Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-09-25
AN ARMY GIRL.

shoulders bare, u murmur of admiration
went up from the groups of officers
crowded into tho doorways. She was
followed by her mother, little over
dressed, as Is usual with women who
have always lived In the provinces, who
shook her white ourls with pride as IL
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 a
platoon Of lieutenants 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.
All were eager to please her. Her
desires were commands, her caprioes
laws. A colonel's daughterl Well they
knew that when the lists for promotion
were made out careless eulogy from
her, as, "Ahl Lieutenant So-and-so;
suoh q charming officer and delightful
waltzerp' might decide career. So she
maneuvered there as at the drill with
her soft tones.
She WINS Just 30 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 inpatient; she wanted her
daughter to marry. But between the
girl and her admirers formidable bar
rier arose upon which was written the
inexorable word, "Portionless. " And
the officers hirted, 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 az far as mar
riage was another song whose air not
one Of them seemed disposed to learn-at
least not one who was received with
| favor. For about year the girl had
had timid, shrinking admirer whom
she openly ridiculed after the fashion Of
coquettes
This lover was large boyish fellow
| with red mustaohe and blue eyes, a
native of Lorraine and educated at the
st. Maxent school. He had Joined the
army ut the age Of 18, had been wounded
at tho battle Of Coulmiers and wore q
medal The other officers looked upon
him as IN inferior because he had not
been trained at st, Cyr. OF peasant
parentage, he was robust and sturdy |;
little inclined to talk, though we'll in
formed. Brilliant on the field. he felt
out of his element In q drawing room.
He scarcely knew how to dance. The
fear Of appearing impolite had once In.
duccd him to ask tho young lady for a
dance But he had 80 mixed up the fig
ures Of the cotillon by his lnok Of skill
that he never attempted 1t second
time. He would moro willingly have
faced battery In action than all those
hooking smiles.
Hidden in window recess. for hours
he watched his adored one waltzing
with vivacity and grace His eyes fol-
lowed the small head through the whirl-
ing throng and oaressed tho beautiful
white shoulders. Sometimes no was bold
enough to approach the mother and en-!
gage In conversation This was tho OK
tent Of his advances.
With feelings Of bitter envy no saw
his comrades lowering around tho girl,
each trying his best TO secure favor. He
said to himself "Some day / shall hear
that she IL to marry some of those ia
yored ones Then all will be over" In
the desolate silence Of his chamber no
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
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 beokon to him
with irritating coquetry. He thought:
"Who knows? She might accept mo"
At the thought his heart boat 80 fast
that he was nearly stihed.
At last no could contain himself no
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 the
future looked very dark before him.
That evening the major took him
aside and said briefly:
II have seen the colonel. He was
courtesy itself and here is his answer:
Your protcge has not cent. My daugh-
ter has no dowry. 1t would be to unite
hunger and thirst He was right For
get the young lady. II yon feel disap-
pointed. console yourself with studying
military tactics +"
The lieutenant thanked him, but he
did not try to console himself. AS Off
GERS were needed to go TO Tonquin he
| offered his services. The following
week he embarked at Brest. And while
with IA 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.
|
Two years had passed away. Tho
general still gave brilliant fetes at his
elegant home, but the young girl who
had formerly turned all heads was seen
there no more Tho colonel Of the Ono
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
and daughter All the brilliant officers
who had lowered around had disap-
peared with the pleasure and gayety.
The new colonel also had q wife and
daughter; these new rulers received all
the attention, while for the old ones
was reserved the distant bow in tho