Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-05-01

"Tt's for West Point" Frances volun-
teered. The girls are going up for
few days of June Week"
oh" He grinned. God help the
army"
The army" Anita told Priscilla, els
all right, If you'll remember that Plebes
are polite and tinid. Yearlings are
still polite and kind OF nice. But Sec
ond ClasSmen are pretty conceited.
And First Classmen are insufferable"
"All except one" Joan said dream
/ lily. And he's seven feet high and
wonderful TO behold because Anita
loves him."
six two" Anita corrected. "And I
don't love him. But maybe could. And
maybe you could fall in love, too, II
you keep your mind on anybody or
anything for five minutes"
"But I haven't much mind" Joan
laughed. "And love the uniform, no
matter who's in it. just when begin
to love one kaydet, another one comes
along and temptS me away with a COM
pact or a bracelet or something. After
all, kaydet is kaydet. He's a gentle
man who will be an officer some day.
He may be a ducrot or a dunn johnny
B. j., hivey, or even an engineer,
but he's still a kaydet and love him,
collectively. Maybe I'm tickle, but why
can't love EN- all?"
Ford didn't know what she was talk
ing about because he didn't know army
slang. He went back to the dining
room and his coffee. But the coffee
was cold. He sat there, half listening
to a technical discussion Of the changes
that must be made in Priscilla's gown
But he was thinking He was think
ing of the cruel alchemy of time. Yes
terday, you held a baby girl in your
arms, and today she was young wom- !
an descending a staircase in an eve
ming gown. 1t made him q little sad. |
He was reading about Joe Louis, an
hour later, when the girls went out. |
Frances came downstairs and sank |
into chair. After a while, her silence |
pushed the paper into his lap and he
saw tears in her eyes.
Whats the matter2" he asked
anxiously.
Nothing" she said. "Only our girls
are grown up. They'll soon be married
and gone"
RATS" He objected why, they're
only kidsl"
"Anitas 20 and almost in love. was
81 when we were married"
"She only thinks she's in love-" he
contradicted. She's a born business
woman and she has a good job. Shes
too. smart to fall in love. You wait
and see."
Didn't seeing Priscilla in her eve
ming gown tonight make you feel old?"
She asked curiously.
mo-" he said fatty. "Why should 1t?
She's only 81 years younger than l."
Frances looked long at him.
Il doubt that" she said at last. Il
wouldn't be surprised If she were a
year or two older than you"
Priscilla seemed as poised as a So
phisticated woman of 80. She knew all
about West Point and the quaint Gus
toms of it's inhabitants because Anita
for two years. She knew, for instance,
that cadet was a "kaydet" and could
not sit in a parked car; nor come to
the railroad station; nor smoke in pub
lie; nor leave the Point except on
leave; nor hide in an automobile after
1890 p. m; nor carry a red comforter
or blanket on his arm; nor go upstairs
in the hotel; nor entertain visitors In
his room.
She knew that to kaydets all women
were ''femmes," rated form % point
o." which was tops, TO 81. p" which
was the exact opposite. And a kaydet's
best girl was his GAO" his one and
only.
But as Anita drove them up Thaeyr
tCOdQ toward Grant Han ana L1e CdQeL
room, TO call out their three
"dragS," she was wildly excited. This
was her first visit to the Point, and
she was looking blissfuly forward to
she did not know what kind of an
The Point, and Highland
Falls, below it, were crowded with Wis
itors for June week, and all around
her were young men, straight as ar
rows and clad In white uniforms, stroll
ing with girls. They were all so beau
tiful. And she could look eastward,
down over the cliff, and see the wide
Hudson flowing silently toward the
sea- The world was warm under the
blue OF cloudleSs sky, and so was
her young heart.
They found the officer Of the guard
reposing at his desk, Immediately In
Side the main door, and Priscilla's heart
skipped beat. He was so resplendent
In his white trousers, his gray-tailed
uniform coat. his sword and his red
sash.
He came to his feet with a broad
grin as he recognized Anita and Joan.
Hello, John" Joan greeted him.
This is our little sister, Priscilla.
Priscilla Mr.. PierSon-"
1T doesn't seem possible, but the
Booth family improves as it goes along.
Cadet Pierson declared sincerely, gaz-
ing down at Priscilla from his SIX
aAnd john Anita asked, ~would