The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-10-07
The
Majors Sacrifice
By HARRY ST. JOHNS
tcopyright)

l
tcopyrightJ
! 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. excellng every other man
In the room. The officers were giving
a ball. but he was 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 | found the tale diff
cult to credit. He was n genial kind
hearted man, but old enough to he ler
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 followed her into the ballroom
| noticed the strangers eyes fixed up
on her with a curious, intent gaze.
"Do you know him. Loo?" | whis-
pered.
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 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. 'it was n long
time ago you were child. But you
have the mark still, / see" A1d his
gaze rested on n little scar on the girls
white brow-the mark of cut, almost,
but not quite oblIterated.
"Yes, have 1t still. | think shall
carry IL always"
"Slx years {" he said softly. ''It Is
long time. But you We're not Miss
Kingston then-you We're only LOO "
"Shall we rest little? | am tired"
Her face was white, and there was n
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
dreamings.
Surely / had been dreaming! Loo,
| quiet, houselike Loo, couldn't have
such romance is 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, a1d the
child. who had hitherto been his COM
panion, was placed in madame's care
during his absence. She was ch@d-
1t 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--l 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 rattllne
good soldier. Deserves all the honors
he has got, 'pon my soul, he does !"
"Yes?" | acqulesced, readily, seeing
that he alluded to the stranger. "Yor
know him, then?"
"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 wife, but l doub
whether he'll fall in with the arrange
ments very readilyw The majol
chuckled.
Arrangements" qucried. "He II
engaged?"
"Iiis wife was chosen for him lonj
ago" returned the major "she was hi
mothers ward. but the lad suddenl!
developed will of his own and an
nounced his intention of choosing hi
own bride.
at must have been six years ago,
should thlnk-perhaps more" contin
ued the major. His mother was anX
ious for the engagement TO be brough
about. and there was scene, remem
her. The lad came to me afterwards
"Look here, major he said, hotly
I'm not boy, and | can choose M
own wife. In fact'-aad he colored lik
n girl--Tve chosen her already.
Don't mind telling you I've seen tn
only girl I'll ever marry, and she ism
my mothers choice ="
fright you are, my lad said
Choose your girl and stick TO he
Where did you meet herT
''Then Il came out that he hadn'