Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-01-04

mo woman ought TO be allowed more
than one choice out of a regiment, was
the half laughing, half rueful remark of
some of the army wives who had sisters
yet uLchosen. They thought Mrs. Lane
had rather too much good luck, despite
the fact, now well ana generally known,
that her first marriage was brief story
of sudden disenchantment, of woe and
wretchedneSS, of shame and sorrow I'M
speakable. Except among the wome..,
the name of her first husband was rarely
spoken in the Eleventh. but unworthy
though he was, there were not lacking
ccnSorS of her own sex TO point out time
and again how impossible il would have
been for them, had they lost husband
in the army, even to think of taking an
other in the same regiment, especially
when it was known that No. had been
in love with her before she met the orig
| inal conQueror of her maiden heart.
That these remarks should in various
forms come eventually to her ears one
can hardly doubt; and that cloud
should at times overSpread the tranquil
sky OF her sweet home life no one who
knew Mabel Vincent in her school days
could fail TO understand, No one AT the
post except her own loyal husband
dreamed of the tears she shed over re-
marks that, willfully or witeSsly, We're
repeated to her. He Strove earnestly to
soothe and comfort her. He redoubled
his devoted and thoughtful attentions.
Women at the fort simply raved over
the lover like ways of Capt. Lane to his
wife, and never tired of pointing out to
their respective lords and masters how
tender and watchful he was. What
charming little presents he was always
bringing her "Where did he get such
exquisite violets-such lovely carna-
tionS?" Ibid you ever see anything
Sweeter than the locket he gave her last
week? 1t was an anniversary of some
kind. She blushed when | asked her,
but wouldn't tell what. He's always
finding excuses for giving her some
thing" etc. And finally some of his
brother Benedicts had come TO him with
gloomy faces to say that il he didn't
''let ND on this sort of thing" they would
have 10 quit the regiment and the ser
vice: life was getting TO be all one in
vidious comparison between his lowell
ness as husband and their own indi-
vidual shortcomings In that capacity.
Several months had been spent abroad
by Capt. and Mrs. Lane after a quiet
wedding which united them, and then
joining the regiment at the fort on its
return from the Arizona tour, they
speedily settled in their army home.
For while the delights of fitting up the
quarters with all the beautiful rugs,
curtaiDs, pictures, books and oric-a-brac
they had brought from the east kept Mrs.
Lane so busily occupied that she had no
time to think OF possible criticisms.
But it was not long before the captain
saw that the cloud he dreaded was set
Ting on her sweet and winsOme face.
He did not need TO ask what had been
said to her: he could conjecture what
that was full we'll.
Taking her TO his strong heart. he
had kissed away the brimming tears.
saving: something has been said to
worry and annoy you, dear one. do
not ask you TO tell me; but remember
what | have said: in nine cases out OF
ten remarks about people sound very
differently when repeated by women
and good many men. too-than when
originally spoken"
Long years of garrison life had taught
him that in the almost endless little tihs
and iealousies among the women, and
the occasional misunderstanding
among the men, people rushed 10 con-
iidc their part of the story and pour
forth their grievances into the ears OF
next door neighbors, with whom, as
likely as not. they became in turn en-
broiled within the year. while the quar-
rel with the original object OF their
wrath had been long since forgotten.
His own policy had been to give every
man his ear, but none his voice,
when personal matters were under
discussion. But he knew well that
il would be expecting too much
of most women that they should
simply listen and not tell There were
admirable and truthful wives and moth
ers in the little cOterie, whose .riend-
ship he could have coveted for his wife;
but one OF the odd features OF frontier
life 5 that the impulsiye rush Tor the
intimate friendship of the newly arrived
army bride is generally made by those
who are most apt to betrray her conf
dence when won, and TO give her uniay-
orable impressions, absolutely without
having said one word against them, OF
the very ones whose stability OF charae-
ter makes them most desirable a. friends
and neighborS.
TO BE CONTINUED.