The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-09-25


CT officers crowded into the doorways
She was followed by her mother, little
overdressed, 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 came the colonel of the One Hun
cred and Twenty-third, pleasant, mod
est, intent on keeping of the trains of
the ladies.
Scarcely was the girl seated when a
platoon of lieutenants and captains in
their dress uniforms, with mustaches
brown and blond, eyes modest or bold,
made an assault upon her list of dances.
There in the dazzling light. to the sound
CT sweet music, she danced light and
graceful.
All were eager to please her. Her,de-
'ires were commands; her caprices laws
A colonel's daughter! Well, they knew
that when the lists for promotion were
made out careless eulogy from her, as
'Ah! Lieut.. So and So; such charming
officer and delightful waitzer!" might
decide 1 career. So she unanswered
there as at the drill with her soft
tones.
She was just 90, 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 daugh-
ter to marry. But between the girl
and her admirers formidable barrier
arose upon which was written the in
exorable words: 'Portionless." And
the officers tiirted, laughed. danced, but
never seemed to think of marriage.
To please the colonel's daughter for
the sake of present enjoyment was well |
enough. To carry matters as far as |
marriage 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 timid, shrinking admirer
whom she openly ridiculed after the
fashion Of coquettes.
This lover was large toyish fellow
with red mustache and blue eyes, a
native of Lorraine and educated at the
Saint Maxent school. H., had Joined
he army at the age of Is, had been
at the battle of Coulmiers, and |
wore medal. The other officers looked
ipon him as an inferior because be had
,een trained at Saint Cyr. OF peasant
he was robust and sturdy,
title inclined to talk, though well in
ormed. Brilliant ON the field, he felt
ut of his element in dlawing-room.
lie scarcely knew how to dance. The q
ear of being impolite ha once induced
i'm to ask the young la5y for a dance. 2
Tut he had so mixed up the figures of :
he cotillon by his lack of skill that he
ever attempted it a second time He n
'ould more willingly have faced a bat u
cry in action than all these moclSing p
miles.
Hidden in window recess for hours, q
e watched his adorea one Waiting II
it'll viyacity and grace. His eyes fol- IL
wed the small head through the whirl- el
g throng, and caressed the beautiful u
hite shoulders. Sometimes he was W
I'D enough to approach the mother
i'd engage in conversation. This was II
le extent of his advances. w
With feelings of bitter envy he saw w
s comrades lowering around the girl, pr
CHI trying his best to secure favor. a
e said to himself: "Some day will
ar that she is to marry some of these a
vored ones; then all will be over" In ar
e desolate silence of his chamber he IN,
We up to his despair. He tried to rea- ha
n with himself. How foolish he was
even think of this spoiled child of en-
rtune, suited only to luxurious sur be
lndings. She was not intended for a afI
or officer. be
But in spite of himself his thoughts CO
W towards her. He saw her in his fiy
sams smiling and whirling in the be
nee. She seemed to beckon to him liv
tn irritating coquetry. He thought; of
tho knows; she might accept mel" wO