The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-10-12


still more of sensation if he were to
dance with her and no other woman
in the room. But he would have to do
t in rather patronizing way or she
might think too seriously of it. He
concluded to do it. 1t would be a
clever thing to tell the ladies at more
pretentious affairs, when he should go
east on leave of absence.
He walked gracefully over to her
and bade her good evening in most
gallant way. She blushed a good deal
more. but could not even reply. The
school teacher had the modesty and
discretion to retire from her side, just
as he had expected he would. He
knew that all in the room were looking
at him. He had to admit it was bit
exhilarating. He did not forget his
patronizing way, however.
How pretty you are tonight" he
said.
Am II" she answered, blushing
again.
"W Wonderfully," he answered, hardly
knowing whether his own admiration
was mock, as he wanted it to be, or
honest.
"Do look like girls in the east when
they go to dances?" she asked him.
Just exactly, although much pref
tier" he replied. He noticed that he
was beginning to be overgallant in the
good old army way. He concluded
that he would dance with her.
what" said he, "in all this world
would you rather have me do this
evening than anything else?" he asked
her.
will you do itP" she asked in turn,
but with str;- nge earnestness.
81 solemnly PROMISE" he answered,
laughingly.
Then take me and dance with me
and talk to me just as if | was a live
lady in the east, and as if this was
great ball, with everything just as nice
as it could be, and as if I was a-was
a girl that you l-l-liked," she said.
He did it. 1t seemed like a chal-
lenge and he was a gallant. 1t was
great temptation, he felt the intoxica-
tion of her beauty and he was human.
He danced with her; he paid her COM
pliments by the score until she was
ecstatic; he talked to her just as he
would if she had been a countess; and
she was delighted. He monopolized
her until the little school teacher went
home pale with rage and mortitica-
ton, and the other men began to won-
der ii the lieutenant had fallen in love
with old Whittimore's daughter, and
the women became as envious is wo-
men can become. which is great deal.
He meant not a word of it, but he was
soon talking of his love for her. Pre-
tending sincerity at love-making was
trick he had learned to perfection at
West Point. He took her out into the
moonlight, and talked about being as
true as the stars are to the sun. He
told her that even the trees and the
mountains and the flowers were in
love with her and jealous of him. He
told her that the bubbling Popo-Agie
was singing her a serenade. He en-
joyed it great deal. 1t was more
than enjoyment to her.
He walked home with her, too, when
the affair was over. The road seemed
never before so short to her, and never
before so long to him. for he was be-
ginning to tire of the Irritation. Be-
sides that, it reminded him OF the
delightful times the fellows in the ar
tillery and engineers stationed in the
east and near the great cities were
having all the time, while he and all
the rest of the cavalry fellows were
doing all the real work of the army,
and it is not well for cavalryman to
brood on these subjects. So they were
very silent until they reached the
Whittimore house. Then he said
Goodnight" and started to leave. To
his surprise, as he did so, he found her
arms outsJretched to him and her face
held up to his own. As l said before,
he was human. Moreover, he was a
cavalry lieutenant. He kissed her.
Good night" he said again, this
time more tenderly.
"When will you come tomorrow? ?"
she asked him.
tie was a little startled. The tone of
her voice told him that, as he had
feared, the affair had gone little too
far. However, it was not possible, he
thought, that she could have taken
him seriously. 1t was embarrassing.
The old contrariness came over him
again.
81 think I'll take ride down the
river tomorrow" he answered coldly.
"And not come to see me at an?" she
continued.
"Not tomorrow; perhaps some other
day." he answered lightly.
"But you said you could not live an
nour without me-" she said tremul-
ously.
"Oh, well, Nellie" he replied, "tha
was only in fun. Of course you
must not believe everything l have
told you. l was only in fun. Good
night" He turned on his heel and
walked away in the direction of his
camp.
Old Whittimore did not care for So
ciety. He remained in the house this
night and went to sleep very early.
He knew that Nellie would turn up all
! right, for she was quite able to take
care of herself. He was awakened
several times during the night by the
shooting of the cowboys, who cele-
brated the last dance of the first ball
in the Popo-Agie valley by unneces-
sarily expending ammunition. 1t
seemed to him there was one shot
rather close to his house, though, and
if there had been another he would
have dressed and gone out and given
the bows a piece of his mind. But it
was not repeated.
He rose rather early the next morn
ing and went out to look after the
horses. He turned the corner of the
hog-house and uttered an exclamation
of horror. Before him on the ground
lay his daughter-dead. She was still
clad in the white muslin dress. Her
revolver clasped in her white hand,
and on the bosom of her dress, just
over the heart, was bright red circle.
1t was wet. 1t was blood. Lieutenant
Hardy never repeated the story of the
Irritation for the edifcation of young
ladies in the east, or any one else.-
Harper's Weekly.
Deodorizing Onions and Cabbage