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

dimmed by tears, while the daughter
cast longing glance toward her former
admirers. who scarcely knew her now.
She was nearly 90, but her face, refined
by sorrow, was more beautiful than
ever. She was like flower refreshed
and purified by storm. She had LOST
all that had made her SO capricious aud
disquieting Grave and sweet, she
seemed to be doing penance for her past.
One day she saw new face among
the officers who promcnaded past, smok-
ing, chatting and laughing. In a mo-
ment she was Transported to the gen.
erals ballroom and she saw again her
timid lover motionless in % corner, de-
vouring her with his eyes.
Mamma, there, is the lieutenant!"
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 vacant chair, said with %
kindly smile:
"Ah, is that you, lieutenant? What
long time since we have met! We are
truly glad to see you. But pardon me; I
called you lieutenant, but / 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 Dmh. After that he had
been shut up in Tuyen-Quan 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 tho yellow hordes he had heard the
bugler Of the French sounding deliv-
erance. Oh, the joy of that momentl
He saw the enemy flee, the tricolor ap-
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.
Could 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
III her new guise. She was all he had
ever dreamed of and he was filled with
a wild delight. Their eyes met and his
were 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 and
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-
lied. 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
he 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
rips to Paris and neglected the ladies.
They feared they had been deceived as
20 his intentions, and could not account
or his behavior.
AT O'Clock on the evening of Dec.
81 the widow sat reading the papers
which contained a list of the promotions
IL the army. Suddenly she exclaimed:
Here is his name. He has been pro-
noted!"
Attic same moment hurried foot.
tops were heard in the hall. The door
vas thrown open and the one so long
expected entered the room. Hc smiled,
lushed with pleasure. He paused before
he two women. The widow said, ex.
ending her hand:
my dear boy! So this was what wor.
led you so. "
He replied with loving pride:
"Madcmoisello, l have future now
, offer you. 1 love you Will you be
~ wife,"
She grew pale at the remembrance Of
er first refusal; then, thinking of all
his brave boy had done to deserve hap
mess, she went close to him, laid her
cad Oh his shoulder, and with her lips
ressed against the rough galloon so
aliantly earned she wept for joy
rom the French Fer Short Stories,