, 1897-09-13

SuLuiIeT FISll. anu now Bessie was one
and-twenty and the family worried. 1t
worried itself into a safe where sven
the raising of a mortgage on the home
did not seem 10 great a thing, il it would
bu. insure her marriage. With the mon
ey thus obtained she was sent across
the continent, with instructions to get
Those things were treated as business
in New England hamlets. She was told
to marry a general II she could. II not
anything, down to a second lieutenant.
But rank was to be the primary consid-
Grafton, Miss Bradford agreed. She
picked out a very nice general. mental
ly. He would be about five-and-thirty,
and handsome and dashing. That years
went with rank was one OF the things
the civilian novels OF army lie she had
read had not taught her. Besides. she
was romantic-as a very pretty girl
should he. So she promised that grade
should govern her choice. Then she de-
pared TO visit her sister at the Preside.
Lieutenant and Mrs. Galiatin lived in
the building known as the Corral" II
The Corral were in the city, it would be
called a tenement. But Uncle Sam does
mt quarter his officers in tenemenrs.
The Gallatins were cramped for room
very cramped. They had three chill
dren and second lieutenat's pay. So
they were poor. Therefore. taking Miss
Bradford in was not a pleasure. 1t was
a duty. And Mrs. Gallatin would not
have been a New Highlander if she had
done her duty.
But Bessie felt the unpleasantness Of
the situation the very day OF her ar
rival.
"Captin Soutter is going to take you
TO the hop this evening, Bess," Mrs.
Ga!latin said: Bessie was cutting paper
bird-cages for her niece. Mrs. Gala
tin was mending a pinafore.
"Tve promised to go with Mr.. Mil
ford" answered Miss Bradford. stop
ping and looking up from the scissors.
MFR. who?"
"Mr. Milford. Colonel Milford's son,
who lives in St. Louis"
Where have you met him." The
him warned Bessie that she was run
ming or rocks.
"On the train. We got acquainted.
He's in business in St. Louis, and he's
coming to visit his people because he's
in bad health. He is a very nice man."
Man! He must be about 90. A per-
feet boy. And his business is being a
briefiess barrister. Now, let me tell
you one thing, Bessie. You must learn
from the first that the civilian son OF
an officer is nobody at all in a garri-
son. You will hurt your chances badly
with The officers by going with him.
How did he know there was to be a
hop?"
Bessie finished opening the cage gave
It to her niece with a kiss. gathered the
scraps OF paper in her hand and threw
them into the waste-basket. clasped her
fingers behind her curly brown head,
and answered leisnrely: HE didn't
know there was to be one tonight. He
asked me to go to the first one there
should be after our arrival"
Mrs. Gallatin thought how very, very
pretty Bessie was and wondered II her
husband contrasted them.
HE probably will never think OF 1t
again. Captain Soutter is going to call
to ask you, this afternoon. and you'd
better accept"
Can one go with two men out here
Don't be vulgar. You needn't con-
| slider the Milford boy"
oh! but I must. Genevieve, you
know. I promised" Miss Bradford's
big gray eyes were guilelessly earnest.
"Tve no doubt that pose Is taking with
the men. But you can't make your de-
yotion to promises succeed with me,
dear. know you too we'll. can't re-
member that they worried you, with the
boys at home"
This promise don't worry me. Not a
little bit"
well, I should suggest that you take
my advice and be less flippant. Recol-
lect that you were not sent way out
here to firt with penniless civilians and
small boys"
az l forget, remind me, will you?
I'll make you a little red silk flag, II you
like. l can make flags. l made one
| for a fair at home, once. You might
draw it from your bosom and wave it
when you see me about to run of the
track you have all so kindly and labor
iously laid for me to run on. I'll teach
you the signals. Mr.. Milford and I
studied them from the back OF our sleep
err. I think there's some one at the
door, sister dearie?"
1t was Captain Soutter. come to for
malize the hop arrangement He was
obviously, very glad that he had come.
For Miss Bradford was ~pretty-extra-
ordinarily pretty.
Il am happy in being q near neighbor
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 CAL
latin trio Of infants.
"Yes?" said Bessie; you are in our