The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-01-23
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 satis-
fed the lady principal that he stood in
the avuncular relation to her charge,
and was 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 q
slim. long.legged 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
aud held out both hands.
"Dear Uncle Mark I" she exclaimed.
i've been looking forward to you ever
since I 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 It was true. and that should
really see you at last. And you're. not
in the least like your photograph"
"Homelier. Eleanorr"
"NO. 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 swelter,ng heat and arduous
service. had really aged him prema-
turely. Mark had had no influence to
secure him anything better than a
border post. He often wondered why
he had not gone into civil life. like SO
many Of his class. and amassed q COM
potency In the first booming years Of
the twentieth century.
Something in the blood. perhaps, had
held him to the army life. which he
loved 90 much In principle and hated
SO much In practice. He was not far
short of thirty; he had nothing but
his meager pay; no ties but a married
sister In Chicago and the girl In the
boarding school, who filled SO great Q
part Of his thoughts. so disproportion'
ate a 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 tC
retain the memory Of the meeting In
Major Howard's home.
II expected 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 deer
In conversation. Mark learned al
about her school and her friends. Sh,
was very happy there and would re
gret not going back at the end of thu
holidays. Eowever. Major and Mrs
Howard had only placed her there fol
few months while they went on I
visit to the West.
II always felt that you are reall!
my guardian. even II you did give m,
up to Major Howard" said Eleanor.
"But have only lent you," salt
Mark. II couldn't very well take car
Of you when was sent TO Texas. Ant
It has always been understood that yol
belong to mel mean. that am you
guardian, Eleanor"
II know" she said. "And you writ
me such splendid letters. with sue
good advice In them"
(which you don't follow"
"Indeed do" said the girl, eagerl,
"Only sometimes 1t is just little ou
Of date. Uncle Mark"
''In what partirularr' inquire
Mark. beginning to tsel a little like
prig In the presence Of this self-po
sessed young person. 1t IL SO easy
assume the task Of adviser from q dl
tance. but dlflcult to retain the rol
face to face.
swell, when you wrote me last yes
to remember not to be pert and TO
ward. like modern children. Uncl
Mark. Pertness comes at seven {
eight. One isn't pert At twelve-s
least not Ii the way you meant The