The Colorado statesman., 1920-07-17
The
Majors Sacrifice
BY HARRY ST. JOHNS
tCopyright.)

noticed him directly we entered the
room. and saw that he noticed Loo.
There he stood, tall and handsome,
In the splendor Of his medals and his
uniform. excelling every other man
in the room. The officers were giving
ball, but he was n stranger In the
camp, and excited my curiosity at the
outset.
was staying with Loo Kingston;
her father was retired colonel, and
Loo reigned mistress of his house.
II 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 pompous, 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 l followed her into the ballroom
| noticed the strangers eyes fixed up
on her with curious, intent gaze.
"Do you know him, Loo?' l whis-
pered.
But she only turned startled eyes
upon me and raised her han'l in warn
Ing. had time for no further speech;
the first extra had begun, and my part
ner claimed me, though l would fain
have stayed and questioned Loo.
Presently she passed us on the stran-
gers arm and scraps of their conver-
sation floated to my ear.
you might have forgotten me-
"And yet" he said, at was long
time ago you were child. But you
have the mark still, l seer A1d his
gaze rested on little scar on the girls
white brow-the mark of cut, almost,
but not quite obliterated.
Eyes. / have 1t still. l think ! shall
carry 1t always"
six years !" he said softly. ut is
long time. But you were not Miss
Kingston then-you were only Loo D."
"Shall we rest little? l am tired"
Her face was white, and there wns
sorrowful appeal in the wistfu, dark
| eyes.
/ watched them disappear down
corridor decorated with greenery and
fairy lamps, until it looked like piece
of some enchanted palace, thea the
final crash of the music broke my
dreamings.
Surely | had been dreaming! Loo,
| ouiet. houseike Loo, couldn't have
such Il 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
Mt Nine. Olendorfs her fathers regi-
ment had been ordered abroad, AID the
| child. who had hitherto been his COM
| panion. was placed in madame's care
| during his absence. She was child
II was not possible.
''This is ours, Miss Nan"
Major Whitaker stood before me,
large, pompous and gOod-natured. As
placed my fingers on his arm-the
major always liked to go ION parade
before he began his gyrations-i men
tally compared the two mel, and won
dered again how Loo's engagement had
come about.
81 see Brevet 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 l sup
nose 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?" ,-
"His wife was chosen for him long
ago" returned the major "she was his
mothers ward. but the lad suddenly
deyeloped a will of his own and an
,ounced his intention of choosing his
own bride.
"It must have been six years ago, l
should think-perhaps more cohtin-
ned the major. His mother was anX-
Ious for the engagement to be Drought
about. and there was scene, remem-
her. The lad came to me afterwards.
"T ook here, major he said, hotly,
.I,m not a boy, and i can choose my
own wife. In fact'-aad he colored IKE
girl--T've chosen her already. l
don't mind telling you I've seen the
only girl I'll ever marry, and she isn't
INV mothers choice!
"'Right you are, my lad said 1.
Choose your girl and stick to her.
Where did you meet herr
"Then 1t came out that he hadn't
oven been introduced to her He'd
saved her from something-rm sure
forgot wbat-he knew she was small