Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-19
CHAPTER Ill.


and walked up tie grounds Of very
select young ladies' boarding school In
Westchestcr county, New York. kept
by two maiden ladies. Entering the
colonial portico, the captain rang the
bell AMI asked TO see Miss Howard
fled the lazy principal that ne stood in
the avuncular relation TO her charge,
and was Il man Of blameless life, he
met Eleanor In the reception room.
II was some years since he had seen
her. The grimy little waif of the San
tiagu battlefield had shot up into
slim. long LEGGED schoolgirl, with
brown hair tied back with ribbon.
and a face that already showed the
promise of beauty.
The girl hurried forward as II ex-
pccting an embrace. realized Marks
intention. and checked herself quickly
and held out both hands.
Dear Uncle Mark" she exclaimed,
I've been looking forward to you
ever since | got your letter telling me
that you were coming east.
We'll, it's nice, to he appreciated
like that" said Mark. laughing.
Il couldn't quite persuade myself
that IL was true. and that / should
really see you at last. And you're not
in the least like your photograph"
"Homclicr, Eleanor"
NO, but different. Older-rery
much older You must be awfully old
quite thirty. should say"
Nearly" admitted Mark, wonder
ing whether the long years In the west
with the sweltcring heat and arduous
service, had really aged him prema-
turely. Mark had had no influence TO
secure him anything better than
border post. He often wondered why
he had not gone into civil life, like so
many of his class, and amassed II COM
potency in the first booming years of
the twentieth century.
Something in the blood, perhaps.
had held him to the army life, which
he loved 50 much in principle and
hated so much in practice. He was
not far short of thirty; he had nothing
but his mcage- pay: no tic but n mar
ried sister in Chicago and the girl In
the boarding school, who filled so
great part OF his thoughts. so dis
--pror6rr0nrtc i -sffre:
For until that day he had only seen
her once since he picked her up in the
Jungle. and she had been too young to
retain the memory of the meeting in
Major iioward's home.
Il expected Il young man. but I'm
just as pleased tn see you. SAID
Eleanor. Il don't like very younG
men"
Mark received her amends with
amusement. and they sat down side by
side upon the sofa. and were soon deep
i'm conversation. Mark learned all
about her school and her friends She
WAS very happy there and would re-
gret not going back ut the end Of the
holidays. However, Major and Mrs.
Howard had only placed her there for
Il few months while they went on n
visit to the west.
Il always felt that you are really
my guardian. even If you did give me
UP to Major Howard" said Eleanor.
But | have only lent you," said
Mark. Il couldn't very we'll take care
of you when l was sent to Texas. And
il has always been understood that
YOU belong to mc-l mean, that l am
your guardian. Eleanor"
II know" she said. And you write
me such splendid letters, with such
good advice in them"
Which YOU don't follow"
Indeed | do" said the girl. eagerly.
"only sometimes II Is just little out
of date. Uncle Mark"
In what particular" inquired
Mark. beginning to feel little like
prig in the presence of this self-pos-
scssed young person. 1t is so easy to
assume the task OF adviser from n dis
tance. but difficult to retain the role
face TO face.
We'll, when you wrote me last year
to remember not to be pert and for
ward, like modern children, Uncle
Mark. Pertness comes at seven or
eight. One isn't pert at twelve-at
least. not I'm the way you meant. They
call it ill-bred. then"
Il suppose l didn't realize how big
-.. ,,..,.,, .,n,,in, .o;J MnrE npnitent-
IL. "Dut you can't think how glad l
am to see you. anyway"
It's 4 shame sticking you for years
out i'm that horrible desert" said the
girl. Il wish. Uncle Mark, you hadn't
STAYED in the army after the war"
why. my DEAR"
Because then you could have gone
into business in New York, like Cap
tain Murray and Captain Crawford
I've been thinking about as much
myself. Eleanor But guess the army
got hold Of me"
But they haven't treated you right
ly, Uncle Mark. They haven't promot-
ed YOU for years, and they have
Jumped all sorts OF officers over your
head. Major Howard was saying so
only before he left for Alaska. But or
course, he's out Of favor, and he
wouldn't have any influence. anyway.
It's years since he was in the army.
Il suppose I'm back number, my
dear. Some Of us have to be. Per-
kaps I'll get my chance I'm not thir-
ty vet. you know, and thirty isn't con-
sidered- -awfully old in the army. AT
least, il isn't the retiring age"
Don't be so absurd. Uncle Mark!
You don't look an old man at all. 1t
was just that your photograph was
taken so long ago. and didn't reflect
that you must have changed"
And II ever another war comes I'm
sure my experience will count for q
lot. And Ill probably have command
-..l- and Cnntai In