The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1919-03-13

MArkJ beginning to feel n little like q
prig in the presence of this self-pos-
sessed young person. 1t is so easy to
assume the task of adviser from a dis
tance, but difficult to retain the role
face to face.
well, 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"
II suppose l didn't realize how big
you were getting" said Mark penitent-
ly. "But you can't think how glad 1
am to see you, anyway"
It's u 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 dearW
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
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"
II suppose I'm u 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. It
was just that your photograph was
taken so long ago, and l 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 hCve 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.
1--WE often thought about that, Un-
Gle Mark" she answered.
But, of course, it may never hap
pen"
Il suppose not But If ever 1t does
l mean to try to be what you meant
me to be when you made that condi-
tion to the major. How l wlsh-how
l wish"
yes. my dear2"
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 l
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 l hope that |
may be worthy of him"
you don't remember anything,
EleanOr2"
"Yes, Uncle Mark. Tn sure do
and yet I've thought so much about II
that I'm not sure how much of 1t is
memory and how much is just child's
inventions. Perhaps l invented all of
1t, and made myself believe remem.
bered it. And yet am sure part Of 1t
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 1 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