Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1919-02-13
CHAPTER ~.

-
Several years later Captain Mark
Wallace descended from a street car
and walked up the grounds Of very
select young ladies' boarding :chool 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 salts
fied the lady principal that he stood In
the avuncular relation to her charge.
and was q man Of blameless Life, he
met Eleanor in the reception room.
Il was some years since he had seen
her. The grimy little waif Of the San
t1ago battlefield had shot up into q
slim. longlegged schoolgirl. with brown
hair tied back with a ribbon. and q
face that already showed the promise
Of beauty.
The girl hurried forward az II ex-
Deotng an embrace. realized Marks
intention, and checked herself quickly
and held out both hands.
Dear Uncle Mark" she exclaimed.
I've been looking forward to you ever
ance got your letter telling me that
you were coming East"
well, it's nice to be appreciated
like that" said Mark, laughing.
Il 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 IKE your photograph"
'Homelier, Eleanorr'
mo. but different Older@very
much older. You must b awfully old
quite thirty, ! should say"
.:'Neariy,s admitted Marx. wondering
whether the long years In the West,
with the sweltering heat and arduouS
service. had really aged him prema-
tYrely. Mark had had no influence to
sSS1fe him anything better than 4
border post He often wondered why
be had pot gone into civil life. like 90
many Of his class, and amassed q com
1etcAey N the nrst booming years Of
the twentieth century:
Somathing ip the blood. perhaps, had
held him to the army life. which he
loved 80 much in principle and hated
% much In practice. he was not far
short Of thirty; he had nothing but
Ids meager pay; no ties but married
Aster in Chicago and the girl In the
boarding school. who filed 30 great q
part Of his thoughts. % disproportion-
ate Q share.
For until that day he had only seen
her once since he picked her mp In the
Jungle. and she had been too young to
retain the memory Of the meeting In
Major Towards home.
Il expected a young man. but I'm
Just % pleased to see you" said
Nleanor. 81 don't like very young
men,"
Mark received her amends with
amusement, and they sat down side by
ode 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
q few months while they went ON q
visit to the West.
IT always felt that you are really
my guardian. even II 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
It has always been understood that you
belong to mel mean. that I am your
guardian, Eleanor"
II know" she said. "And you write
me such splendid letters, with such
food advice In them"
(which You don't follow"
Indeed DO" said the girl. eagerly
'Only sometimes It IL Just little out
Of date, Uncle Mark"
I'm what particularly" inquired
Mark. beginning to feel little like Q
pr1g In the presence Of this self-pos
sessed young person. II is 10 easy t
assume the task Of adviser from dis
lance, but difficult to retain the role
tace to face.
swell, when you wrote me last yeal
20 remember not to be pert and for
ward. like modern children, Uncl,
Mark. Pertness comes Mt seven Of
eight. One isn't pert ut twelve-a
hast. not In the way you meant. The,
y II ill-brcd, then"