The Washington times., 1894-06-24

and in an awful moment said to Mrs. Second
Lieutenant:
Don't you really think you ought to let
Mrs. First Lieutenant have it?. Her husband
ranks, ,yon know"
That settled it. Mrs. Second Lieutenant
was too well up on army regulations not TO
yield instantly. But she hasn't spoken to me
since, nor, strangely enough, has the other
woman. The piece OF jewellery turned out a
, fraud. So much for giving an imitation OF
the angel of peace in the army.
1t may seem mean to tell all these things
about the army. But so long as / don't tell
all know (and l WON'T Pm deserving OF
some credit. and really can't help going on
with bit about army hospitality. You hear
so much about it, you know.
For fact my experience was peculiar
not strictly regular. and therefore not fair
instance. You might say; not SO much because
Mrs Capt. Blank was poor before she was
married rs that Capt. Blank came up from
the ranks. You know nothing in this world,
and it's scarcely to be hoped that anything in
the next will ever make up to an officer who
rises from the ranks all he misses by never
having been at West Point. But this is not
my story.
Capt. Blank had recently been stationed
at Governors Island. and when asked Mrs.
Blank. week ago, to run over TO New York
with me, she exclaimed:
"How perfectly lovely, and we'll go over to
the island and stay over night"
This was charming. We neither of us knew
New York very we'll. and We both had pro-
yincial fancies of the horror of two unpro-
tected females applying at the Metropolitan
hotel for quarters and being turned over to
the police as improper characters. In this
connection, therefore, stopping at Cover
nor's Island presented to my mind sort of
stNh N,ll l-sz-
calcium light effect
But the more Mrs. Blank talked about just
where we would put up on the island the
more vague our destination become. If Miss
Smiths brother was not at home, Miss Smith
would ask US there. But the brother was
home. II Mrs. Jones was well, she would be
perfectly delighted to have us with her. But
Mrs. Jones was never well. If Capt. Browns
sister was with hin, we would go straight there,
but Capt. Browns sister was in Europe.
Finally, when were in New York and
turned on to Twenty-third street, Mrs. Capt.
Blank said
"Wel be sure to meet somebody from the
island at Stearns'."
And wedid-Col Dash's daughter. She had
a friend stopping with her. Be sure to call il
we came down to the island. Not a word
abont spending the night. The captain. who
runs the small ferry across to the island. was
awfuly glad to see us. but of course we
didn't expect a single man TO ask us to stop
with him. Besides. his rank, you know.
We met Gen. Howard at the landing on the
other side. and as he had his baggage with
him we didn't mind telling him frankly that
we were going to spend the night on the
island. II we camped out he would never
know it, and there was Just chance that
somebody might overhear and ask '.where
to which we could then reply we didn't
know, and pave the way for an invitation.
ss.aF 81. lI.,.x
body's cook, and let them pass, seeing Major
Somebody himself in sight.
$50 right up to the house." said he.
"Frances and Mrs. Somebody are both at
home"
rs Freddie at home?" asked Mrs Blank.
Yes. Freddie was home, and that filed
their house. We shook hands with five more
persons who asked us to call and, nothing
else Offering. we began to call. When we
were quitting our Inst hope and it was quite
dark and we were scared to death thinking
of trying to get into the Waldorf and bring
ing up in the Tombs, u splendid fellow. with
the heartiest voice ever heard. came strid-
ing up, and-yes. he did-he. a bachelor and
all OF us in garrison. he asked us TO put up
at his house for the night. Verify. man pro-
poses and woman accepts every time she be-
lieves it's her only chance.
We went right over to Capt. Bachelors
house-that is, did. Poor Mrs. Capt
Blank turned YEARLY and made the round of
the island all over again. She was familiar
with army tactics and accustomed to army
discipline. She said it was better for her to
spread the dreadful news that we were stop
ping with bachelor than 10 leave it for Mrs
Grundy to find out.
/ said. .Who is Mrs. Grundy?"
The bachelor said. Mrs. Grundy be d
demolished.
Mrs. Grundy herself-oh, she bowed to me.
shook hands with Mrs. Blank. and behind
our backs simply recalled the fact that Capt.
Blank came up from the ranks. you know"
BECKY SHARP.