San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-11-16


cronies in her presence that Berengaria
had said this or Berengaria had done
that, the this or that being something
more than usually absurd or improbable.
But in the conversations held of late in
the sanctity of Berengaria's boudoir the
major had been anything but jocular.
There was one incident of that evening
that had caused him deep perplexity.
He had never for moment forgotten
his wife's illusions to Winifred--Wini-
fred, the apple of his eye. The posi-
bility of her having lost her young heart
to, or even having come to feel more
than passing interest in, Carroll Brew
ster was something that troubled him
far more than he cared to admit. Like
many another father he had gone on
fancying his daughter only a child
one to WON the idea of falling in love
would not present itself for years to
come, and then only on parental init
nation that it was expected of her.
Personally and officially he had nothing
against Brewster. He liked him quite
as well as he did any of the junior Of
ficers, and he liked most of them very
much indeed. 1t was as soldierly, man
ly lot of young fellows as one could
ask to see, but in the close comradeship
and intimacy of frontier life men get to
know one another so thoroughly and so
well that the foibles, weaknesses and
waywardnecs of the animal are apt to
be far more prominently mentioned in
garrison chat than his sterling or lovable
traits. Some men, it may be said, have
to die before their virtues can be in the
least appreciated.
More than once had the major closely
Intercepted his wife as to the reason of
her statement. Had the young fellow
dared to speak to Winifred without first
asking his permission? Had Winifred
dared to fall i'll love before-but no, that
was impossible. "What makes you
think she cares for him?" Glow do you
know" "Why should she care for him
anyhow were the impatient questions
that rose to his lips. To one and all
she had simply replied that she knew be-
cause she knew-woman's unanswerable
reason. No, Winifred had not told her.
They had never exchanged word upon
the subject. No, Mr.. Brewster had not
spoken, if by that was meant of love or
marriage, for Winifred would have told
her on the instant. But half a dozen
other people had spoken. The whole
garrison Could see he was deeply in love
with her. Every glance, word, gesture,
act, told the story with unerring GER
tainty. SIS there a day, is there an
hour, when it is possible for him to see
her, speak with her, that he is not by
her side?" asked Mrs. Berrien. you
must realize it, major, and you must de-
eide what should be done. She likes
him well, that | know, for she is ever
ready to dance with him or ride with
him, and | can see how her eyes brighten
and her color rises when his step or his
voice is heard on the veranda."
But, cOnfound it, Bessr-which was
much nearer madams proper name
she hasn't anything but his pay"
Mrs. Berrien laughed softly.
But, Richard, dear, even that detri-
ment has occasionally been overlooked"
"Oh, of course. Exactly. | know.
Neither had |. That is what you mean,
l suppose. But things were different
then"
Granted again, Dick-very different;
so much so that were things as they
used to be would be utterly opposed to
her marrying in the army"
This being just exactly the view the
major had not taken, he could only
stare at her in establishment.
"Bess, what on earth do you mean?"
"Just what | say, Richard. | like
what I've seen of Mr.. Brewster very
much, and don't wonder Winnie fan
cies him. He is a gentleman; he is a
fine soldier; he has a good record; he is
well connected; his family is one of the
best that you or know; he has every
thing in point of fact to recommend him
that you had, my liege, and he has none
of your bad habits. You used to drink
and smoke and play poker, and, Richard,
sometimes you used to swear"
"Well, everybody did in those days"
Exactly, and hardly anybody does
today, except perhaps one hears a little
odd language when the wind is blowing
from the drill ground. But in other re-
spects things are indeed different. You
and your cronies sometimes talk about
how slow and how Indifferent young
officers are now as compared with what
they were twenty years ago. Dick, if
the army were today what it was when
| married you would whisk Winnie
out of this garrison and never let her
venture inside another. But it isn't.
In every possible way that, woman
and mother can see, it is vastly better
and you know it. l can conceive OF
worse fates for our daughter than that
! sLn Shn,,ll c,,nL NJ.