The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-05
AN ARMY GIRL.

AS she entered the room at the gen.
erals soirees, smiling, fresh, her lovely
shoulders bare, IA 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 il
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 mustaches
brown aud blond, eyes modest or bold,
made an assault upon her list of dances.
There i'll the dazzling light, to the sound
of sweet music, she danced, light and
graceful.
All were eager to please her. Her
desires We're commands, her caprices
laws A colonel IS daughter! Well they
knew that when the lists for promotion
were made out careless eulogy frcm
her, rs, "Ah! Lieutenant So-and-so;
such charming officer and delightful
waltzer!' might decide 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 inpatient; she wanted her
daughter TO marry. But between the
girl and her admirers formidable bar
rier arose upon which was written the
inexorable word, "Portionless. And
the officers hirted, 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 u year the girl had
had timid, shrinking admirer whom
she openly ridiculed after the fashion OF
coquettes.
This lover was a large boyish fellow
| with red mustache and blue eyes, a
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 well III.
formed. Brilliant on the field, he felt
out of his element in a drawing room.
He scarcely knew how to dance. The
fear of appearing impolite had once in
| duced him to ask the young lady for a
dance. But he had SO mixed up the fig
ures of the cotillon by his lack of skill
| that he never attempted it n second
time. He would more willingly have
faced battery in action than all those
mocking smiles.
Hidden in a 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 caressed the beautiful
white shoulders Sometimes he was bold
enough to approach the mother and en-
gage in 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 shall hear
that she is to marry some Of these IA
yored ones. Then all will be over. " In
the desolate silence Of his chamber he
gave up to his despair. He tried to rea-
son with himself. How foolish he was
to even think of this spoiled child OF
fortune, suited only to luxurious sur
roundings She was not intended for q
poor officer.
But in spite of himself his thoughts
few toward her. He saw her in his
dreams smiling and whirling in the
dance She seemed to beckon to him
with irritating coquetry. He thought
"Who knows? She might accept mel
At the thought his heart beat so fast
that he was nearly stified.
At last he could contain himself nc
longer. His life became uncomfortable.
He went to the major, who had always
taken an interest in him, and begged
him to sound the colonel on the subject
of marriage with his daughter without
making formal proposal. He passed
that day on the borders OF the Swiss
lake in the garden Of Versailles watch
ing the carp jump in the sun, and the
/, future looked very dark before him.
That evening the major took hin
aside and said briefly;
81 have seen the colonel. He wa
courtesy itself and here is his answer
Your protege has not cent. My daugh
ter has no dowry. 1t would be to unite
, hunger and thirst. He was right. For
get the young lady. If you feel disap
pointed, console yourself with studying
military tactics. ="
The lieutenant thanked him, but h'
did not try to console himself. AS Off
,, GERS were needed to go to Tonquin n
/. offered his services. The following
week he embarked at Brest. And wb'''
with n bursting heart he was borne
svav from France on the heaving wave
of a stormy sea, the young girl, happ!
/. and thoughtless, danced in the brigh
light. careless of all but her JOY.
Two years had passed away. I'm
general still gave brilliant fetes at III
: elegant home. but the young girl wh
, had formerly turned all heads was seel
: ,he,e no moro. The colonel Of the On
Hundred and Twenty-third had die'
0 suddenly just as he was about TO re
D ceive his stars. A monotonous life ha'
e succeeded the gay one led by his wifi
,.-l..o. All tho militant officer