The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-07-03
BLACK BUTTERFLIES.
How They Presaged Evil for the
Girl Who Loved Lieut.. Taunton.


ing amusement to the chaperons and
elderly officers, who, by reason OF
physical infirmities, were convinced
that dancing is hollow vanity, and
therefore abstained from it, but not
from comments upon people and
frocks,. which have been definitely
proven not to be vanities, and are IN
dulged in by the most potent, grave and
reverend signors, and have their sane
ton.
She was dancing with Taunton,
waltzing the long-stepped, fast, Gid
ing waltz which the cavalry officer IS
apt to affect, and which has in it the
dash and verve commonly supposed to
be attributes of that gallant branch
of the service.
It was case of true love, and had not
run smooth. Miss Rossini was torn be-
tween a desire to obey her parents
and the wish to give way to Taunton's
entreaties. The outcome of the con-
fiict has been written beforehand in the
book of life these thousands of centur-
les. A weakness of will-sweetly femi-
nine, but trying when it is not. ones
self that yields the power-was her
worst fault. Her promises were gov
erned entirely by the speaker of the
moment. To her father she swore
eternal remuneration of Taunton; to
Taunton eternal fidelity in her love;
and yet if untruth is to be judged only
by it's intention, she was not guilty of
faIsehood The time had passed, some
two weeks before, when she might
with honesty tell her father that she
would give the first lieutenant up for
ever Moreover, Capt. Rossini had be-
gun to lose faith in her promises. At
last she replied to his remonstrances
one day that she loved Taunton, that
he loved her, and that she meant event.
ually to marry him. At this she turned
first red and then pale, but remained
firm against all the paternal wrath
turned on her head with a vehemence
and force of language calculated TO
impress her with the deep respect a
child should norlrish toward the author
of it's being. To his choice epithets she
made no reply. The humor of the stu
alton struck her even then-the vast
paradox of parental reverence. But
u
the bottom of even a weak nature,
which is part of the instinct of self
preservation, and she held her tongue.
The strain was telling on her, how
ever. She was greatly changed from
the girl who, but six months before,
had come back from school to the gay
ETY. and adulation of a big army post.
The suffering gave sweetness to her
rather cool prettiness, which lent her
charm. The garrison was sorry for her;
It did all in it's power to help along the
meetings Of this much enamored
couple, and succeeded only too well.
Capt. and Mrs. Rossini were persons
of a type not prevalent in the service,
with an eye very much to the main
chance, worldly wise to degree. A
rich man "bacl east" who had taken a
fancy to the little boarding-school miss,
and who sent numerous letters, rolls of
music, books and boxes Of candy, was
looked upon as far better match than
a first lieutenant, even most eXem-
plary first lieutenant, as Taunton GER
tainly was. When Taunton's atten-
lions had become too marked, he had
been forbidden the house, and Lucia
had been commanded to repulse him
The mere fact that she promised faith
fully to do so, in the presence of her
fathers wrath had no influence on heI
when once she was thrown with her
lover. It was a choice of evils; whether
she should oppose her parents or Taun'
ton, and she chose the former as less
unpleasant.
Just at first they kept their meetings
secret, but once they weird discovered
they threw aside concealment and saw
each other openly under the very eyes
of the powerless father and mother
They took long rides along the foot
hills. long walks around the outskirts OF
the garrison. Taunton striding along
with his fine head very erect, his gray
eyes seeing nothing but the girl at his
side. who picked her way daintily
among the litter of tin cans and broken
bottles and old horse-shoes that marked
the approach to the post. There were
40 leafy bowers under which TO stroll
and no velvety swards to press theil
feet upon; but they could we'll afford tc
ignore the surroundings; it is only
later in life that we learn the value Of
the background to the pictur". Rv com
mon consent they avoided strayIng to
the creek, where the willows and cot
tonwoods were thick and green; the
"men" and their sweethearts held thai
field. At the hops, too, they danced to
gether a great deal of the time, and
made no secret of the infatuation. Capt
Rossini looked savage and Mrs. Rossin
was manifestly uneasy, but an oper
scene was not to be thought Of public
opinion being against the parents
There were bad half-hours and tearfu
nights for Lucia after each defiance
but there was more sweet in Taunton's
love than bitter in her fathers fury.
And so it happened that the long
notes of the Santiago" were bearing
the two onward with other dancers
snatches of singing. of laughter and o.
caDversation soundinC with the music
until there broke in suddenly, drowning
it all, clang, roar, q below of thun
der. The music hesitated for an in
slant; for an instant there was cessa
tion of movement and ordinations O.
fear; then the bright figures swayed or
and the chatter was resumed, and the
damp, cool wind of summer shower
blew over them, while the rain beat
down on the roof and ground.
RvIt TaIInf0n,a eyes had lost Soma