Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-06-19
THE WHITE FEATHER

One thing upon which the entire feni-
nine portion of the garrison was agreed
was that that woman with the proper
in1cction--was the worst flirt in the regi'
| ment IL not in the department. But the
camp was divided thereupon, for the men
were disposed TO be too charitable They
went 80 far evUn rs to pity her and To de-
fend her covertly, which was the one proof
OF the woman's unworthinoss needed. A
champion of the opposite sex in "a matter
of this sort does more harm than good
There ware no definite charges that
might be brought up against her, but the
| court social does not ask for facts. II
judges at "a glance, and its edcts are irrev-
ocable, more particularly in the service,
| where that which would be- winked at
elsewhere or pass unnOtiCcd is not for an
| instant tolerated. The wives of these
| Caesars must be above suspicion. And
suspicion can DO founded on SO small IA
thing.
Mrs. Bottoms offenscs consisted of .
| fashion of raising her appealing tawny
eyes that was melting TO the heart mascu-
| line, of "A tendency To the wearing of
gowns of an unusually frivolous and giddy
| pattern and of making her front porch in
summer and her sitting room in winter
the most attractive in the post to the male
| elemont. Then there was the matter OF
Wainright. wainwright was an accepted
fact and filled in the intervals when Cap
| tain Bolton was az the barracks at guard
mounting doing officer of the day duty or
stable duty with unfailing regularity.
| When Bolton was on scouts. Wanright
played sutton in chief to this Penelope.
Bolton appeared to be the only one oblivi-
/ IL. g tg,t "a.
! that 1t seemed not to trouble him that
wainwright should he so very evidently in
| love with his captains WIFE, yet the cap.
| tain was not n fool
1t WAS surmiSed that he drew some com
fort from the fact that the infatuation was
all on Wainright's side Eleanor Bolton
accepted but did not encourage the man.
| Hor manner with him was of part with
| that which She assumed toward men and
! things in general--one of sweet pathetic
! Indifference lightened with smile. Her
very Indifference goadcd her maligners on.
| She SO rarely rewarded their attacks by
| winCing at the stings. just at first she
! had grown a little nervous had made one
! or two attempts at Cancellation and had
raised her eyes misty with tcars-plead-
ing yellowish eyes like those of brown
water spaniel-to those of some dazzlcd
swain, thereby ensnarng him still further
! But of late, within the last few months
she had taken no notice OF such small
Sights as were put upon her and had
shown no disposition TO tears or humility.
/ There Is no nature so pure that. by de-
grees IL cannot accustOm itself To falling
lower than at first il would have deemed
impossible What with Mrs Bolton had
begun in a desire for amusement and pas
time WAS growing constantly more serious
and more necessary. Having learned the
power of her charms, she used ii, and, AZ
it grew apace, it needed more food TO sub
siSt upon.
Having won the submission of the
many she next required the alteration of
the one wainwright was of goodly mien,
with more mustachc than morals, under
stood her perfectly and pretended that he
did not. He found favor in her eyes above
all others. She set herself TO please him,
and in very little time he was at her feet
Then she did not know what to do with
him. She knew that To have him forever
at her side was not wise but she hestated
to dismiss him. She was won't 10 think Of
him in the light Of an opium habit, hurt
ful, but not 10 be dispensed with When he
began 10 time his visits To the hours when
his captain would be from home. she saw
that she was on the edge of the prccipice
yet she continued to walk beside il and
wainwright with her. wainwright was use
ful, moreover He rarely let Official duties
keep him from carrying out his part of cav.
aliero scrvante, and he earned his $50 a
month easily and with rs little trouble tc
himself a. possible.
Sometimes in the rare moments when
She allowed herself To think Eleanor would
wonder why she permitted this man. 10
ward whom She was absolutely ndffer
ent, 10 influence her life for evil when she
had refused 10 be influenced for good By
the man to whom she had by no means
been indifferent i'm the past Yet had he
not influenced herr For two years his
memory-not that he was dead in the
flesh, but worse-dead to her-had beer
her moving spirit for what Of good she
had done and felt Having known him.
She was better Then the realization that
all this was but part of a hazy past. sort
of dear aside in the drama of her life.
had CAUSED "a reaction Why should she
she who was 50 young-spend her best
years in regrcttingy There was much
ahead, great deal yet 20 be enjoyed and
she began 10 live q life that she told herself
was pleasant When an importunate
What would he think rose before her. NJ
VI often had just at first she drove il back
with further bit OF waywardness Ii
was at such time that she had married
Captain Bolton and had given a gasp Of
dismay when it was all over and She wa.
torturing herself with vain what might
have bcens sweet punishment She
had fancicd that she had ceased to hope
but when she saw how irrevocable was
the step she had taken she wa, frightened
and a little desperate
She was thinking of this now while
Bolton was at stables, and she awaited
without anxiety Wainrights certain com.
ing She was looking over the last Army
and Navy which the mail orderly had Just
brou1 The outside sheets were still
wet from the snow that had fallen on
them She read over the personals
Lieutenant John a. Strickland til