Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-07-28

BlHhmS 70 Twinkle IN the quarters
across the parade, and darkness, s.waft-
ed downward like feather X was shut
ting out the long line Of shadowy bluffs
beyond the stream. Down stairs he
could hear the sound of joyous chatter.
the deep voices of the men mingling
with the ripping, silvery laughter he
knew and loved 50 well. How happy
the child seemed How she loved the
regiment and gloried in his profession.
How proud she was at school Of the pho
tographs he had from time to time sent
of his brother officers and how the other
girls, her letters declared, envied her
because she was soldiers daughter
and had lived on the wild frontier. He
could hear the sound Of other girlish
voices, too, Winifreds friends from
town, but he found that his ear listened
only for hers. How blithe and musical
and full Of hope and gladness it seemed.
How lovely she looked as she came
down dressed for dinner Just as he re-
turned from that odd, constrained talk
with Rolfe. Poor Rolfel he was given
over to the blue devils now, sure enough.
He and Kenyon and Pills, the doctor,
formed a triumyirate Of sympathetic
souls, for since Jennie and ssthe kids
had gone Holden's life seemed to have
fallen into the scar and yellow leaf.
Kenyon, as in duty bound, was max
ing the circuit Of the garrison returning
calls just now, but Rolfe went nowhere
except the doctors There he could be-
found almost every evening, for ever
since Nita Guthrie's visit the walls Of
the old house seemed charmed to him.
"Begad, said the major, ''I'n slip over
there tonight myself, while the rest of
the folks are dancing. want to see
what it il he Is holding back
For the life Of him lie could not be re-
pellant i'll manner to Brewster when he
went down stairs. The three young
fellows honored with invitations on this
particular evening were Brewster, Ran
dolph and Ridgeway. Brewster be-
cause he was to be Winifreds escort to
the hop, the others because they had
made the best of matters and invited
the other girls, Ridgeway, be it known,
not without inward evaporation He
fancied Miss Kitty Pennoyer as a sub
stitute for Winifred Berrien about as
much or as little as one is content with
back seat when he cannot have a
box. But it kept him lin touch with
the house, 80 To speak, and gave him
opportunities at least of occasional
word with the beautiful girl whom he
so admired.
lie knew he was no match for Brew
ster so far as physique OF reputation was
concerned, but then girls had been
known to prefer patrimonial estate to
personal charms, and he meant ut least
to try the effect Of his solid qualifica-
tions as against those which made Brew
ster SO attractive to the sex. He knew
the major liked him well enough, and
he thought he could count on the good
Offices Of Mrs. Berrien, but he was not
SO sure about Winifred When the
jovial major appeared he was il readi-
ness tU pay his respects at once, and
was cordially welcomed by that red
faced veteran; so was Randolph; and
then there stood Brewster at Winnie's
side, both, as it so happened, looking
straight at him.
"Well, By Jove, they do make an al
most ideal coupler lie said to himself.
Brewster fair, stalwart, straight and
soldierly, picture Of manliness and
yigor. Wimfrcd dark, vet with SO rich
a glow mantling the soft, creamy skin,
with such glorious. deep brown-blacl1
eyes, so lovely and slender and graceful
a form. Her shapely head seemed just
on level with his broad shoulder, and
something he had been saying to her in
low tone just as the others were greet
ing her father had sent the blood surg
ing to her cheek. Berrien thought She
had never seemed SO beautiful, even in
his fond eyes. For the first time he be-
gan to realize it was a woman, not "a
child, who stood before him. No won
der Brewster loved her with his whole
soul. Why, if LIE didn't. Pshawi what
was he thinking IF:
How are you, Brewster, lads Glad
you're here so early. Your troop made
my eyes dance this afternoon" Oh,
surrender ignoninious! So ended his
effort to BE- repellent. How could lie BE-,
with Winifred's soft eyes looking at him
50 wistfully. W fondly:
And it was good to see Brewster-s ap-
probation Of the veterans aAusion to his
troop. Gorhaln, the captain. had been
away on leuve for some weeks, during
which time the lieutenant had had COM
mand, and, soldier that he was, had done
his utmost To improve the drill and ef-
ticiency Of his men 1t was about the
only troop that did not come in for a
rasping of some kind at the hands Of the
colonel that afternoon, and being in
Berrien's battalion reflected credit of
course upon the major Brewster's eyes
had kindled and be hard lowered his sa-
ber in glad acknowledgement Of the brief
words of cUmmendati0n that fell from
Farquhar's lips as he completed hisrigid
inspection Of the equipment of the CLOS
ry blacks, and the major had supple
mentcd the words by nod and glance
that spoke volumes But while all this
was JOY to his soul, it was as nothing
~ conIzred with being praised BY her
father III her hearing. At that precise
moment Carroll Brewster stood the hap
picst man within the limits Of crowded
county,
And now at ten o'clock the hoproom
was we'll filed. A number of pleasant
people had driven out from town. All
the garrison girls were there, most Of
the elders among the mammas. all the
juniors among the matrons, and the
dance went Inerrily on. Delightful mu-
sic the orchestra Of the Twelfth was
ever ready to play, and this night their
leader seemed inspired. The affair was
entirely informal. No written invita-
tions had been sent out. Officers were
all in undrcss uniform, but. with few
exceptions, all were there, and the broad
stripes Of scarlet or yellow or white
were to be seen everywhere throughout
the room. Mrs. Berrien. a smile of
motherly pride IN her handsome dark
eyes, was chatting pleasantly with the
wife Of Il local magnate, who could not
say enough about Winifrcd's grace and
beauty, and the gaze Of both women
seemed to follow the child as she ap-
peared literally to float over the smooth
" polished floor, just lightly borne on
Brewsters 5 staEwart arm. 1t was one of
/ the Oldest and sweetest of the Strauss
waltzes that was being played at the
moment, "Geschichtcn ans dem Wien
erwald," and slowly reversing and
turning, with the eyes Of more than
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