Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-11-06

mothers supervision and disapproval.
This one was still more guarded. No
reference whatever was made to the
point he had pressed, further than to
say that he was imprudent. A mighty
spirit of rebellion arose in Ferris at
this reproach. She could play fast
and loose with him no longer. Kitty
should acknowledge him or give him
up. Three days and three nights he
waited, that his anger might be
calmed, that he might do nothing
rash; then he sat him down and wrote
unto his refractory lady-love letter
mingliug official formality and irre-
pressible affection. 1t partook of the
nature Of war department communl-
cation and Sapphic, and was calcu-
lated to bring even an inconsequent
little being like Kitty to terms.
Ferris's anxiety in waiting to hear
his fate pronounced took the form of
O nervousness which drove him to un-
wonted social activity. He had always
done his duty in the matter of calls
and the hundred little affairs of eti-
quette which are peculiar to the SER
vice and are as binding as the laws of
the Medes and Persians; but he had
never gone in for the mild dissipation
of garrison near to a town. He was,
therefore, reckoned as little addition
to the social life, although he was
promising" officially. His captains
wife had taken him under her wing
upon his arrival, as all good captains s
wives should, and had incorporated
him into the family, where he became
a prime favorite with a pair of model
little boys in knickerbockers and
curls. The hands of these children
were always clean and their voices we'll
modulated, their hair smooth, and
stockings whole. Ferris believed that
this was no way for boys to be. and
labored to convince Mrs. Irwin that
chappod and dirt-seamed fingers, lusty
lungs, short and touseled hair, and
ruined clothing are the natural con-
ditions of boy. Mrs. Irwin was not
to be won over, and begged that he
would not put such notions into the
sleek little heads. Ferris, however,
was an earnest reformer and not to be
turned from his purpose, so he began
course of training for the pair that
made them, in week, very creditable
examples of his theory.
Mrs. Irwin protested mildly until
day when Ferris took the two over be-
hind the quartermaster' and set them
to fighting outa difficulty, which had
arisen, with their own good nails and
fists, arguing that such settlement is
more worthy of the sex than to call
names and threaten to tell mamma.
Ferris observed with pleasure that
there was good material in the boys,
and was greatly elated when he led
them back, bloody, bruised ana dusty
to the maternal roof. Mrs. Irwin
took the affair rather too seriously, and
it was only by giving up his plaus of
education that Ferris succeeded in
keeping in the good graces of his cap
tain's wife. 1t is poor policy to quar-
rell with the commanding officers or
ones captains family.
After this encouragement, Ferris
drew into his former she'll of reserve,
and went only at rare intervals to
Captain Irwin's quarters. But when
he had written the letter which was to
bring Kittie to terms, he walked with
it to the postoffice, and, coming back,
he determined to forgive and forget
that his efforts had been unappreciated
and to drop in upon Mrs. Irwin for a
cup of tea before retreat. He found
her alone; and, nothing being SO con-
ducive to peace and goodwill toward
men as cup of Russian tea at five
o'clock, they were soon faster friends
than before. The boys were called in
and Ferris noted with grim satisfaction
that there were still several unhealed
scratches OIL their clean little faces.
The children having been sent of
to play with their tin soldiers, Mrs.
Irwin resumed her condolences and
told Ferris, with the charming inter,
est in his future of q true captains
wife, that she had practically arranged
his life to come. She had sweet
girl friend coming to stay with her at
the end of the week. Ferris must de-
vote himself to her and make it pleas
ant for her. She was beauty, very
rich, and would make him q splendid
wife. Ferris smiled his acquiescence,
but was not particularly enthusiastic
until Mrs. Irwin told him that the
girl, Annie Kingsley is her name
had just been visiting the Barneset
at Angel Island, had gone from there
to Monterey, and had determined
quite unexpectedly to come dowr
south. Angel Island was Kitty's pos
Miss Kingsley might be able to tell him
much that he longed yet feared tc