The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-01
\ CASE OF
CONSTANCY
By ETHEL HOLMES

)pdTbLlOub AOh 0A CutA oAS0 AAtO Lllc
lat worlds war. Mothers were Civ.
up their sons, young wives their
Islands and girls their lovers. The
|ef places of interest were the camps
here officers were being trained to
mmand the expeditonary forces that
pre to be sent to the theater of war.
,Auntie," said Miss Lucy Marston, a
h of seventeen, "take me to Camp
l. don't care to go to the seashore.
usual, this summer. 1 should die
ennui. l want to go where they
Ire drilling these young men who are
q be captains and lieuten,llts in the
Irmy that is going abroad"
Auntie was Miss Edith Sands, a
maiden lady of thirty-three who had
been belle in her day and whose
beauty had ripened rather than de-
ksved. She consented to chaperon her
biece to a summer inn not far from
yamp -, and since they went there
n their car they were within striking
Instance of the drill grounds of 1000
Dr. 5000 young men who were being
burned from citizens into soldiers. Miss
kiarston was looking for romance;
Miss Sands was interested principally
N putting her niece in the way of
bne
The ladies' arrived at the inn In time
kor dinner and proposed to visit the
lamp the next day. While they were
biting on the porch al officer in the
Uniform of major of infantry drove
up to the inn, alighted and during the
evening took seat near them.
"Ask him." said Lucy to her aunt,
Pat what hour they admit visitors to
fhe camp
Miss Sands asked the officer the ques-
lion At the sound of her voice he
burned at once toward her After he
had given her the information she de-
sired she remarked that she felt ut
home among army people, since she
had as young girl visited West Point
land there met great many officers
and their families.
"How about cadets?" asked the
major.
II also met number Of those young
men who in July and August Of each
year turn their attention from their
military studies to preying upon the
hearts of the girls who invade the acad-
smy grounds at that season. The
standard Of honor in other respects IS
20 high that they strike an average by
citing it down to zero in their affairs
If the heart"
Il will admit" replied the major,
that among young persons there Is
ess care exercised in avoiding damage
a that respect, but l doubt if there Is
ny more blame to be attached to the
adets Of West Point than other men.
esides, l believe the girls who go
lere are as inclined to heart smash
lg as the young men,"
Miss Lucy Marston was disappointed
her visit to Camp - for the reason
lat the young men being trained
lere were so busy with their work
so tired when they got any leisure
at they had no time for entertaining
sitors. Major Rathbone, however,
und opportunity to visit Miss Sands
I'd quite often spent an evening with
r ON the porch of the inn, occasion
ly bringing with him some one from
e camp to entertain her niece, for
9 major preferred having Miss Sands
himself, which he could not do un-
IS Lucy were provided for.
There was something in Miss Sands
at drew the major, something that
hacked Of his youth. 1t seemed that
r voice reminded him of some OF the
any girls with whom he had asso-
ated long ago. Then, too, there was
certain toss of her head that suggest
to him some girl who In that way
pressed dissent. The major was fall
z In love with Miss Sands, and he
uld not tell whether he was drawn
a handsome maiden lady or the
emory of one he had known In the
st.
Major Rathbone proposed to Miss
Lnds. and when he did so she thus
Piled:
4 assure you, major, that feel high
honored by this second proposal Of
urs and am quite sure
Second proposal"'
Yes. You proposed to me just
,elye years ago this summer on the
rch of the West Point hotel"
The major was equal to the occa-
m.
From my first meeting you here"
said, 81 felt that / had loved you
d that I was true to that love. I
We proved by this second proposal
1t constancy which is conspicuous
,ong the officers Of the United States
my"
me lady laughed.
And you have also proved that as
rance, that readiness, that resource
,atever you choose to call it-which
also conspicuous among the officers
the United States army in extricat-
; yourself from dilemma"
DO you mean to say" he rejoined,
hat you considered West Point pro-
sal of cadet bona fide?"
1t matters not whether it is bona
e or not provided one of the par