The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-21


This is marvellous" he said to himself,
and an idea suddenly striking him, the
color rose in his face. lit can mean only
one thing, if Colonel Mackenzie is right.
How wonderful that would be. What can
she see in an old back-number like me?"
1t was toward midnight when Cary had
his first opportunity of the evening to
speak to Miss Bruce There were no signs
of fatigue in her bright eyes as she APP
preached her mother and consequently
himself. Lenox. her escort of the evening,
was beside her, in that state of evident sat
isfaction which BELTS a young man in the
last stages of honorable cadetship, espe-
cially when he has secured the partner he
most desires for his graduation BALI.
"Mr. Lenox, do not wish my daughter
to walk out in the air again tonight, said
Mrs. Bruce, emphatically. and Cary took
advantage of the young fellows reply to
speak to the girl at whom he looked with
new eyes.
This is proving q rather exasperating
evening to me. Miss Bruce" he said in
low tone.
She raised her gloved hand to the back
of her head as if to adjust her hair, move
ment common to many women in mo-
ments of self-consciousness, but her tone
was wholly Indifferent as she spoke:
You do not miss much in not dancing
tonight, really. 1t is too crowded"
II wonder if you will not save one dance
for me at the next hop"
1--WE may not be here Our movements
are quite undecided" She lifted her fan
of white feathers. Last night Cary could
have taken it from her hand and famed
her; but now the commonplace action took
the dimensions of liberty in his eyes The
big cavalry officer was having unprece-
denied difficulty in concealing his own
white feather.
'But if you are here" he persisted,
''may / dance with your" She met the
gray eyes that gazed at her with such dis
proportionate earnestness. Il have SO
little to do with it," she said coolly. "A
girl really doesn't know what she will find
on her card. you know"
1t was rebuff, of course but it was the
memory, tenaciously chung to, of his COM
panion's pleasant friendliness during their
walk in the afternoon that pressed him
forward now s'Do you not wish to dance
with me ?" he asked seriously, and the I'M
expected bluntness brought tide Of color
over Miss Bruce's face.
what question:" she said with an I'M
easy laugh. what do you expect a girl
to answer to THAR"
"Why, should like it very much if you
would tell me the truth.
81 have been too well brought for 1t to be
possible for me to take either horn OF the
dilemma you so kindly offer me. Yes,
Mr.. Lenox, am ready" and with little
bow, her face looking more brillirnt than
when she had approached, she moved
away.
Cary stood rather rigidly watching her
and her partner as they drifted into the
waltz which had began. The adjutant of
that particular first class of the United
States military academy was an especially
good dancer and the. couple wound their
way through the throng with the supple
ness of ribbon.
- ~ orI H.,
Marcus Aurelian standard for any young
bachelor officer at West Point to lay his
hand on his heart and aver that he felt
complete cordially toward a cadet of the
first class but John Egbert Cary, of the
--th cavalry was unconsciously promis-
ing disciple of that uncompromising
philosopher. He looked now quite through
the slender-waisted, grey-coated figure of
the adjutant and saw only the young
woman the latter was guiding so cleverly
Cary was greatly stirred, and his in
stinctive effort to analyze this case was
futile. His wounded self-love should have
been 'smoothed by the looks which Miss
Latin did not fail to cast upon him each
time she and one of her yearlings passed
in his neighborhood.
"She looks like good-natured girl" he
thought vaguely, as she paused once more
near her aunt and her partner left her
with bow.
lieutenant, "but believe have said that
before, once or twice"
sit becomes truer with each dance, I
suppose" returned Cary. "Shan't / fan
your" taking her fan.
II wish you would take me outdoors"
she said with her usual directness. 81
am stifled.''
Cary hesitated ungallantly. "Your aunt
will object. She"
81 do not propose to ask her." returned
the girl, decidedly, and the lieutenant had
no alternative but to offer his arm. They
made their way with difficulty to the door
and descended the short fight of steps to
the broad stone tagging. Miss Latin
breathed a deep. sigh of relief and salts
faction as they sauntered southwark under
the great elms.
t'This is ever so much nicer than being
in that crush. hope you did not dislike
leaving. wonder that you have been
willing to stand about so long"
~ like to watch dancing" said Cary
simply. He thought he was telling the
truth; but the taste was certainly a sud-
denly acquired one. "Your cousin seems
to be enjoying herself exceedingly"
"Oh, yes; it is different with Fanny.
She has great many friends here. 1t is
not easy for me to make friends. am
very peculiar about that. l take dislikes
more often than take fancies to people"
Indeed? l shouldn't have thought
it, rejoined her companion, since some
comment on this calamitous state of
things was evidently expected.
why shouldn't you have thought it ?'
asked the girl. charmed to have given a
personal turn to the conversation.
Cary sighed patiently. Because if I
were guessing | should guess you to be so
good-tempered.
Miss Latin gave delighted little laugh.
We'll, so am; but not sufficiently so to
like everybody, and if l do not like per-
son cannot help showing it." She leaned
little more heavily on her companions
arm. Don't you think it is l;belous to
say that women are always fascinated by
brass buttons, Mr.. Cary?''
Quite So" said the lieutenant, pas
sively. There goes the music, Miss
Lafiin," and he stood still, for they had
passed the hospital, shall / take you
back?"
"No, indeed. 1 am but just getting
cool"
But l can see your partner in nv
minds eye, gazing and rushing frantically
in all directions"
What does he care? He does not know
me, nor him" said the girl decidedly.
81 have refused to dance the German"
do you want me murdered over there
In camp some night this summer by a pack
of irate yearlings?"
But Miss Latin was large body. who
was not to be moved as vet in the direc-
ton of Mess hall. Indeed. | would do
a good deal to keep you from being MUIR
dered. Lieutenant Cary" she replied in
an Enthusiastically sentimental tone: .'but
don't ask me to go in yet. This is so per-
fectly charming"
Cary moved on perforce. and His
thoughts, which had been LINGERING xrith