The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-11-13
CHAPTER ".

aftt ftfi NA.fA
That night. despite the long hours in
the saddle. the Young officers had hidden
their lady friends to an informal dance
in the hoprOon. 1t was Just week
after Mia Gdthric's adventure, and al
ready. except in the thoughts Of two or
three men. that strange affair was a
thing Of the past. People had settled
down To an acceptance Of her own ex-
planation of the cause. not that II was
sntireiy satisfactory. but because 10
Gther seemed plausible. Just why glrl
should have been rendered nerTons and
inset because she had had a proposal.
Mrs. Vance Of course could not under
staud--especially,7 said she, "a girl
who was reputed to have had so many
offers" 1t was laughingly remarked by
various military benedicts that since the
moment when Miss Guthries scream OF
terror had appalled, the garrison the
danes and damsels OF their several
households had shown an unwonted de
asree Of timidity in visiting about ths post
after nishtfall. and that much more
than the traditional amount of hunting
behind curtains and under bedsteads
was now going on.
Berrien was especially jocular, and
more than ever disposed TO tell his
cronies in her presence that BerenSarla
had said this or BeTengaria had done
that, the this or that being something
more than usually absurd or improbable.
But in the conversations held of late IN
the sanctity Of Berengaria's boudoir the
major lid been anything but jocular
There was one incident of that evening
that had caused him deep perplexily.
lie had never for moment forgotten
l.is wife's allusions 10 Winifred-Wini-
fred, the apple of his eye. The posi-
ldlity Of her having lost her Young heart
IL, or even having come To feel more
than passing interest IN. Carroll Brew
ster was something that troubled him
far more than he cared 10 admit. Like
many another father he had gone on
fancying his daughter only child
one to v<iom the idea Of falling IN love
would not present itself for years 10
come, and then only ON parental init
nation that it was expected Of her.
Personally and officially he had nothing
against Brewster. He liked him quite
as well as he did any of the junior Of
ficers, and he liked most Of them very
much indeed. Ii was as soldierly. man
ly lot of young fellows as one could
ask TO see, but in the close comradeship
and intimacy of frontier life men get 10
know one another so thoroughly and SO
well that the foibles. .sweaknesses and
waywardness Of the a--imal are apt 90
be far more prominently mentioned in
garrison chat than his sterling OF lovable
traits. Some men, it may be said, have
To die before their virtues can be IL tie
least appreciated.
More than once had the major closely
inteTrogated his wife as to the reason Of
her statement. Had the Young fellow
dared TO speak to Winifred without first
asking his permission: Had Winifred
dared to fall in love before-but no, that
was impossible. What makes YOU
think she cares for him." "How do vOu
know Why should she care for him
anyhow were the impatient questions
that rose l. his lips. To one and all
she had simply replied that she knew be-
cause she knew-wOman's unauswerable
reason. No, Winifred had not told her.
They had never exchanged word upon
the subject. No. Mr.. Brewster had not
spoken. if 10y that was meant Of love or
marriage, for Winifrej would have told
her on the instant. But half a dozen
other people had spoken. The whole
garrison could see he was deeply in love
with her. Every glance, word. gesture,
act, told the story with uEerring Ger
tainty. is there day, Is there ali
hour. when it Is possible for him TO see
her, speak with her. that he Is not by
her side asked Mrs. BerTien. .-Tou
must realize II, major, and you must de-
eide what should be done She likes
him well. that / know, for she is ever
ready to dance with him or ride with
hiIn. and ! can see how her ewes brighten
and her color rises when his step or his
voice Is heard on the veranda.
-Bgt. confOand ii. Bessi-'-whicll WAS
much nearer madams proper name
''he hasn't anything bur his pay"
Mrs. Berrien laughed sof-ly.
But. Richard, dear. even that detri-
ment has occasionally been overlooked. -
''Oh. OF course. Exactly. | know.
Neither had-I That Is what vou mean.
] suppose. But things were different
then"
Granted again, Dick--ery different:
50 much 50 that were Things as they
used to be Iwould be utterly opposed to
her marrying in the army
This being just exactly the view the
major had not taken, he could only
stare al her IN astOnishInent.
''Bess, what oa earth do you mean:-'
''Jnst what | say. Richard. | ike
what I've seen Of Mr.. Brewster very
much. and / don't wonder Winnie fam
cies him. He is a gentleman: he l.
tine soldier: he has a good record; he j.
well connected; his family Is oae Of the
best that yOu or | know: he has every
thing in point Of fact to recommend him
tnat you had, my hese. and he has none
of your bad habits. You used TO drink
and smoke and play poker, and Richard.
sometimes yoG used 60 swear.
We'll. everybody did IN those days.
''Exactly. and hardly anybody does
today, except perhaps one hears a little
odd language when the wind Is blowing
from the dr.H ground. Bat in other re-
spects things are indeed different. You
aEd Your cTonies sometimes talk about
how slow ard how indifferent younS
officers are noy: Is compared with what
. they were twenty wears ago. Dick, Il
the army We're today what il was when
i married youI would whisk Winnie
out Of Tins garrison and never let her
venture inside another. But it isn't.
In every possible way that woman
and mother can see, ii Is vastly better.
and YOU know II. I can co,aoeiva of