remembered. A maiden lady who was
nearing the close Of her fourth decade
nodded to him. Not being able to
place her, he Joined her, with a view
to learning who she was without be-
traying his ignorance. They were soon
seated on a corner Of the porch, and
the colonel opened the conversation.
There f. a far denser crowd than
that to be found here In June when
I was cadet. The youngsters don't
have the opportunity to spoon here
that we had. In those days it was
possible to get girl off here by her
self and make no end of love to her."
II presume, colonel" said the lady,
that you did your share of that sort
of thing"
1--WE all did our duty, assure you, In
keeping up the credit Of the academy
as entertainers"
did you ever make a proposition on
this porchy'
THAT is pointed question. but since
you ask about what occurred twenty
years ago ] presume there is nothing
indicate In acknowledging that I
did"
"Was the girl attractive, or was It
the surroundings rather than her per
sonality that moved you?"
'She was delicious!"
"That's a new word to apply to a
woman
1T expresses exactly what she was
to me-"
do you remember on what part of
the portico this interesting scene took
place."
"Rememberl I shall never forget.
It was in this very corner"
"Were you accepted?"
ION the contrary, my proposal was
received with merry laugh. You
Cadets she said, are incorrigible.
Yours is the fourth proposal I have re-
ceived since have been here. West
Point Is the only place in the world, I
believe, where proposal means moth
ing
mine meant good deal. but it's re-
ception took me fiat aback. Instead
Of trying to convince her that was in
earnest I forced smile and said:
You top me by one. You have receiv-
ed four proposals. I have made but
three
again came that laugh, though now
it seemed to me that there was mock
cry In 1t. was quite sure the girl be.
lieved that there was something Sc
r1ous in what I had said to her and
was enjoying the stab she was giving
me. Naturally endeavored to conceal
the fact that I was in earnest by
swearing in a heroic manner that
loved her and her only and would new
or love any other woman. And that
was the truth. though 1 intended she
should consider it mere gallantry. I
have never narried and will never
marry"
The lady was silent for a time, SEEM
1ngly impressed by this onesided TO-
nance. Presently she said:
MAY not the girl have received your
proposition as she did because Of the
reputation cadets have for making love
to pass the timer
perhaps she did not take me seri-
ously. But had done all could do
in the matter. I had offered her my
love and my hand. She had laughed
at me. What else could do but laugh
back?"
"She was very young, presume"
Eighteen"
And your
TWENTY-FIVE. It was the year w.s
graduated
After brief silence the lady con-
ttnued: 1T seems to me, colonel, that,
considering the reputation cadets have
or at least had when you were a cadet,
you should not have considered your
rejection necessarily as a true express
sion Of this young girls feelings. You
should have tried again.
II was ordered to the western coast;
she remained in the east"
II see. How many such cases there
are in the world! Two hearts meet
and mingle. Before there can be q
proper understanding between them
they are spirited apart, perhaps to the
opposite ends If tho qarfh And ovon