The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-10-16

LII make you little red silk flag, if
you like. | can make flags. Imade
one for fair at home, once. You
might draw it out of your bosom and
wave it when you see me about to run
of the track you have all so kindly
and laborlously laid for me to run on.
I'll teach you the signals. Mr.. Mil
ford and I studied them from the back
of our sleeper I think there's some
one at the door, sister dearie."
1t was Captain Soutter, come to for
ma'ize the hop arrangement. He was,
obviously, very glad that he had come.
For Miss Bradford was pretty-ex-
traorainarily pretty.
II am happy in being near neigh
Dor OF yours, Miss Bradford" he told
her. He forgot-as men will-how
often he had cursed the ill-luck which
threw him within hearing distance of
the Gallatin trio of infants.
'Yes?" said Bessie; you are in our
vicinity, them"
"A little above you in the world. I
live upstairs. When you want me you
have only to pound on the ceillng.'
"The-what is it?-quartermaster?
The quartermaster mightn't like me to
wear out his ceiling"
'You aatter me by the implication,
Miss Bradford. But I'll settle with
the Q: NJ. if you will only pound. For
instance, will you pound tonight when
you are ready for the hop, to which it
is my dearest wish to be permitted to
escort you?"
he forgot what he had wished when
Mrs. Gallatin had asked him to per-
form this act of courtesy toward the
coming sister. But then be had looked
at Mrs. Gallatin and had Judged from
her of the sister.
II would be only too delighted. if it
were not that I have already promised
to go with some one else"
sThe betrayed captain manifested his
astonishmenta and resentment at having
oeen subjected to refusal. He had a
high opinion of his dignity, had the
captain.
"Why, who on earth can have asked
you already?" he cried.
Miss Bradford had a cool little
Northern air, when she liked. She
considered the captains question in
bad taste. So she raised her eyebrows
and smiled most sweetly. IT shall
hope to have dance with you, Captain
Soutter," she said.
And she had, not one, but three. |
The captain forgot his wrath at the
sight of her. When she came from
the dressing-room into the hallway to
join young Milford, the captain was by
the door. He looked at her.
might I hope to be accorded the
second and fifth and ninth, Miss Brad.
ford?" he asked.
ooh! thank you,' said Bessie. She
was grateful, and he was quite ap-
peased.
Now Miss Bradford was a success
She had what is known rs a beautiful
time for three whole months. No girl
was remembered ever to have re-
ceived altogether so much attention.
She always had lovers-and the two
don't always go together. Captain
Soutter loved her, so did Lieutenant
Paxton, and so did young Milford
Bessie loved young Milford. A girl
VINO prefers "cit. clothes toa uniform
is peculiar, to say the least. Bessie
didn't say or show whom she loved.
except to Milford. She had told him.
She had refused Paxton, and she was
warding the captain of. But the last
she could not do much longer. The
captain had good opinion of him
self.
He also had dignity which was not
20 be triGed with. Mrs. Gallatin was
~. no means sure of Miss Bradford.
So one day she spoke to her. The
process of being spoken to can rouse
ne worst in girl. But Bessie was in
broken and contrite frame of mind.
She and young Milford had quarreled,
md she didn't care what became of
Ter. She might as we'll marry any
I'D man and sacrifice herself for her
amily. She made q most affecting
picture of herself as an Offering on the
'ltar of matrimony and filial duty. She
would pine away picturesquely in a
'ear or so, and Will Milford-well,
perhaps he would go to the bad She
loped so. It was under this pressure
hat she solemnly promised and swore
o Mrs. Gallatin to marry Captain
'outter if he asked her. What Miss
Bradford promised and swore she
lever broke.
So as soon as she and young Mil
ord made it up, she set about won /
[ering how Captain Soutter was to be I
;ept from asking her. Yet she could .
ot arrive at any plan. The captain t
7as an impetuous man, aud he was
either over well-bred nor nicely dis /
Eliminating. Bessie was worried. If l
had been that she had promised s
nd sworn anything to young Milford
nd had had to choose which VOW to {
reak, she would not have hesitated. '