Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-02-07
THE WHITE FEATHER

One thing upon which the entire femi- |
nine portion Of rho garrison was agreed |
was that THAT woman'-with the proper |
inflsctlon-was the worst ilirt In the regi-
mont, II not In the department. But the
camp was divided thcreupon, for the men
werr disposed TO DO too charitable. They
won't 40 far evOn as 10 pity her and TO de-
fend her covertly, which was the one proof
OF the woman's unworthiness needed. A
champion Of the opposite sex In matter
Of this sort does more harm than good
There were no definite charges that
might be brought up against her, but the
court social docs not ask for facts. II
Judges at u glance, and its cdicts are irrev-
ooable, more particularly in tho service.
where That which would be winked at
elsewhere or pass unnoticod Is not for an
instant tolerated The wives Of these
Cssnrs must he above suspicion. And
su.pioion can he founded on so small
thing.
Mrs. Bottoms ofYenses consisted OF
faahion OF raising her appealing tawny
eyes that was melting 10 the heart mascu-
line, OF q tendency to the wearing OF
uowns of IN unusually frivolous and giddy
pattern md Of making her front porch In
summer and her sitting room In winter
tho most attractive III the post TO the male
element Then there was the matter OF
wainwright. wainwright was an accepted
feet nnd filed In the intervals when Cap
tain Bolton was AT the barracks AT guard
mounting, doing officer OF the day duty or
stable duty with whaling regularity
When Bolton was on scouts, Wainrighe
played su!tor In chief To this Penelope.
Bolton appeared 10 bc the only one oblivi-
Gus TO the state of affairs. Certain II was
tbnt Is seemed not To trouble him that
wainwright should be 80 very evidently In
love with his captains vile, yet the cap
tain WA not fool.
It VIZ surmised that nc drew some COM
fort from tho fnct that tho infatuation was
all on WainriRht's side. Eleanor Bolton
accepted. but did not encourage the man.
Her manner with him was of II part with
TINT which she assumed toward men and
things In Eenoral--onc of sweet, pathetic
Indifference, lightencd with smile. Her
worry indifference goadcd her maligncrs on.
She SO rorely rewarded their attacks by
wincing At the stings just at nrst, she
had grown u little nervous had made one
or two attempts ut Cancellation and had
raised her eyes, misty with tcars-plcad-
inQ. yelowish eyes like those of n brown
water spanlcl--tO those Of some dazzled
swaia. thereby cnsnarirg him still further.
she had taken no notice OF such small
sliRhts as werc put upon her and had
shown no disposition TO tears or humility.
There IL no nature SO pure that by de-
Rreos It cannot nccustom itself to falling
lower thnn Mt first IL would have deemed
IMPOSSIBLE. What with Mrs. Bolton Ind
begun In desire for amusement and pas
time WINS growing constantly moro serious
and morr necessary Having learned the
power of her charms, she used II, and, IA
IL grew apace, II needed moro food TO sub.
sist upon
Having won tho submission OF tho
many, she next required the alteration OF
tho one Wninright was Of goody mien,
with more mustache than morals, under.
stood her perfectly and pretended that he
did not lie found favor in her eyes above
all othcrs She set herself TO please him,
and In very little time he WAS at her feet
Then she did not know what 70 do with
him. She knew that to have him forever
at her side was not wiso, but she hesitated
to dismiM him. She was wont 10 think OF
him In tho light Of an opium habit, hurt
full but not 10 be dispensed with. When h
began to time his visits to the hours wher
his captain would be from home, she saw
TINT she was on the edge Of tho precipice
yet she continued to walk beside IL ant
wainwright with her. wainwright was use
full moreover. He rarely let official dutic
keep him from carrying out his part OF cav
aliere servante, and he earned his $3.50
month easily and with as little trouble Il
himself M possible
Sometimes. In the rare moments wheI
she allowed herself TO think, Eleanor woul,
wonder why Abe permitted this man, to
ward whom she was absolutely indiffcr
t,,A hos u cro ~hnv, ~
had refused To bc Influenced for good b.
the man to whom she hid by no mean
been indifferent In the past. Yet had h
not Influenced herf For two years hi
memory-pot that he was dead In tn
flesh, but worsc-deod to hor-hnd beel
her moving spirit for what of good sh
had done and felt. Having known him
she WAS better. Then the realization tina
ell this was but part Of hazy past, a sor
Of dear aside In tho drama Of her life
had cnuscd n reaction. Why should she
she who was SO young--spend her hes
years In regretting' There was nuc
ahead, n great deal yet TO be enjoyed, an
she began 20 live n life that she told herscl
WAS pleasant When an importunat
What would hc think rose before her. "A
II ofsen had just mt first, she drove 1t bac
with further bit of waywardness
was OF such u time that she had marie
Captain Bolton and had given a gasp c
dismny when il was oil over and she wa
torturing harself with vain what Nigh
have bccns'-swcct punishment. Sh
had fancied that she had ceased 90 hop,
but when she saw how irrevocable wa
the step she had taken she WAS frightene
and little desperate.
She was thinking Of this now viii
Bolton wns NJ stables, and she awaitc
without anxiety WainTiel.ts certain con
Ing she was loukirg over the hast Arm