The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-11-20
CHAPTER V

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A tau form passed across The dttmiRcd
space as Kenyon drclC near
II Is Mr.. Thomas Hughes who asks IN
"Tom Brown at Oxford, I" Which Is the
true-ave. and the brave-man, he who
-renbles before a woman or he before
whom a woman trembles? There are
me, who corld have found 1t no difficult
matter TO fatty decline to serve even as
temporary escort TO a woman SO eVi-
IDENTIFY bent on mischief-who could
have rebuked then and there the as
sumption Of intimacy and proprietcrship
which If unchallenged might mean dis
aster. Brewster did neither. She read
him well enough to see that, though he
was too indignant TO permit himself 10
sneak. he was also too much of a gentle
man TO snub her. Bravely therefore she
bore her part, keeping up an animated
fiow Of meaningless words until fairly
cutof the hoproom, then promptly shift
Ing 10 that feminine coigne Of vantage
wherein lies woman's greatest strength
"a gush of silent tears. She knew too
much TO add reproaches, accusations,
angry words; that would have given
him something 10 answer, something to
overthrow. 1t Is only when a woman
weeps, silently, desolately, showing no
rln-cra that she haG
man at her mercy. Utterly false as was
the position in which she had placed
Brewster before the garrison world at
this moment, he actually did not know
but that he might be blamable for all
that he might be much less sinned
against than SHINING. He was no fool,
only so much of one as the strongest of
his kind sometimes become in the hands
of the softer sex. Samson had his De
lilah; Hercules, Omphale; BelisariUs,
poor devil, had both Antonia and Theo-
dora.
1t was bad enough to have her shrink
TO the opposite side of the carriage the
instant he had assisted her in and there
give way TO apparently uncomfortable
weeping; it was bad enough TO have to
stand there for a moment or two until
the lady's long suffering spouse should
he hunted up Che had been having a
cigar with one or two of the elders in
the sanctity of the little smoking room:
but what made matters simply intOler-
able was that Just at the foot of the
stairs, under the broad gallery, just
where the lantern on the big pillar
would shine full upon himself and his
lachrymose partner, stood Major Berrien
an earnest conversation with Captain
Rolfe. and both looked up, glanced
quickly but searchingly at him and at
her, raising their forage caps III silent
salutatiOn. ana turned away. Poor
Curly As in duty bound, he leaned
into the carriage, not too ariently beg
ging the weeping dame TO say what had
SO distressed her, but she would not re-
ply.
Possibly she thought he might vet be
induced TO Chamber in after her, and
there in the dark interior tenderly be-
seech her to speak; but he was all eager
ness to hasten back - the hoproom.
If he could but have speech with Mrs.
Berrien a moment, he might make her
understand the situation; she had al
WAYS been cordial and sympathetic.
But ii was three or four minutes, per-
haps, before Knowles came, thanked
him for his attention to his wife,
stepped in, and-how her tears were
explained TO her hege lord nobody
knows. Somebody who knew her, how
ever, was mean enough 10 suggest that
they were of the theatrical and control
liable order, and, as Randolph expressed
it, ''she braced up and grinned as soon
as Curly was left behind"
The instant the carriage rolled away
brewster turned and sped up the stairs.
At the very top he met the colonel COM
ing hastily down, brown telegraph en-
Velope in his hand, the soldier operator,
with look Of repressed excitement on
his face. close az his heels.
Come with me. Brewster said Far
quhar. in preoccupied but positive man
ner. Morgan, find the adjutant and
quartermaster. and say that | wish 10
see them at the Office"
III get my cap and follow you at
once, sir, answered Brewster, and has
tened into the dressing room. There he
met Hazlett and Thorpe just coming
out, throwing their cavalry capes over
their shoulders, silent and preoccupiei
like their chief. Selling his cap. Brew
ster paused one longing instant for a
glance into the hoproom. Again the
.1.-,x...1 u. !.
music-''Toujours Galant" young
er dancers were fairly romping in the
half galop. half polka step the JOYOUS
tune inspires, and in their midst, not
romping, but dancing with a slower, al
most languid grace, Winifred Berrien
appeared to his troubled gaze. her slen-
der waist half encircled by Randolph's
arm. her dark eyes downcast, her color
and animation gone.
Come, Brewster" called Hazlett
from the doorway. .-Farquhar wants us
at 0nce and does not want anybody else
10 know"
What's up
"YouN know in a moment. The
colonel doesn't want il mentioned here. ="
At the foot Of the stairs, under the
glare IF the same big lamp. Farquhar.
with Berrien and Rolfe, stood waiting.
Glancing impatiently up. as though to
make sure OF his men, Farquhar took
BelTien by the arm and silently led the
way. Rolfe and Hazlett, Thorpe and
Brewster falling ii behind. 1t was but
a few steps 10 the Office
Pull down the shades, orderly. and
one lamp VIII be enough That'n do.
Close the door and remain outside" said
Farquhar. as he threw of his cape, then
silently waited until the sleepy trumpeter
had carried ont his orders and vanished.
BY this time, too, Warren and Drake.
the adiutant and the quarter,naster. had
come bustling in, and, noting the silence
of those already on the ground. simply
removed their caps and waited the colo
nel's pleasure. For an instant Fareuhar
stood tapping the I'D of the desk with
the butt Of his pencil and studying the
long dispatch which he held in his hand.
Then he looked up.
''Geatlemon. we are o~.ered to the
field; one battalion 10 go at once, the