Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-07-07
A KISS IN THE DARK.
Being Tragedy Of Errors at Western Army Post


The first error was a distinctly hui
man one, feminine, particularly-tha
of not being satisfied with a good thing
and letting we'll enough alone, well
enough" being in this case a First
Lieutenant of more than ordinary at
fractions. There are few women who
are satisfied when only one man can be-
the captive of their charms; they pre-
fer dozen aspirants to one, even if
they are themselves enamored of the
one The name of the gallant soldier
whose good fortune it was TO have OBJ
tanned for his promised own the win
some daughter of Captain Foster, was
Appleton. his fortune was his own
good sabre and his pay $125 q
month; mis- character the full ideal of
an officer and a gentleman; as for his
appearance, it was all that even Miss
Foster, who might have had the pick
of some seven or eight others, could
desire The only excuse to be found
for the error is that Miss Foster was
very young, rather spoiled, and not in
the habit of being denied anything
upon which she set her rather uncer-
tain little heart Therefore, when a
very stubborn Second Lieutenant by
the name of SAKE let her distinctly see
that he was not TO be captivated by
charms that had allured every one else,
she determined that his pride should
be humbled in the dust, even in the al
kali dust of the plains This was the
said first error. What she should have
done, as seen in the light of future
events, was to have been happy in the
complete possession of such a man as
Appleton, and have left all others drift
with their own particular current Of
life. But then-she was just eighteen,
and the regiment had made much of
her.
Now, Appleton was not jealous
man: even if he had been, it is doubt
full if he would have suspected what
was going on in the mind of his pretty
sweetheart. for she was something of a
fiirt and quite able to have two strings
TO her bow. She certainly gave all the
time that he had any right to claim to
Appleton, even more, perhaps, and i'm
pressed him with the idea that he was
the sun of her universe, which indeed,
was the case, only there were also
large number of more or less bright
moons and small stars which competed
with his glory. For Kitty was not un-
truthful in the least. She was in love
with Appleton, and if she had not been,
would never have made him think so;
-he trouble was that she was just a lit+
tie in love. as well, with a goodly num-
Der of others. And how could she
have helped il? They were all so aw-
fully nice 10 her, and seemed so fond OF
her All except SAKE. He did not APP
pear to care in the least, and was de-
voted to no one and nothing except his
commanding officer and his troop. Miss
Foster was piqued and meant to get
even" Which was quite right, accord
ing to her lights.
The second error was unconscious.
The commanding officer committed it
when hd sent Appleton off on months
special duty. and thereby left Kitty,
like a kite without a string; very like
" to spring out of its proper course
and land on some unexpected obstruc-
ton. Kitty cried a little and was
dreadfully sorry when Appleton left
She watched the ambulance with tear
| ful ewes. until it was almost out OF
sight but as soon as it began TO grow
| smaller. she turned about, as il would
ne had luck to look until the last. Her
! eyes were very dewy and exactly the
kind that look we'll in that state. When
She wheeled around she came almost
/ f9ca To face with SAKE and only raised
/ her Iashes long enough TO give MN
glance of such delightfully."- bewltchlng
| sorrow that any other man would nave
| tried TO console her then and there, and
ran as fast as she could into the house.
/ SAKE went on his way with new ad-
miration for Kitty. whom he had al
wavs considered very heartlesS child.
He was glad to see that she was capa-
ble of loving someone to the extent OF
CRYING over his departure. He did not
wish he were the lucky man, however;
! that stage was yet to come
The third error was very serious, and
II was the usually unerring SAKE VINO
committed it. He deluded himself with
the fallacv that fire will not burn If you
NM ON the asbestos gloves Of inditfer-
! ence when YOU handle il. BE felt sOr-
nv for poor bereaved little hltty' ana
conceived il 10 be his duty to go over
and console her. If it had been a us
agreeable duty he would not have
Stunned II bu, il was not disagreed
| bIe dutv In the moonlight before tat
too ne went to sympathize with Miss
/ Foster That was the error. When
bo left he was glad he had listened to
| the Dromptings of cOnscience-it had
| seemed 10 do the girl so much good.
She was really far more earnest ana
,,.oroonIv little person than he mad
.,,,noead. not as shallow as one would
imagine. She was bearing up against
her troubles brayely and ne aoMireo
| bor for il. After he had leIt NIOOy
''..,+ nm IN her room and sat IN ner
,,;r5ow looking out upon the parade
md and smiled and counted one
80 very much as if she had Deeh
.p'I,,-i,o whist. She did not forget APP
lL,ir.on she cried again when she went
III and took his picture TO put uu.
w. Ior inflow ana lay awake Tor nan
ou' bonr thinking about him. but Wneh
m. 1ronned off TO sleep II was WIN "
distinct Under-conSclousneSS
rmph instead of loss. oo,d
She went M her part in periect C Iat
Mood and played it we'll Seeiue .n"'
s,ve' was greatly impressed by tne Cou
- and affection. she Determined 10
.'.'' 80 role for time at least. her
oo, naleness was increased tne
newt morning by black trocN' uS ,.s;d S
4cSnised fer its simplicity, and Wnl; ;I
ma5e her blond hair, drawn PACK Gu ln
i icr's coils. full of golden light, c que
looked at herself and was pleased, oet -
, arsI Of her hopeless admirers came me, -
Ser norch during guard-mountng'W,l'1,nt