Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-11-06
A DISCARDED TOY.
GwRNpoLEN ovERToN.

He had been brought up with q
good, old-fashioncd reverence for
women, a belief in young love, and a
conviction that the prince and princess
always marry and live happily ever
after. 1t was faith rs pleasant to
himself MS to the women whom it con-
cerned, and it made him favorite,
being blest besiles in talent, beauty,
and an upright soul. In admiring all
of the gentler sex he yet kept free his
heart until he should find zone" who
would claim it by right of her superb
ority to even her superior kind.
And at last he found her. All the
virtues and accomplishments were hers.
She was young and exceedingly fair,
dainty, sweet, shy, and coy, dimpled
and delnure, aud she loved Ferris as
cadet was never loved before. He
had not known this witchipg maiden
more than month when he made offer
of his heart and hand-a heart no less
loyal for beating beneath an exceed
ingly snug gray coat ablaze with those
brass buttons which are generally
taken as the insignia of tickle Cupid,
and hand no less firm for being cased
at the moment in regulation white
gloves. Itwas her first romance since
leaving school, and kitty Foster made
haste to accept it.
There was never yet man who
bore his honors so meekly as Ferris;
he boasted neither in word of deed,
and Kitty, being really afraid and
being deeply in love with him, did
actually refrain from telling every one
in profoundest secrecy that she and
the stalwart West Pointer had plighted
their troth. Not even her mother
was coufded in, which caused Kitty
many sleepless five minutes, as she
had no love OF uIderhand dealings for
their own sake.
There was only month of blissful
existence, and then Kitty had to join
her family at Angel Island, putting
the whole wide continent and strip
OF salt water between Ferris and her
self. She had her debut to make in
army circles.
She was one of those women, rarest
of all the good things of Providence,
who weep prettily, SO when she laid
her dainty head on Ferris shoulder
and wiped the tears from her cheeks
with flmy handkerchief, the poor
fellow was we'll nigh distraught, what
with the sorrow of parting and his
love for this wee bit of sobbing woman
hood.
Nor did his infatuation lessen rs the
weeks and months went by. Kitty
had warned him that he must write
neither too often nor too affectionate-
ly, as her mother would sec the let
ters. Ferris followed the first duty OF
a soldier, but consoled himself by
having made for his lady-love pin,
of the sort known as "stick," aud de-
stroyed the design straightway that
there might never be another fashion
just.like, it again. The attention and
the pin itself pleased Kitty nightly ;
she wore it on the day she left the
Point. with many promises to be
faithful and never to part from that
pin for one day or hour.
With Kitty went all the pleasure OF
life for Ferris, and he eschewed social
pastimes that he might devote him
self to work and prove credit to
Miss Foster, his district, and his
congressman. So, in due time, he
"passed," and passed we'll but chose,
nevertheless, the Infantry branch of
the service, merely because Captain
Foster was an infantryman, Then he
went to his home, and from there
wrote a long letter to Kitty, and told
her of his success; suggesting that, as
he was now an officer of the army, and
that the pay of u second lieutenant
was assured him, it might be- we'll to
announce their engagement, with the
consent OF her family. He also added
that he would run out and see her be.
fore joining his company, if she
wished.
Two letters remained unanswered.
Ferris accused the mail system and
sent a third. He waited long and
snxiously for reply. 1t came when
he was safe in San Antonia, with many
miles between himself and Miss Eos.
ter. Kitty's letters had never been OF
sort to give Ferris any hold upon
her; they were non-commital to de-