Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-07-28
The
Majors Sacrifice
By HARRY ST. JOHNS
tcopyright)


uniform. excelling every other man
m the room. The officers were giving
ball. but he was a stranger in the
camp. and excited my curiosity at the
outset.
was staying with Loo Kingston
her father was a retired colonel, and
Loo reigned mistress Of his house.
1t was only recently that her en-
gagement to Major Whitaker had been
announced. aad l found the tale diff
cult to credit He was a genial. kind
hearted man, but old enough to be her
father. and somehow his pOmp0us. au-
tocratic ways seemed ill-fitted to one
Of LOo's shrinking temperament. True,
he was rolling in money. but Loo was
not mercenary, and the moment saw
her again her pale, changed face show
ed me she was giving her hand where
her heart could never follow.
AS / followed her into the ballroom
l noticed the strangers eyes fixed up
on her with a curious, intent gaze.
do you know him, LOOP" l whis-
percd
But she only turned startled eyes
upon me ald raised her hand In warn
| ing. had time for no further speech /;
the first extra had begun, and my part
ner claimed me, though | would fain
have stayed and questioned Loo.
Presently she passed us on the stran-
gers arm and scraps of their CONVEX
satiOn fioated to my ear.
"You might have forgotten me"
"And yet" he said. at was long
time ago you were a child. But you
| have the mark still, / see?" Ald his
gaze rested on a little scar on the girls
white brOw-the mark of cut, almost
but rot quite obliterated
Eyes. | have 1t still. l think / shall
| carry It always"
"Six years." he said softly. at is
long time. But you were not Miss
! Kingston then-yOu were only Loo. !"
"shall we rest a little? / am tired"
Her face was white, and there was a
sorrowful appeal In the wistful, dark
eyes.
watched them disappear down a
corridor decorated with greenery and
fairy lamps, until II looked like piece
of some enchanted palace. then the
final crash Of the music broke my
Cfreamings.
Surely | had been dreaming Loo,
quiet, hOuselike Loo, couldn't have
such romance In her life This hand
some soldier couldn't have cherished
her image all that time? Six years !!
Why, she was not sixteen That was
when she had first become one of us
at Nine. Ollendorf's; her fathers regi-
ment had been ordered abroad, aad the
child. who had hitherto been his COM
panion, was placed In madame's care
during his absence. She was child
T. was not possible.
"This is ours. Miss Nan"
Major Whitaker stood before me,
large. p0mpous and goOd-natured. AS
placed my fingers on his arm-the
maj,r always liked to go ION parade"
before he began his gyrations-I men
tally compared theTtwo mel. and won
dered again how Loo's engagement had
come about.
al see Blevet Is back again." he re-
marked. Clever fellow, and rafting
good soldier. Deserves all the honors
he has got pom my soul. he does!"
'Yes?" | acquiesced. readily, seeing
that he alluded to the stranger. "You
know him, thenf"
"Oh, yes he was at one time in my
regiment. know his people well. Now
that he's home safe and sound sup
pose he'll be taking a wife. but doubt
whether he'll fall in with the arrange
ments very readily" The major
| chuckled.
Arrangements" l queried. "He is
engaged?"
Ellis wife was chosen for him long
ago" returned the major "she was his
mothers ward, % the lad suddenly
developed will of his own and an.
nounced his intention of choosing his
own bride.
"It must have been six years ago,
should think--perhaps more" contin
ued the major. Ellis mother was anx
Ious for the engagement to be brought
about and there was a scene. | remem
Der. The lad came To me afterwards
"Look here, major he said. holly
I'm not hoy. and l can choose my
own wife, In fact-aad he colored like
glrl-Tve chosen her already.
don't mind telling you I've seen tn,
only girl I'll ever marry, and she ism
my mothers Choieer"
fright You are, my lad said I
Choose your girl and stick to her
Where did you meet herr
"Then 1t came oa that he hadn'
even been introduced TO her He,
saved her from something-rm sure
forgot what-he knew she was small
aad dark, and had pair Of homes
eyes that had gone straight to hi
heart, but her name-well. he onl
, knew he. Christian name and he die
pit tell ne that! But" concluded tn
major, tr1umphantly, "he's stuck TO hi
guns, and he's In love with his darl
eyed Mystery STILL There's a twe1tiet
century romance for youl Let me g
you some refreshments"
let him go In silence. had III
tened to his story In hreathless excit,
. rcent. or course. Loo was the heroin
and he had found his "dark-eyed My
teryr l recalled the scraps of the
: conversation: "You have the mar
; still" I remembered how that mar
! | haa axettad Nsar arhnOlrlrl cur4oSif-