The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-02-06
CHAPTER v-centInusd.

/. CHAPTER v-centlnusd.
schoolgirls can Judge character as
well as grown.ups."
"And 30 you think you know me, and
-and you're not altogether disappoint-
ed" asked Mark, smiling at last.
"rm not disappointed In you at all.
II you aren't In me. Dear Uncle Mark.
people don't really change-never.
neveri Only they learn to adapt them
selves to their environments. You are
Just the same as ever-just the quiet.
sensitive, chivalrous Uncle Mark I've
always dreamed Of"
"Well," said Mark, II see that there
are hopes that I shall regain the little
ward whom I've always thought about.
And, of course, ought to have re-
fiected that your environment has been
very different from the one could
nave given you."
"I wish I'd been with you. Uncle
Mark" she answered impulsively.
"Why didn't you keep me when you had
your chance. II you wanted met oh.
dear Uncle Mark, that was SO like
you. too-giving up to others. And
you never sent me that photograph" |"
1--WE never had one taken since. El-
eanor."
But I've got you yourself now"
soid the girl. $50 you mustn't give me
up any more. no matter who seems to
have q better claim on me. VIII you
promise me Aat7"
Mark knew now for certain that he
aad found his own. II PROMISE" he
answered.
Because, you know, I've been very
happy with Colonel and Mrs. Howard.
But this isn't the best and biggest part
of me that you see here. II could
have had my way I'd rather have been
living a more useful life somewhere
somewhere where I hadn't quite SO
many things that want. Colonel
Howard gives me everything he thinks
want. But-you see. Uncle Mark.
something Is missing. You remember
what we talked over-abOut my being
the regimental masc0t?"
Mark nodded. watching her face
closely.
''Well, all that's over and gone.
There Isn't any regiment now. any
way. All the old people have gone out
Of Il. And we were three years In San
Francisco, you know. And-Oh. Uncle
Mark, I wish we could have those days
again. when used to dream about my
father and-and-"
II know. my DEAR" said Mark.
tive always secretly hoped that
should know. some day. But I've al
most stopped hoping. except for one
thing that I've never told anybody
You remember what ! said to you
about man watching met"
HE doesn't watch you now. FL
eanori"
She nodded. "He has come back.
she answered. "He's older and grayer
but he's the same man. I've seen him
here. In Washington. And I've neveI
dared to speak Of It, even to Colone
Howard. but know It's not a deluslon
Uncle Mark" /.
.And you think he has some connec
tion with your father, Eleanorl" asked
Mark.
II don't know what to think. Whn
do you think. Uncle Mark7" asked tn
girl.
II think. my DEAR" said Mark delhi
erately. ''that II isn't the same man
It stands to reason 1t can't be. VIII!
should he have watched you all thes
years and never spoken to your No
Eleanor, think you've had this idel
80 long that you have misinterprete'
II mean"
II know what you mean, Uncl
Mark. Well. It doesn't matter. AM
now I must go back to Mrs. Howar
or they will be wondering what ha
become OF me. But we've picked u
our memories. haven't wef And ~
see a lot of you. Uncle Mark. befor
you 60 to the warp