The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-10-25

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, of
course, he's out of favor, and he
wouldn't have any influence, anyway.
It's years since he was in the army"
81 suppose I'm back number, my
dear. Some of US have to be. Per-
haps I'll get my chance. I'm not thir-
ty yet, you know, and thirty isn't con-
sidered awfully old in the army. At
least, it 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 1 didn't reflect
that you must have changed"
'And If ever another war comes I'm
sure my experience will count for a
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.
"Tve often thought about that, Un-
Gle Mark" she answered.
But, of course, it may never hap
pen"
Il suppose not. But if ever it does
I mean to try to be what you meant
me to be when you made that cOndi-
ton to the major. How / wish-how
I wish"
Yes, my dear?"
''That we knew who my father was.
Sometimes l think he was only an
American planter, perhaps, who lived
in Cuba and was forced to flee when
the. war began. And then again 1
dream that he may have been brave
soldier who was trying to serve his
country by going into the Spanish
lines in disguise, and 1 hope that l
may be worthy of him."
You don't remember anything,
Eleanor?"
''Yes, Uncle Mark. I'm sure 1 do
and yet I've thought so much about it
that I'm not sure how much of it is
memory and how much is just child's
inventions. Perhaps 1 invented all of
it, and made myself believe l remem-
bered it. And yet 1 am sure part of it
is memory"
What do you remember?" asked
Mark rather fearfully.
'Well, Uncle Mark, my first connect
ed memories are of Major Howard's
home, of course. And l have 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 I seem to have memories, as if
they were pictures"
What is the first thing you remem-
ber?"
Il see woman lying in a bed in
strange room. Her face is whittier chan
any face have known; a man sits be-
side her, with his head in his hand.
and, though death has no meaning for
was my mother
WAS this in Cuba, Eleanor?"
II don't know, but l 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 it
were, hiding from people. l know we
avoid people, but it is an instinct only
that tells me so.
And again 1 am with my father in
the jungle. I don't know how we got
there, but l see the trees all around
me, and I am afraid. We walk on and
on, and sometimes he carries me, and
we sleep under the trees and are
drenched with rain. l am so tired and
thirsty. But we go on and on, and
when we stop we find little hut, and
l am afraid no longer"
"And then?" asked Mark in agita-
ton.
Il remember nothing. l suppose the
bullet that killed my father must have
struck him while he was in the hut,
but l have no picture in my mind at
ALL"
Mark mumbled something to con-
ceal his agitation. "And do you re-
member me coming and picking you
up?' he asked.
She shook her head regretfully. Il
don't remember anything else" she
answered. Nothing until that dinner
in the majors house"
She linked her arm through his and
looked at him earnestly. Uncle
Mark, it makes me unhappy some
times to think that have no memory,
no clear memory of my parents. l am
sure that some day all this mystery
will be cleared up. Don't you hope
SOP"
"Yes," answered Mark, miserably.
He had always wondered what the
child Ho1lLd be like. HoWard's half