The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-06-24
An Inconstant Woman.
By ewExpoLYN rvERroN.

as light Of purpose when he had LEFT
them beside the roadway which he
travelled in his quest for the happy
princes.
And at last he found her. She was
young aud exceeding fair, dainty, sweet
shy and coy, dimpled and demure, and
she loved Ferris as cadet was never
loved before. He had not known this
witching maiden more than a month
when he made offer of his heart and
hand. 1t was her first romance since
leaving school, and Kitty Foster made
haste to accept it.
Kitty being really afraid and being
deeply in love with him, did actually
refrain from telling everyone in pro-
foundest secrecy that she and the stall
wart West Pointer had plighted their
trotb. Not even her mother was con-
fided i'm.
There was only n month of blissful
existence, and the Kitty had to join her
family at Angel island, putting the
whole wide continent and a strip Of
salt water between Ferris and herself.
She had her debut to make in army
circles.
Nor did his infatuatiOn lessen as the
weeks and months went by. Kitty had
warned him that ne must write neith-
er too often nor too afieetiOuately, a.
her mother would see the letters
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," and destroying the
design straightway that there might
never be another fashioned like it again.
With Kitty went all the pleasures of
life for Ferris, and he eschewed social
pastimes that he might devote himself
to work and prove a credit to Miss Fos-
ter, his district and his congressman.
So in due time he passed" and
passed well ; but chose, nevertheless,
the infantry branch Of the service
merely because Capt. Foster was an in
fantryman.
Then he went to his home and from
there he 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 a second
lieutenant was assured him, it might
be well to announce their engagement
with the consent of the family.
Two letters remained unanswered,
Ferris accused the mail system and
sent third. He waited long and anx-
iously for reply.
Ii came when he was safe in San An
tonic, with many miles between him
self and Miss Foster.
No reference whatever was made to
the point he had passed, further than
TO say he was imprudent.
\ mighty spirit of rebellion arose in
Ferris at this reproaeh. She should
play fast and loose with him no longer.
Kitty should acknowledge him or give
him up.
Three days and three nights he wait
ed, that his anger might be calmed,
that he might do nothing rash; then
he sat him down and wrote unto his
refractory lady love a letter mingling
official formaIity and irrepressible af-
fection.
Ferris anxiety in waiting to bear his
fate pronounced took the form of
nervousness which drove him to I'M
wonted social activity. The captains
wife had taken him under her wing
upon his arrival, as all good captains
wives should, and had incorporated him
into the family, where he became a
prime -flvOrite with a pair of model
little boys IN SnIckerUoekers and euris.
Mrs. Irwin protested mildly ss:atil
day when Ferris took the two over be-
hind the quartermaster's and set them
to fighting out a difficulty, which had
arisen, with their own good nails and
fists.
Mrs. Irwin took the affair rather too
seriously, and it was only by giving up
his plans of education that Ferris sue
ceeded in keeping in the good graees of
his captains wife.
After this diseOuragement Ferris
drew into his former shell of reserve,
and went only at rare intervals to Capt.
Irwin's quarters. But when he had
written the letter which was to bring
Kitty to terms he determined to for
give and forget that his efforts had
been unappreeiated, and TO drop in
upon Mrs. Irwin for a cup of tea before
retreat.
The children having been sent off to
play with their tin soldiers, Mrs. Irwin
resumed her condolences and told Fer
ris, with the charming interest in his
future of 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.
She was a beauty, very rich, and
would make him a splendid wife. Fer
ris smiled his aequiescence, but was not
particularly enthusiastic until Mrs. Ir-
win told him that the girl-"Annie
Kingsley i her name''-had just been
visiting the Barneses at Angel island,
had gone from there to Monterey, and
had determined quite Unexpectedly to
come down south. Angel island was
Kitty's post.
The girl came. Beautiful she GER
tainiy was, quite unusually stylish and
agreeable, but Ferris went away un
satisfied, for he had had no chance to
inquire about what lay nearest to his
heart.
Miss Kingsley emerged from the
dressing room in all the glory of her
youth, beauty and New York gown.
She danced as no girl had ever danced
before, so Ferris thought she became
a part ofthe music and as light as its
strains. Kitty had always been just a
little heavy.
They stopped only with the waltz
itself, and Miss Kingsley leaned breath
less against the draperies of j garrison
flag. She made a lovely picture, and
Ferris stood looking at her with keen
pleasure; but his eyes were suddenly
fixed on a fall Of lace they were rivet-
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