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

several years laIer Ohp1tlu muEk
Wallace descended from a street car
and walked up the grounds of very
select young ladies' boarding school in
Westchester county. New York, kept
by two maiden ladies. Entering the
colonial portico, the captain rang the
bell and asked to see Miss, Howard.
Five minutes afterward, having satis-
fed the lady principal that he stood in
the avuncular relation to her charge,
and wns a man Of blameless life, he
met Eleanor in the reception room.
1t was some years since he had seen
her. The grimy little waif Of the San
tiago battlefield had shot up into
slim, longlegged 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-
pecting an embrace, realized Marks
Intention, and checked herself quickly
and held out both hands,.
Dear Uncle Mark !" she exclaimed.
1--WE been looking forward to you ever
since got your letter telling me that
you were coming East"
"Well, it's nice to be appreciated
like that" said Mark, laughing.
II couldn't quite persuade myself
that 1t was true, and that I should
really see you at last. And you're not
in the least like your photograph"
"Homelier. Eleanor"
mo, 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 swelterlng heat and arduous
service. had really aged him prema-
tureiy. Mark had had no influence to
secure him anything better than a
bosrer post. He often wondered why
be- had not gone into civil life. like so
fi1ny Of his class, and amassed a COM
potency in the first booming years Of
ne twentieth century.
Something in the blood. perhaps. had
bald him to the army life, which he
loved so much in principle and hated
W much In practice. He was not far
short OF thirty; he had nothing but
his menger pay no ties but a married
sister in Chicago and the girl in the
boarding school. who filed so great a
pnrt Of his thoughts, so disproportion-
ate 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 Howard's home.
Il expected a young man. but I'm
Just as pleased to see you," said
Eleanor. II 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
wan 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
afew months while they went on O
ylalt to the West.
II always felt that you are really
my guardian. even IL you did give me
up to Major Howard" said Eleanor.
"But have only lent you," said
Mark. II couldn't very well take care
Of you when was sent to Texas. And
II has always been understood that you
belong to mel mean. that ] am YOU
guardian. Eleanor"
II know" she said. "And you write
me such splendid letters, with sucf
good advice in them"
(which you don't follow"
Indeed 1 do" said the girl, eagerly
-only sometimes 1t Is just little ou
OF date. Uncle Mark"
'In what PARTICULAR" inquired
Mark. beginning to feel a little like I
prig In the presence OF this self-pos
sessed young person. II Is so easy Il
assume the task of adviser from a dis
tance. but difficult to retain the roll
face to face.
-Well, when you wrote me last yea
to remember not to be pert and for
ward. like modern children, Uncl,
Mark. Pertness comes at seven o.
eight. One isn't pert at twelve--a
least. not in the way you meant. The.
call It ill-bred, then"
II suppose I didn't realize how BIZ
yOu were getting" said Mark penltent
~. 'But you can't think how glad
am 70 see you, anyway"
''It's q shame sticking you for year
out In that horrible desert" said tn
girl. II wish. Uncle Mark. you hadn'
stayed in the army after the war"
"Why. my dearT
Because then you could have gon
Into business In New York, like Car
tain Murray and Captain Crawford"
I've been thinking about rs mucl
myself. Eleanor. But guess the arm
rot hold Of me-"
-But they haven't treated you right
". Uncle Mark. They haveu't promoi
cd ynu for years, and they hay
Jumped all sorts of officers over you
head. Major Howard was saying s
only before he left for Alaska. But, O
course, he's out of favor. and h
wouldn't have any influence, anyway
ITS years since he was In the army"
Il suppose I'm a back number, m
dear. Some OF US have to be. Pei
hnps I'll get my chance. I'm not thil
y yet. you know, and thirty ISN'T con
ridered awfully old In the army. A
lsnst. II isn't the retiring uge."
Don't be so absurd. Uncle Mark
You don't look an old man ut oil. ]
vas Just ih"t ysur photograph wa