Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-09-02
AN ARMY GIRL.

AN ARMY GIRL.
AS she entered the room at the gen.
erals soirees, smiling, fresh, her lovely
shoulders bare, a murmur of admiration
went up from the groups of officers
crowded into the doorways. She was
followed by her mother, a little over
dressed, as is usual with women who
have always lived in the provinces, who
shook her white curls with pride as if
to say, "This is my daughter" Next
came the colonel Of the One Hundred
and Twenty-third, pleasant, modest, in
tent on keeping off the trains of the
ladies.
Scarcely was the girl seated when
platoon Of lientenants and captains in
their dress uniforms, with mustaches
brown and blond, eyes modest or bold,
made an assault upon her list of dances.
There in the dazzling light, to the sound
of sweet music, she danced, light and
graceful.
ALI were eager to please her. Her
desires were commands, her caprlces
laws. A colonel's daughter! Well they
knew that when the lists for promotion
were made out careless eulogy from
her. as, "Ah! Lieutenant So-and-so ;
such a charming officer and delightful
waltzerl'' might decide Q career. 30 she
unanswered there as at the drill with
her soft tones
She was just 20 and her life had been
all gala days, travelling over France
with the garrison, with banners flying
and bugles sounding. Her mother began
to grow impatient; she wanted her
daughter to marry, RHt between the
girl and her admirers formidable bar
rier arose upon which was written the
memorable word, "Portionless. And
the officers firted, laughed, danced, but
never seemed to think of marriage.
To please the colonel's daughter for
the sake of present enjoyment was well
enough. To carry matters as far as mar
riage was another song whose air not
one of them seemed disposed to learn-at
least not 0ne who was received with
favor. For about a year the girl had
had a timid, shrinking admirer when
she openly ridiculed after the fashion of
coquettes.
This lover was {. large boyiss'
with a red mustacho and -,
native Of Lorraine ana educa. ac tne
ST. MaxenG school. He had joined the
army at the age of 18, had been wounded
at the battle of Coulmiers and wore
medal. The other officers looked upon
him as an inferior because he had not
been trained at st. Cyr. OF peasant
parentage, he was robust and sturdy |;
little inclined to talk, though well in
formed. Brilliant on the field, he felt
out of his element in drawing room.
He scarcely knew how to dance. The
fear of appearing impolite had once in
duced him to ask the young lady for a
dance. But he had SO mixed up the fig
ures of the cotillon by his lack of skill
that he never attempted it second
time. He would more willingly have
faced battery in action than all those
mocking smiles.
Hidden in windCs, recess, for hours
he watched his adored one Waiting
with vivacity and grace. His eyes fol-
lowed the small head through the whirl-
ing throng and caressed the beautiful
white shoulders. Sometimes he was bold
enough to approach the mother and en-
gage in conversations This was the ex-
| tent of his advances.
With feelings Of bitter envy he saw
his comrades lowering around the girl.
each trying his best to secure favor. He
| said to himself: 'sSome day shall heal
| that she is to marry some of these ia.
vored ones. Then all will be over. In
the desolate silence Of his chamber he
gave up to his despair. He tried to rea.
son with himself. How foolish he was
to even think of this spoiled child Of
fortune, suited only to luxurious sur
roundings. She was not intended for 9
poor officer.
But in spite Of himself his thoughts
flew toward her. He saw her in his
dreams smiling and whirling in the
dance. She seemed to beckon to him
| with irritating coquetry. He thought
"Who knows? She might accept meP
At the thought his heart beat SO fast
that he was nearly stifed.
At last he could contain himself nj
longer. His life became uncomfortable,
He went to the major, who had always
taken an interest in him, and begged
him to sound the colonel on the subject
of marriage with his daughter without
making formal proposal. He passed
that day on the borders of the Swiss
lake in the garden Of Versailles watch
ing the carp jump in the sun, and thu
future looked very dark before him.
That evening the major took hin
aside and said briefly:
81 have seen the colonel. He wai
courtesy itself and here is his answer
Your protege has not cent. My daugh
ter has no dowry. It would be to unite
hunger and thirst. He was right. For
get the young lady. If you feel disap
pointed, console yourself with studying
military tactics"
The lieutenant thanked him, but hi
did not try to console himself. As off
GERS were needed to go to Tonquin hi
| offered his services The following
week he embarked at Brest And while
with bursting heart he was borne
away from France on the heaving waves
Of stormy sea, the young girl, happy
and thoughtless, danced in the bright
light, careless of all but her Joy.
4
Two years had passed away. The
general still gave brilliant fetes at his
elegant home, but the young girl who
had formerly turned all heads was seen
there no more. The colonel of the One
Hundred and Twenty-third had died
suddenly just as he was about to re-
ceive his stars. A monotonous life had
succeeded the gay one led by his wife