The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1918-10-30


since I got your letter telling me that
you were coming East"
swell, it's nice to be appreciated
like that" said Mark, laughing.
81 couldn't quite persuade myself
that it was true, and that l should
really see you at last. And you're not
in the least like your photograph"
'Homelier, EleanorT
'No, but different. Older-very
much older. You must be awfully old
quite thirty, / should say"
Nearly" admitted Mark, wondering
whether the long years in the West,
with the sweltering heat and arduouS
service, had really aged him prema-
turely. Mark had had no influence to
secure him anything better than a
border post. He often wondered why
he had not gone into civil life, like so
many of his class, and amassed 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 so much in principle and hated
so much in practice. He was not far
short Of thirty; he had nothing but
his meager pay; no ties but a married
sister in Chicago and the girl in the
boarding school, who filled so great
part of his thoughts, so disproportion-
ate a share.
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 Towards home.
81 expected a young man, but I'm
just as pleased to see you," said
Eleanor. 81 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
in conversation. Mark learned all
about her school and her friends. She
was very happy there and would re-
greet not going back at the end of the
holidays. However, Major and Mrs.
Howard had only placed her there for
few months while they went on a
visit to the West.
u always felt that you are really
my guardian, eve if you did give me
up to Major Howard said Eleanor.
"But l have only lent you," said
Mark. 81 couldn't very well take care
of you when was sent to Texas. And
it has always been understood that you
belong to mel mean, that 1 am your
guardian, Eleanor"
81 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"Only sometimes it is just a little out
of date, Uncle Mark"
"In what PARTICULAR" inquired
Mark, beginning to feel little like a
prig in the presence of this self-pos-
sessed young person. 1t is so easy to
assume the task of adviser from a dis
lance, but difficult to retain the role
face to face.
swell, 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 in the way you meant. They
call it ill-bred, then"
81 suppose didn't realize how big
you were getting" said Mark penitent-
ly. 'But you can't think how glad /
am to see you, anyway"
SITS shame sticking you for years
out in that horrible desert" said the
girl. 81 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"
~Pve 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
Ouiy DclOIc ne lelL lOT AldSkd. buI, VI
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 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"