Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-03-18
DECEIVER EVER.
BY ewENDoLEN ovEnroN.

irst lieutenant, Nth cavalry, died Sc
iong ago that most OF his story is for
gotten, though it was very great won
der at the time. Everybody connected
with it is dead also-his mother and
the other two wonderland so many
first Heutenants have filled his place
since then that no ones heart is likely
TO be wounded by repeating it.
He was superb great fellow-as al
the men in his regiment were said to be
in those days-of the big, blonde, and
brave type, knowing neither feur mol
failure, and his fascination was some
thing that has become u tradition in the
service. SO many girls-aye, and mar.
1ied women, too-had loved him that
the shores upon which he had touched
were strewn with wrecks.
The hearts of all those women had
been broken, actually broken, moi
just denied a little, as is
usually tie case in such affairs; thei1
lives were openly ruined, yet Claiming
kept himself free Of blame. Not one
could say "he should have done thus oil
So" he never committed himself, he
never acted in a compromising fashion
in the presence of a third person. But
the women who ran insancly onto the
desert of disillusion, followed the eus-
i've pillars of the smoke OF his words and
the fire of his looks, never again passed
beyond into the land of content across
the wilderness. They despised them
selves in that pitiful fashion that WON
en- have, but they loved him always
FOR such is the way of their kind.
1t had been his good fortune TO have
dealings only with women who either
thought of him alone, forgetting them
selves, or with those too gentle to de-
nounce him. Then, too, he had man
aged well; there was never any definite
proof. But in the early summer of IS,
the pitcher that had been carried
ninety-nne times to the we'll narrowly
escaped being BROKEN.
The bride of Capt. Morton, having
seen fit with due encouragement, to
fall In love with him, threatened to be-
come unmanageable. She was most
wonderfully attractive, feminine little
thing, but she was neither of the self
immolating nor Of the concealing sort.
Having lost her heart, she lost her head,
and Claiming was in much danger of
having his methods exposed.
His captain advised him: Charming,
you'd better take leave and get out for
q bit"
"WhyP"
We'll, it's delicate subject, but
Morton's an old friend of mine, and 1
don't want to see his wife disgrace
him"
"But what have I done? am as In
nocent as baby; and besides l think
you are mistaken"
I'VE all exoneratc you. It's not your
fault; but am not mistaken. It's evil
dent to the whole post. Take my i'd
vice and so see your mother like duti-
full SON."
Charming was flattered, but he was
also frightened; nevertheless, he was
undecided.
There was hop there that same
night. Mrs. Morton was there, and it
was her actions that determined Chan
ming to take Capt. Lytton's counsel.
She was already in the hoproom talking
10 the latter when Charming appeared,
and the moment she saw him, standing
tall and graceful and Indifferent in the
doorway, she grew so white that the
whole room noticed it, and sic trem-
bied visibly. She realized her raIencss
and knew that Capt. Lytton's quick
movement to put himself between her
ard the watching eyes had been una
vailing.
Her own soft eyes filled as she raised
them pteously. you see what spec
tacle I am making of myself. I can't
help it. I've tried hard. There's
nothing for it but to go away or break
down"
"Poor little girl! Come away, then"
eff you will just take me home, and
tell Dan ~ she stopped, losing the
thread of her words, for Claiming was
approaching.
Capt. Lytton offered her his arm.
Come, quickly" he said.
Gust wait minute, please-just till
l tell Mr. Charming can't stay for our
dance"
She had flushed up and her eyes were
brilliant, She put out her hand to
Charming, drew it back, and again
stretched it forth, confusedly.
He took 1t and pressed it-yes, she
was sure lie pressed it. almost. "The
third you promised me, wasn't it?"
Eyes, think So" she answered.
Capt Lytton turned on his heel and
walked away.
At the end of the third dance, while
they strolled together up and down
the line, Claiming experimental to see
how far she would go. To his eonster-
nation he found that she would stop at
nothing short of blazoning her infatu-
alton from the housetops. a scandal
was not what Claiming wanted. lie
was very gentle with her, but she wept
and said all manner of foolish things,
until Capt. Lytton came upon them and
took her home.
Very soon after this the lieutenant
went on to visit hiSmother. She was
Virginian, of the conventional poor but
proud order; and she lived On what had
once been the kitchen-garden Of the
family estate. Quite as often as not
she was on the point Of hunger, when
there was no demand for the needle
work Of her quiyering old fingers. Her
son did not contribute to her support.
"All of my beggarly pay, and more,
too, goes to keep up appearances. My
regiment is great on esprit de corps.
I'd Hike awfully well to help you. moth
er, but must hold up my end of the
row. am Claiming" And she loved
him all the better.
While he was with her in the summer
of 'S5, through sheer lack of excite
ment he became eDamored Of certain
Anna TrafTord He asked her 10 marry
h;v, cutie 4la IL cI All =, y n ,po,,I1 have