The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-08-12
AN ARMY GIRL.

AS she entered the room at the gen
erals soireos, smiling, fresh, her lovely
shoulders bare, a murmur Of admiration
went up from the groups of officers
! crowded into the doorways. She was
followed by her mother, little over.
dressed, 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 Hundred
and Twenty third pleasant, modest, in.
tent on keeping off the trains of the
ladies.
Scarcely was the girl seated when a
platoon Of lieutenants and captains in
their dress uniforms, with mustachcs
brown and blond, eyes modest or bold
made an assault upon her list of dances.
There in the dazzling light, to the sound
of sweet music, she danced, light and
graceful.
All were eager to please her. Her
desires were commands, her caprices
laws. A colonel's daughter! Well they
knew that when the lists for promotion
were made out a careless eulogy from
her, as, "Ah! Lieutenant So-and-so;
such a charming officer and delightful
waltzer" might decide career. So she
Unanswered there as at the drill with
her soft tones.
She was just 20 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
daughter to marry. But between the
girl and her admirers a formidable bar.
rier arose upon which was written the
memorable word, "Portiouless. - And
the officers firted, 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 mar
riage 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 boyish follow
with red mustache and blue eyes, q
native of Lorraine and educated at the
st. Maxent school. He had Joined the
army at the age Of IS, had been wounded
at the battle of Coulmiers and wore a
medal. The other officers looked upon
him as an inferior because he had not
been trained at st. Cyr. Of peasant
parentage, he was robust and sturdy;
little inclined to talk, though we'll in
formed. Brilliant on the field, he felt
out of his element in drawing room.
He scarcely knew how to dance. The
fear of appearing impolite had once in
duced him to ask the young lady for
dance. But he had so mixed up tho fig
ures Of the cotillon by his lack of skill
that he never attempted it second
time. He would more willingly have
faced battery in action than all those
mocking smiles.
Hidden in IL window recess, for hours
he watched his adored one waltzing
with vivacity and grace. His eyes fol-
lowed the small head through the whirl-
ing throng and earessed the beautiful
white shoulders. Sometimes he was bold |
enough to approach the mother and en-
gage i'll conversation. This was the ex.
tent of his advances.
With feelings Of bitter envy he saw
his comrades lowering around the girl.
each trying his best to secure favor He
said to himself: "Some day l shall hear
that she is to marry some of these fa-
Torcd ones. Then all will be over" In
+he dcsolate silence Of his chamber he
gave up to his despair. He tried to rea-
son with himself. How foolish he was
% even think of this spoiled child of
'ortune, suited only to luxurious sur
She was not intended for
)oor officer
But in spite of himself his thoughts
lew toward her. EIe saw her in his
lreams smiling and whirling in the
lance. She seemed to beckon to him
With irritating coquetry. He thought:
who knows? She might accept mel"
vt the thought his heart beat so fast
hat he was nearly stihod.
At last he could contain himself no
onger. His lifo became uncomfortable.
Ie went to the major, who had always
aiken an interest in him, and begged
lin to sound the colonel OH the subject
f marriage with his daughter without
making formal proposal. He passed
hat day on the borders of the Swiss
AXE i'll the garden of Versailles watch
ng the carp jump in the sui, and the
uture looked very dark before him.
That evening the major took him
side and said briefly:
II have seen the colonel He was
ourtesy itself and here is his answer:
Your protege has not a cent. My daugh-
81 has no dowry. 1t would be to unite
unger and thirst. He was right. For
ct the young lady. If you feel disap-
ointed, console yourself with studying
Military tactics.'
The lieutenant thanked him, but he
id not try to console himself. As Off
RS were needed to go to Tonquin he
fered his services The following
eek he embarked at Brest. And while
18th bursting heart he was borne
way from France on the heaving waves
stormy sea, the young girl, happy
I'd thoughtless, danced in the bright
ght, careless of all but her joy.
T. ,
Two years had passed away. The /
,neral still gave brilliant fotes at his I
egant home, but the young girl who
I'd formerly turned all heads was seen ,
ere no more. The colonel of the One
undred and Twenty-third had died I
ddenly just as he was about to re-
i've his stars. A monotonous life had