Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-11-15


sure my experience will count for
lot. And I'll probably have command
over Captain Murray and Captain
Crawford If ever the National Guard
is called on for serious work. And
then you'll have your function as our
mascot, you know"
He was surprised at the girls sud-
den responsiveness to his words. She
grew very serious.
1--WE often thought about that, Un-
Gle Mark" she answered.
"But, Of course, it may never hap
pen"
II suppose not. But If ever it does
I mean to try to be what you meant
me to be when yeN made that condi-
ton to the major. How wish-how
/ wish"
"Yes, my dear7"
'That we knew who my father was.
Sometimes / think he was only an
American planter, perhaps. who lived
In Cuba and was forced to flee when
the war began. And then again I
dream that he may have been brave
soldier who was trying to serve his
country by going into the Spanish
lines in disguise. and hope that
may be worthy of him."
"You don't remember anything,
EleanorT
"Yes, Uncle Mark. I'm sure do
and yet I've thought so much about 1t
that I'm not sure how much of 1t is
memory and how much Is just childs
inventions. Perhaps 1 invented all of
1t, and made myself believe / remem-
bered It. And yet am sure part of 1t
is memory"
what do you rememberf" asked
Mark rather fearfully.
"well, Uncle Mark. my first connect
ed memories are of Major Hownrd's
home, Of course. And / have a very
vivid impression of being brought into
the dining room and toasted at that
dinner which the Major gave to the
officers after the war. But before all
that seem to have memories, as If
they were pictures"
'What is the first thing you remem-
ber?"
II see woman lying In q bed In q
strange room. Her face Is whittier than
any fnce have known; a man sits be-
side her, with his head In his hand.
and, though death has no meaning for
me. am afraid, for know that she
was my mother"
''Was this in Cuba, Eleanor?"
II don't know, but 1 think so, Uncle
Mark, because remember running to
the window and seeing a great palm
tree outside, with spreading branches.
And there are other cities, and we
seem to go from place to place, always
watching for somebody, and yet, as 1t
were, hiding from people. / know we
avoid people, but 1t Is an instinct only
that tells me so.
"And again / am with my father in
the jungle. 1 don't know how we got
there, but see the trees all around
me, and / am afraid. We walk on and
on, and sometimes he carries me, and
we sleep under the trees and are
drenched with rain. am so. tired and
thirsty. But we go on. and on, and
when we stop we find q little hut, and
/ am afraid no longer"
"And thenT" asked Mark In agita
ton.
II remember nothing. / suppose tbs
bullet that killed my father must have
struck him while he was In the hut
but I have no picture in my mind al
ALL"
Mark mumbled something to con
ceal his agitation. And do you re
member me coming and picking yos
upT he asked.
She shook her head regretfully. e
don't remember anything else," sh,
answered. Nothing until that dinnel
In the majors house."
She linked her arm through his an.
looked at him earnestly. "Uncl,
Mark, 1t makes me unhappy some
times to think that 1 have no memory
no clear memory Of my parents. 1 an
sure that some day all this myster,
will be cleared up. Don't you hop
so7'
"res," answered Mark, miserably.
he had always wondered what tn
child would be like. Howard's hall
yearly letters had always assumed to-
! much for granted. Mark had practI
| cally relinquished Eleanor to the Me
Jor. and he had never learned anythin
about her that he had really wanted t
know. He had not imagined the pre-
cocious, high-strung, idealistic gIr
whom he now saw. He knew that tn
disclosure of her fathers dishonor, |
ever II came about, would shock he
into q revulslon Of feeling that woul
be fatal to the true development O
her character.
He had often wished that he had no
pressed that idea of the regimenta
mascot upon the major. 1t had bee
born In mind attuned to the victor
Of tat bloody day; in normal me
ments he would never have enter
tained 1t. Yet Major Howard ha
been more impressed than he had az
mitted to Mark. The idea ha
spread through the minds of the othe
officers. There was never a Guard dir
ner but Eleanor was solemnly toasted
though she was not permitted to b
present, and somehow the child ha
become a symbol In the minds of thes
plain men in business and professions
life who spent two weeks In cam
each year.
After the war Mark had gone to tn
regulars; but he was still In touc
with the officers Of the Seventeen, an