Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-08-22

Hundred aud Twenty. third had died
suddenly just as be was about To re-
ceive his stars. a non0tonous life had
succeeded the gay one led By his wife
and daughter. All the brilliant officers
who had lowered around had fisap-
peared with the pleasure and gayety.
The new colonel also had d wife and
daughter; these new rulers received all
the attention, while for the old ones
was reserved the distant bow in the
Streets, then the sudden passing on.
The widow and her daughter ex-
changed bitter smile on these occa-
SONS as they continued their walk.
Ihey went into the park to enjoy the
sunshine of q fine autumn which gilded
the marble statues and the turning
leaves OF the great horse chestnuts
They sat down and. listening to the nil
ltary band, seemed to see a CLEAN of
Their lost happiness. It seemed to them
as II nothing had changed and as if they
might hear behind them at any moment
the colonel's voice saying: Good after
noon. ladies. Today the One Hundred
and Twenty fourth is giving the con-
cert Its music does not equal ours. -
but the shouts Of children playing on
the grass near by We're the only sound
they heard. The mother, with a sigh.
tried to read the paper through glasses
dlmmed by tears, while the daughter
cast longing glance toward her former
admirers who scarcely knew her now.
She was nearly 25, but her face, refined
by sorrow, was more beautiful than
ever She was like flower refreshed
and purified by storm. She had lost
ali that had made her so capricious and
eisquieting. Grave and sweet, she
seemed to be doing penance for her past.
one day she saw new face among
the officers who promenaded past, smok-
ing, chatting and laughing. In mo-
ment she was transported to the gem
erals ballroom and she saw again her
timld lover motionless in corner, de-
vouring her with his eyes.
Mamma, there is the ieutenantp
He saw her, too, for he grew pale and
with KEPT in hand came up to her. The
widow hastily folded her paper and,
pointing to a vacant chair, said with a
kindly smile:
All, Is that you, lieutenant? What
a long time since we have metl We are
truly glad to see you. But pardon me; l
called you lieutenant, but I see you
have third stripe on your sleeve. .
Then, blushing. he related how at the
end Of six months campaign he had
been promoted to a captaincy after the
affair of Nam Dimh. After that he had
been shut up i'll Tuyen- Guam with his
commander. This terrible siege lasted
five weeks and they had to constantly
beat back the furious Chinese, whose
living waves dashed against the walls
of the ruined fortress. He had been
wounded the last day in supreme eff
fort; then from afar above the clamor
of the yellow hordes he had heard the
bugler of the French sounding a deliy-
eranee. Oh, the joy of that momentl
He saw the enemy flee, the tricolor APP
pear; then he sank down without regret
His condition appeared SO serious that
he was sent back decorated with the
cross. During the voyage he had rapidly
recovered, and ON his arrival he found
that he had been recommended for pro-
motion to the rank of major The ladies
listened in silence. The mother, with
her knowledge of the profession, knew
that he was ten years in advance of his
former comrades. The daughter looked
closely at the young officer and found
him scarcely recognizable; his pallor
gave him decidedly distinguished air
Was it possible they had ever disdained
this brave soldier who, paying for his
honors with his blood, had returned to
an assured future?
He, too, looked critically at the girl.
Gould the serious, reflective woman be-
fore him be the frivolous, capricious
girl he had once known? She was a
thousand times more attractive to him
in her new guise. She was all he had
ever dreamed OF and he was filed with
a wild delight. Their eyes met, and his
We're filed with such alteration that the
girls lids dropped in embarrassment.
When evening came. the women arose,
and the officer accompanied them TO
their home. They met regularly in the
park on the days that followed. The
mother read the papers and the young
people talked. As autumn advanced ard
the yellow leaves covered the walks it
was too chilly to sit, so they promenaded
up and down the deserted park, happy in
each others company.
December passed in an intimacy daily
growing more tender. Still at times the
captain seemed TO be nervous and wor-
ried. One day, losing his usual self con-
troll, he pressed the girls arm which
was passed through his, and the express
sion of his eyes made her believe that
ne was about to declare his love. He
was silent, however, and fell into a
gloomy meditation.
His agitation increased as the new
year approached. He made frequent
trips to Paris and neglected the ladies.
They feared they had been deceived as
to his intentions, and could not account
for his behavior.
At o'clock on the evening of Dec.
81 the widow sat reading the papers
which contained list of the promotions
in the army. Suddenly she exclaimed:
"Here is his name. He has been pro-
moted!"
At the same moment hurried foot
steps We're heard in the hall The door
was thrown open and the one so long
expected entered the room. He smiled,
flushed with pleasure. He paused before
the two women. The widow said, ex-
tending her hand:
My dear boyi So this was what wor-
ried you SO.
He replied with loving pride;
Madelnuiselle, | have future now
to offer you. l love you. viii you be
my wife?'
She grew pale at the remembrance Of
her first refusal; then, thinking of all
this brave boy had done to deserve hap
piness, she went close to him, laid her
head on his shoulder, and with her lips
pressed against the rough galloon SC
valiantly earned she wept for joy. -.
From the French Fer Short Stories.