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

moment when Miss Guthries scream of
terror had appalled, the garrison the
danes and damsels Of their several
households had shown an unwonted de-
gree Of timidity III visiting about the post
after nightfall, and that much more
than the traditional amount of hunting
behind curtains and under bedsteads
was now going on.
Berrien was especially jocular, and
more than ever disposed to tell his
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 Berengarias 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 ailHsions to Winifred -Wini-
fred, the apple of his eye. The possi-
bility of her having lost her young heart
y, or even having come to feel more
than passing interest in, Carroll Brew
ster was something that troubled him
fan more than he cared to admit. Like
many another father he had gone on
fancying his daughter only child
one to whom the idea Of falling in love
would not present itself for years to
come, and then only on parental inti-
nation that it was expected of her.
Personally and officially he had nothing
against Brewster He liked him quite
as we'll as lie did any Of the junior Of
ticers, and he liked most Of them very
much indeed. It was as soldierly, man.
ly a lot of young fellows as one could
ask to see, but IN the close comradesliip
and intimacy Of frontier life men get to
know one another So thoroughly and 80
well that the foibles, weaknesses and
waywardness Of the animal are apt to
be far more prominently mentioned III
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
interrogated 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 III love before-but no, that
was impossible What makes you
think she cares for hiIntn How 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 woman's unanswerable
reason. No, Winifred had not told her.
They had never exchanged a word upon
the subject. No, Mr. Brewster had not
spoken. if BY that was meant Of love or
marriage, for WinifTed would have told
her on the instant. But half i 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 uner1ing GER
tainty. Is there a day, is there an
hour, when it is possible for him to see
her speak with her, that lie is not by
hcr size. 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 hereyes brighten
and her color rises when his step or his
voice Is heard on the veranda..
tBut, confound it, Bessr'-which was
much nearer madam's proper name
che 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 l. That is what you mean,
| suppose But things were different
then
Granted again, Dick-very different;
so much 50 that were things as they
used to be Iwould be utterly opposed to
her marrying in the army
This being just exactly the view the
major had not taken, lie could only
stare lit her III astonishment.
.-Bess, what on earth do YOU mean?r
Just what say, Richard | like
what I've seen of Mr. Brewster very
much, and l don't wonder Winnie fam
cies him. He is u gentleman; he is
fine soldier; he has a good record; he is
well connected; his family is one Of the
best that you OF l know; lie has every
thing iii 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"
We'll, everybody did in those days.
Exactly, and hardly anybody does
today, except perhaps one hears little
odd language when the wind is blowing
from the drill ground. But III other re-
spccts 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 We're 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 a woman
and mother can see, it is vastly better,
aud you know It, | can conceive of
worse fates for our daughter than that
she should marry such u man as Mr.
Brewster and into such i society as we
have here today You are eagerly look
ing forward to your promotion. Doyou
think being lieutenant colonel will COM
pensate you for leaving such comrades
and friends as You have in the Twelfth?'
'I'm hoping to exchange"
You can't. Dick. Nobody viii trans
fer with you who once gets into the
Twelfth. And now as to Winifred.
You always liked Mr.. Brewster. You
rather preferred him until lately. What
has changed your view"
Nothing, except-why-why, Bess,
you must have seen or heard, for one
thing, this affair with Mrs. , you
know
AS utterly one sided an affair as ever
was known, said Mrs Berrien stoutly.
Il believe l can see clear through it. 1
despise the woman. She has always
made a dead set at some one of the of
sicers stationed here, | am told. She
was just as absurd about Mr.. Martin, Of
the Eleventh everybody says 50 in town
and she picked ont Brewster because
he was the han1somesr Of the new lot
when our regiment came in. Ask amy
one you choose. and | think my view
will hold good Ask Captain Rolfe what
he thinks, and he and Nh Brewster are
not OH friendly terms
" have asked Rolfe; | asked him only
this evening replied BerTicn, turning
redder, and lie begged to be excused
~,