The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-05-27
THE uEUTENANT'S STORY.
BY CELESTE A. DoBBINs.

| BY CELESTE A. DOBBINS.
1t was dismal outside, for the rain
fell increasingly, but Mrs. Traynor's
dainty drawingroom looked the picture
of comfort that dreary evening. Isabel
la, Captain Traynor's young wife, was
herself picture worth looking at. She
had been tie reigning belle of her ma
tive city, before marrying the most
popular captain in the navy, who,
many years her senior, was very proud
of his handsome young wife, who was
admired by everybody.
The seaport town had long been no.
ted for its pretty girls and beautiful wo-
men, and Mrs. Traynor, too sure of her
own popularity to feel jealous, was sure
to have some of them with her. On
this particular evening the captain had
brought home half dozen brother Off
GERS TO help entertain his wife's guests.
They were scattered about the room,
chatting gayly with the young ladies,
and all Of them more or less jealous of
Lieutenant Robert Brighton, who was
the lion of the hour, because he had
only just returned from his first long
cruise, and being one of the fortunate
few who know just how to look and
say the unutterable things that are sure
to make one favorite with the fair
sex, they petted him until he was in a
fair way of being spoiled, as he had
rather good opinion of himself and
knew his own merits in spite of pre-
tended modesty.
"rhere will be no room on board the
the ship for the rest of US. Bob will
be so puffed up with conceit," said one
of the less favored officers.
"Never mind boys" said the captain,
laughing at their disconsolate faces.
"Your turn will come next the ladies
are proverbially tickle, you know, and
then three long years in IA foreign land,
banished from love and beauty, is
worth some recompense. Let Bob have
his turn now; yours will come later /;
then he can do the growing while you
are taking the prizes. l think we old
settled fellows have the best of it, after
| all, ~ he added, with a fond glance at
his wife, who looked a very queen
among the group of youth and beauty
by which she was surrounded.
Night had thrown her mantle over
the city at an early hour. The electric
lights twinkled like stars through the
mist, and as the fire in the old-fashion-
ed fireplace (which nothing could in
duce the captain to give up threw
quaint shadows on the wall, which
bobbed about in weird, fantastic way,
like mocking spirits from an unknown
world. Mrs. Traynor was about TO ring
for lights, but, with one accord, they
all begged her not to spoil the witchery
of the hour by anything so matter-of-
fact as gas light.
Someone tell a ghost story" sug-
gested Ellie Dove, ''it's just the time
for one, isn't it, captain ?' said she,
poking her saucy little nose into his
face.
"Yes," replied the captain, settling
| himself more comfortably in his arm
chair, and giving the fire a poke that
set the shadows to dancing jig on the
tinted walls right merrily. 1--WE all
think" added he mischievously, THAT
as Lieutenant Brighton has alresdy
confessed to his having had several adj
ventures while abroad he must tell the
first one"
'Tell us something thrillingly ex-
citing" urged Belle Talby, flashing
her black eyes bewitchingly at the
Handsome lieutenant.
"One Of your own love stories would
he all that, no doubt" said Cora Me
Arthur, shaking her blonde head vi.
ciously as she noticed the glance re-
turned by the wicked Bob to the black
eyed beauty.
81 asked for story first" pouted
Ellie, s'and we don't want one of his
love stories, for we will have chance
enough before the winter is over TO see
and hear plenty of our handsome lieu
tenants affaires de occur won't we,
though ?'' said the little tease, pro
vokingly.
"All right, them" replied our young
hero, unabashed at being the centre OF
attraction. ~ will tell you OF an ad.
venture we had just before we landed
at Yokohoma."
al say,n drawled the incorrigible
Dick Travers, ''if Bob's going To tell q
ghost story we ought TO sit nearer to
gether, don't you know I? for il is get
ting awfully dark, aud, If the young
ladies get frightened, we can hold theiI
hands to reassure them, don't you
know?n
"Just as If we would let you hold oul
hands, chorused the indignant maid
ems.
''Oh, you needn't get angry! yot
ought to know that Bob can't hold SIX
pairs of hands at the same time, ant
tell the story, too" said Dick viciously