New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-07-16
The
Majors Sacrifice
By HARRY ST. JOHNS
(Copyright.)


tC~opyright.)
/ 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 o The officers were giving
0 ball, but he was a stranger in the
camp, and excited my curiosity at the
outset.
VAS 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. and | found the tale diff
cult to credit. He was a genial. kind
hearted man, but old enough to be her
father, and somehow his pOInpOus, au-
tOcratic ways seemed ill-ftted 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.
ID you know him. Loo?" / whis-
pered.
But she only turned startled eyes
upon me and raised her hand In warn
Ing. l had time for no further speech T:
the first extra had begun, and my part
ner claimed me, though I 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, 1T was a long
time ago you were a child. But you
have the mark still. | see?" A2d his
gaze rested on a little scar on the girls
white brow-the mark Of n cut, almost,
but not quite Obllterated.
Yes, l have 1t still. I think / shall
carry II always"
.'Six years!" he said softly. ut Is
a long time. But you were not Miss
Kingston then-yOu were only Loo"
"Shall we rest a little3 am tired"
Her face vas white, and there was n
sorrowful appeal In the wistful, dark
eyes.
watched them disappear down n
corridor decorated with greenery and
fairy lamps, until 1t looked like a piece
of some enchanted palace, then the
final crash of the music broke my
dreamings.
Surely | had been dreaming, Loo,
quiet, houselike Loo, couldn't have
such a 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 n OF us
at Nine. Ollendorf's; her fathers regi-
ment had been ordered abroad, AID the
child. who had hitherto been his COM
panion, wac placed In madame's care
during his absence. She was q child
II was not possible.
This Is ours. Miss Nan"
Major Whitaker stood before me,
large. pompous and good-natured, As
l placed my fingers on his arm-the
major always liked to 90 'on parade"
before he began his gy%rntions-I men
tally compared the two me,. and won.
dered again how Loo's engagement had
come about.
Il see Brevet IL back again." he re-
marked. 'Clever fellow. and n rafting
good soldier. Deserves all the hOnors
ne has got. pom my soul. he does"
"Yesf" | a~cquiesced. readily. seeing
that he alluded to the stranger. You
know him. thenf"
"Oh, yes he was at 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 I doubt
whether he'll fall In with the arrange
ments very readilyw The major
chuckled.
"Arrangementsi" I queried. "IIe is
engagedf"
Ills wife was chosen for him long
ago" returned the major she was his
mothers ward. but the lad suddenly
developed a will Of his own and an
aounced his Intention OF choosing his
own bride.
at must have been six years ago. I
should think-perhnps more" contin-
ued the major. Ills mother was anx-
lous for the engagement TO be brought
about. and there was n scene. | emem-
Der. The lad came to me afterwards.
look here. major he said. hotly,
I'm not a boy. and I can choose my
own wife. In fact'-a7d he colored like
A girl-'Tve chosen her already. I
mind telling you I've seen the
only girl I'll ever marry, and she isn't
ny mothers choicer"
fright you are, my lad said I.
Choose your girl and stick to her.
did you meet herr
Then II came out that he hadn't
wen been introduced 10 her. He'd
her from something-Tm sure I
'orgot whnt-he knew she was small
lad dark. and Ind n pair Of honest
yes that had gone straight to his