The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-07-16
The
Majors Sacrifice
By HARRY ST. JOHNS
(Copyright.)


(Copyright.)
noticed him directly we entered the
room, and saw that he noticed Loo.
There he stood, tall and handsome,
gir.the splendor of his medals and his
uniform, excelling every other man
In the room. The officers were giving
a ball, but he was a stranger in the
camp, and excited my curiosity at the
outset.
l 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, and found the tale diff
cult to credit. He was genial, kind
hearted man, but old enough to be her
father, and somehow his pompous, au-
t6cratic 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
81 noticed the strangers eyes fixed up
on her with curious, intent gaze.
"Do you know him, Loo" / whis-
pered.
But she only turned startled eyes
upon me a1d 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-"
Sand yet" he said, cit was long
time ago you were child. But you
have the mark still, see?" AID his
gaze rested on a little scar on the girls
white brow-the mark of cut, almost,
but not quite obliterated.
"Yes, 1 have it still. 1 think l shall
carry it always"
six yearsp' he said softly. sit is
long time. But you were not Miss
Kingston then-you were only Loo
"Shall we rest little? am tired"
Her face was white, and there was
sorrowful appeal in the wistful, dark
eyes.
/ watched them disappear down
corridor decorated with greenery and
fairy lamps, until it looked like piece
of some enchanted palace, then the
final crash of the music broke my
dreamings.
: Surely 1 mad 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 one of us
at Nine. Ollendorf's; her fathers regi-
ment had been ordered abroad, ald the
child, who had hitherto been his COM
panion, was placed in madame's care
during his absence. She was child
it was not possible.
"This is ours, Miss Nan"
Major Whitaker stood before me,
large, pompous and good-natured. AS
I 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 men, 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, then?"
y "Oh, yes he was at one time in my
regiment. know hisNpeople well. Now
that he's home safe and sound l sup
pose he'll be taking a wife, but doubt
whether he'll fall'in with the arrange
ments very readilyw The major
chuckled.
"Arrangements?" queried. "He is
engaged?"
ago" returned the major "she was his
mothers ward, but the lad suddenly
developed will of his own and an
nOunced his intention of choosing his
own bride.
sit must have been six years ago,
should think-perhaps more" contin-
ued the major. "His mother was anx-
ious for the engagement to be brought
about, and there was scene, remem-
ber The lad came to me afterwards.
"Look here, major he said, holly,
I'm not boy, and can choose my
own wife. In fact'-a1d he colored like
a girl-Tve chosen her already. /
don't mind telling you I've seen the
only girl I'll ever marry, and she isn't
my mothers choice!"
fright you are, my lad said I.
Choose your girl and stick to her.
Where did you meet her.?
"Then it came out that he hadn't
; even been introduced to her. He'd
saved her from something-Pm sure I
forgot what-he knew she was small
AID dark, and had pair of honest
eyes that had gone straight to his