Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-08-20
AN ARMY GIRL.

As she entered the room at the gen.
erals soirees, smiling, fresh, her lovely
shoulders bare, murmar of admiration
went up from the groups Of officers
crowded into the doorwaya 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 curls with pride as if
to say, "This is my daughter Next
cape the colonel Of the One Hundred
aud Twenty third, pleasant, modest, ill.,
tent on keeping off the trains of the
ladies. 4l.3.s.lls. ~-a~s -
Scarcely was the girl seated when a
platoon of lieutenants and captains in
their dress uniforms, with mustaches
brown and blond, eyes modest OF 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 daughter Well they
knew that when the lists for promotion
were made out careless eulogy from
her, as, "Ahl lieutenant So-and-so;
such o charming officer and delightful
waltzerl'' might decide career. So she
maneuvered there as at the drill with
her soft tones
She was just % 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. But between the
girl ana her admirers formidable bar
rier arose upon which was written the
inexorable word, 'Portiouless. And
the officers airted, laughed, danced, but
never seemed to think Of marriage.
To please the colcnel'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 one who was received with
favor. For about year the girl had
had o timid, shrinking admirer whom
she openly ridiculed after the fashion of
coquGttes
This lover was large boyish fellow
with q red mustache and blue eyes, q
native of Lorraine and educated at the
st. Maxent school He had joined the
army at the age of IS, had been wounded
at the battle of Coulmiers and wore a
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 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 caressed the beautiful
white shoulders. Sometimes he was bold
enough to approach the mother and en-
gage in conversation. This was the ez'
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: "Some day shall hea,
that she is to marry some Of these ia
vored ones. Then all will be OVER" II
the desolate silence Of his chamber hs
gave up to his despair. He tried to rea
son with himself. How foolish he wal
to even think Of this spoiled child o.
fortune, suited only to luxurious sur
roundings She was not intended for
poor officer.
But in spite of himself his thoughtl
few toward her. Ie saw her in hi
dreams smiling and whirling in tn
dance. She seemed to beckon to hin
with irritating coquetry. He thought
, "Who knows? She might accept meP
AT the thought his heart beat 50 fas
, that he was nearly stifed.
At last he could contain himself n
: longer. His life became uncomfortable
He went to the major, who had alway
taken an interest in him, and begge'
him to sound the colonel on the subjec
of marriage with his daughter withou
. making a formal proposal. He passe'
' that day on the borders of the Swis
! lake i'll the garden of Versailles watch
0 ing the carp jump in the sun, and tn
t future looked very dark before him.
That evening the major took hlr
y aside and said briefly:
81 have seen the colonel. He wa
!. courtesy itself and here is his answer
d Your protege has not cent My daugt
h ter has no dowry. 1t would be to unit
T hunger and thirst. He was night Fo'
}, get the young lady. II You feel disal
Il pointed, console yourself with studyin
military tactics :.
Q The lieutenant thanked him, but b
g did not try to console himself. AS Of
GERS were needed to 30 to Tonanln !