The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1918-10-04

ocHoOl ana nc1 friends. She
was very happy there and would re.
greet not going back at the end of the
mondays. However, Major and Mrs
howard had only placed her there for
few months while they went IN a
visit to the West.
always felt that YOU are rea,1v
my guardian, eve if you did give mo
up to Major Howard said Eleanor
but l nave only lent you" said
mark. Il couldn't very well ia e care
OF you when was sent to Texas. And
1t has always been understood that Won
Delong to mel mean, that 1 am vour
guardian, Eleanor"
L KNOW" she said. "And Won writa
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 ont
OF date, Uncle Mark
what PARTICULAR" inquired
Mark, beginning to feel a little like q
prlg in the presence of this self-nos-
sessed young person. It is so easy to
assume the task Of adviser from a dis
lance, but difficult to retain the role
face to face.
wei, 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
elght. One isn't pert at twelve-at
least. not in the way you meant. They
call it ill-bred, then"
suppose l didn't realize how big
you were getting" said Mark penitent-
~. But you can't think how glad I
am TO see you, anyway"
Its shame sticking you for years
out In 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 Can
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
~, Uncle Mark. They haven't promot-
ca you for years, and they have
jumped ali 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
Wcuidn'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-
haps I'll get my chance. I'm not thir-
ty yet, you know, and thirty isn't con-
s1dered 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. II |
was just that your photograph was
taken so long ago, and I 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.
'o OItcH lnOuSnC ABOUT tnat, I'm.
Gle Mark" she answered.
"But, Of course, it may never hap
pen"
Il suppose not. But if ever it does
mean to try to be what you meant
me to be when you made that condi-
ton to the major. How I wish-how
I wish
Eyes, 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 I
dream that he may have been a brave
soldier who was trying to serve his
country by going into the Spanish
lines in disguise, and I hope that I
may be worthy Of him."
"You don't remember anything,
eyes. 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
and how much is just child's
Perhaps 1 invented all Of
.