San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-01
SANS DOT.


posing in the doorways Behind her, he
mother, stately in toilet suggestive Of tn
provinces, her white curls vibrating wit
emotion as Of one who says, behold m
daughter!"
Retiring, soft, modest, the father colone
of the One Hundred and Twenty third, fol
lows at distance, intent on keeping his fee
off my lady's train.
As soon as they are seated a squad Of lieu
tenants and captains, the elite of the garri
son of Versailles, laced into their full dres
uniforms, mustacheS blondes or brown, eye
deferential or bold. advance quickly to tn
assault and claim place on her list of dances
Then in the golden light of the crystal chan
deliers she begins to dance lightly and grace
fully to the music, borne up by the arms Of
her fathers favorte officers, each eager to dc
her homage For them her wishes are orders
her whims are law. The daughter of the
colonel
AT that time it was true of the One Hun.
dred and Twenty-third as of all other regi-
ments, that an officers advancement de
pended more upon his address in the salon
than his courage on the battlefield. From
time to time, as selections were made for pro
motion, it was enough to decide a mans
whole career to have the colonel's daughter
carelessly say word of praise
"Ah, Lieut. So-and-So, what a charming
officer and how well he dances"
And so she kept them all on dress parade
with little air of command at once ilnperi-
Gus and coquettish She had thus reached the
age of y in this somewhat nomadic life,
Journeylng from garrison to garrison, colors
flying, band playing, and existence a con-
tnual round Of gayeties. About this time
her mother began toshow signs of uneasineSS;
she wished to see her daughter married.
But between the pretty creature and her
suitors a frightful barrier existed 1t is
written in four words; she had no dot-and
the officers flirting laughing, dancing, APP
parently never dreamed of asking her in
marriage.
To please the colonel's daughter, to receive
a possible advancement through her inhu-
ence, certainly. To push forward in the
matter of marrying, ali! that was another
song, and one that no one seemed disposed to
sing.
Among them none, at least no one worth |
naming, ever whistled that tune. But within |
the last year the young girl had had not an
admirer but lover, timid and trembling, |
and one whom she openly sighted. He was |
a big fellow, with reddish brown mustachc |
and blue eyes. A native of Lorraine, he had |
graduated from the school of St. Maixeut
and had seen service. lie had been wounded |
at COulmiers and wore q medal of honor. But
as he was not a graduate OF the Gristocratic
school of St Cyr his brother officers treated
him with certain amount of condescenSion
A farmers son, ne was robust and rosy. 4
poor hand at talking, though well informed
Brilliant at drill, he completely lost bis foot.
ing in a drawing room His dancing was
atrocious.
The fear that he might be lacking il proper
pOhtenesS to the colonel's daughter was the
only thing that ever tempted him to ask her
to dance And he had so mixed up the figure.
Of the cctillo2 on that unhappy occasion that
even the most expert failed to reCOgnizo them.
This deplorable trial had sufficed him and
after that rather than face again those mock
Ing eyes he would gayiy march against a bat
terry firing grape ard canister. Banishcd
thus to the friendly shelter of a window, he
regarded for hOursstLe girl he adOrcd, dane,
ing with radiant vivtcity.
de followed her pretty Eighty head in the
whirling crowd and caressed her white Shout.
lers with his eyes Sometimes no had the
ludacity to approach the mother and cero
nonlously pay bis court to her These were
2is boldest advances
He saw with envy his brother officers GU:
ering about the young girl, bending their
straight backs low in their efforts to make
)beisance and show their own figures to nd
7antage
In the midst of his gloomy thoughts he
aid to himself: Zone of these dQvs shall
lear it whispered through the mess that Size
S engaged 10 marry one of those fellows, and
IL will be over He touched the depths Of
despair in the icy silence of his barrack room
&c tried to bring himself to reason. What
Dol he was to think Of that spoiled child, GI
nly for pleasure and luxury She was in
ended FOR some rich young QristoCrGt, rathC:
han for poor soldier Of fortune But, alas
or him, his thoughts rcvolvcd CONTINUALLY
round that smiling, hooking face lie saw
Ter always during the long, sleeplcSs nigiu
lways turning, radiant and light. in liz.
Of the wa!tz She seemed Il.
eckon HIM with irritating coquetry, and h.
bought Who knows She NAV accpn,
ae peut-ctrc|"
Then his heart gave great tuuInpa within ,
is strong frame and he felt Subjected Ono
lorning he could stand il no loorcr Lie +
ad become unbearable. IIc sought out tie ,
major, who had always shown him so",c con
Iteration, and begged him to sec the colonel.
nd, without distinctly putting the question. S
D discover what sort Of a reception an ofFer
marriage would receive
He passed that day il the park wGtch!nc {
ne carp in the little Swiss lake us they dart
i about in the sunlight He already re /
retted this bold step, and saw the future $
holly hung in black. That night in the
arrack court the major took him aside and r
nd shortly !