Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-04-16
From CasselIs Magazine.l
TRUSTED TOO WE'LL.

There were not few people in the cir
Gle of Beatrice Latham's friends who
shook their heads doubtfully when the
news was announced of her en-
gagement to Mr.. Robert Head
ley, Lieutenant In Her Maiesty's
service, after an acquaintance of only
three weeks. Tt was easy to talk about
love at first sight, TO assert that in this
brief space of time they had reached a
degree of intimacy which many married
people had failed to achieve in three
years, to point out that his antecedents
were as completely satisfactory as his
presence which 10 one denied to be
singUlarly straightforward and winning.
In spite of all Probabilities. two sets of
cavaliers remained-those men and girls,
namely, who we're jealous of him or of
her. and those few older people who had
some actual or personal experience of I'M
toward possibilities Ill love affairs. Be-
sides, IN this case the shortness of the
acquaintance was not the only hazardous
circumstance of the engagement. Only
a few days later Headley and Capt.
Erskine (the friend at whose house he
had been staying, and who had intro
duced him to the Lathams) sailed for In
dia, and Beatrice was left to live on the
memory of months surprising happi-
ness and to wait patiently for the return of
her lover. The girls trust in him was
absolute. She had, as it were, been
taken by storm, for in the unreserved
ardor of Headley's wooing she did not
perceive the want OF depth, the absence
Of self-restraint IN his nature, but only
al entire devotion to herself, which
made her brim over with delight and re-
sponsive affection. Thus her passionate
belief IN his loyalty enabled her to face
the weary years Of separation with mar
vicious courage, which served to increase
the respect and admiration already ac-
corded her as one of the sweetest and
most beautiful girls in the district of
Kersham. Capt. Erskine, who was an
old plaYfelloW of the Lathams, regarded
her as little less of an angel than her sis
ter Connie, and when at the final leave
taking she appealed to him to stand by
Headley through thick and thin, he
registered a silent VOW that his promise
given in return should not be an idle
one
For more than year Beatrice never
had q moments anxiety. Headley was
well and happy, and his frequent letters
breathed the same ardent affection that
she had learned to believe in from his
lips. When, however, the report of diff
fculties in Afghanistan was followed by
the news that both Headley and Erskine
had been ordered to the front, it was no
wonder that she should be sorely tried
by the fears and uncertainties of the
long campaign. Letters reached her
only at long intervals, and were usually
50 short and hurried as to give her an
increased sense of the hard work, the
insecurity, the stir and turmoil with
which her lover was surrounded. She
bore up bravely by dint of constantly
impressing upon herself the necessity of
fortitude in a soldiers bride, but her
great love made confidence and compos-
ure very hard sometimes. Then at last
one day letter came which dissipated
all her fears and filed her with joyful
anhcipations. Connie, who was in the
room when it arrived, noticed the start
she gave, and the Light that flashed into
her face as she read, and asked, smiling:
''Well, dear, what is the neWs?"
Beatrice rose and impulsively flung
her arms round her sisters neck.
ooh, Connie!" she cried, stRob is
coming homer
''Not really, Bee?'
Eyes, really, repeated Beatrice, half
sobbing with excitement and gladness;
q suppose I ought to be sorry, for he
has been wounded; but he says it is
nothing to speak of-only Just enough
nothing but seeing him again. He and
Ta1o0 Jo h. IL
both got hurt. They sail this month
how long does it take? Connie, Connie,
he viii be here in few weeks"
''Hush, Beatrice, you mustn't excite
yourself" said Connie reprovingIy; but
her own heart was beating now at the
thought of Erskine's return, and she
added nervously, ST hope Richards
wound is only slight, too. !"
'Oh, yes" said Beatrice, laughing
and kissing her, ''they will both be
nearly well by the time they reach En-
gland And Rob has got his captaincy
isn't that splendid"
The girl grew gradually more COM
posed, but she could not sober down al
together, and every day that brought
the vessel bearing Headley nearer home
seemed to add to the brightness of her
eyes and the indescribably happy light
heartedness of her manner. Headley sent
q letter overland whenever they touched
q port andSin the last one from Gibraltar
he wrote that he hoped to be with her on
the following Sunday; but she must not
wonder if he were delayed day or two;
he would telegraph the moment he land
ed.
To the impatient girl the intervening
DAYS passed with almost intolerable dill
atoriness; they were SO long, SO hot, so
still, SO full of summer drowsiness out
OF all sympathy with the highly-strung