Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-19
"Bride of Battle"
ROMANCE OF THE AMERICAN ARMY
FIGHTING ON THE BATTLE
FIELDS OF FRANCE.
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
Copyright by W. &. Chapman.

He was surprised at the girls sud-
den responsiveness to his words. She
grew very serious.
I've often thought about that, Un-
Gle Mark" she answered.
But. Of course. 1t may never hap
pen"
Il suppose not But II ever 1t 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
/ wish"
Yes, my dear?"
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
dream that he may have been u brave
soldier who was trying to serve his
country by going into the Spanish
lines in disguise, and l hope that
may be worthy of him."
You don't remember anything,
Eleanor"
Yes. Uncle Mark. I'm sure do
and yet I've thought so much about 1t
that I'm not sure how much Of II Is
memory and how much Is just child's
inventions. Perhaps / invented all Of
it, and made myself believe I remem-
bcrcd It. And l am sure part of 1t
is memory"
What do you remember" asked
Mark rather fearfully.
We'll. Uncle Mark, my first connect
cd memories are of Major Howard'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 II
they were pictures"
What is the first thing you remem-
ber?"
II see n woman lying In a bed in
strange room. Her face Is whittier than
any face l have known; man sits be-
side her, with his head in his hand,
and, though death has no meaning for
me, l am afraid, for know that she
was my mother"
WAS this in Cuba, Eleanor"
II don't know. but think so. Uncle
Mark, because 1 remember running to
the window and seeing a great palm
tree outside, with spreading branches.
And there are other cities, and we
seem to 20 from place TO place. Always,
watching for somebody. and yet, as 1t
were, hiding from people. I know we
avoid people. but 1t Is an instinct only
that tells me so.
And again | am with my father In
the Jungle. | 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
drcnched with rain. am so tired and
thirsty. But we go on and on, and
when We stop we find little hut, and
| am afraid no longer"
And them" asked Mark in agita-
tion.
II remember nothing. 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
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
so?"
Yes" answered Mark, miserably.
He had always wondered what the
child would be like. Howard's half
yearly letters had always assumed too
much for granted. Mark had practi-
cally relinquished Eleanor to the ma
jor, and he had never learned anything
about her that he had really wanted to
know. He had not imagined the pre-
cocious. high-strung. idealistic girl
whom he now saw. He knew that the
disclosure of her fathers dishonor, II
ever 1t came about, would shock her
into n revulsion Of feeling that would
be fatal to the true development of
her character.
He had often wished that he had
not pressed that idea Of the regi-
mental mascot upon the major. 1t had
been born in a mind attuned to the
victory Of that bloody day; In normal
he would never have enter
tanned 1t. Yet Major Howard had
DCen UlOTe lHuptSSSSu SAAsAaA AS --~
mitted to Mark. The idea had
spread through the minds of the other
officers. There was never q guard din
ner but Eleanor was solemnly toasted.
she was not permitted to be
present, and somehow the child had
become symbol in the minds OF these
plain men in business and professional
life who spent two weeks in camp
each year.
After the war Mark had gone tothe
regulars; but he was still In touch
with the officers Of the SEVENTEEN, and
he knew that. IL ever war came, he
could obtain an appointment to It
It am sure that my father will prove
to have been a brave soldier said
Eleanor, clasping her hands eagerly.
And sometimes" she continued, II
think that there must have been a.
great mystery about him."
"why?" demanded Mark, startled.
.spacauaa of the man who watches