Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-01-21
DECEIVER EVER.
By GWENDOLEN OVERTON.

Carey Churchill Carter Charming,
first lieutenant, Nth cavalry, died so
long ago that most of his story is for
gotten, though it was a 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 filed his place
since then that no ones heart is likely
to be wounded by repeating it.
He was superb great fellOw-as all
the men in his regiment were said tn be
in those days-of the big. blonde, and
brave type, knowing neither fear nor
failure, and his fascination was some
thing that has become tradition in the
service. So many girls-aye, and mar
Iied 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, not
just denied little, as is
usually the case in such affairs; their
lives were openly ruined, yet Charming
kept himself free of blame. Not one
could say "he should have done thus or
So" he never committed himself, he
never acted in IA compromising fashion
in the presence of a third person. But
the women who ran insanely onto the
desert of disillusion, followed the elus-
I'VE pillars of the smoke of his words and
fhe fire of his looks, never again passed
beyond into the land of content across
the wilderness. They despised them
Selves in that pitifuI fashion that WON
ZEN have, but they loved him always
Cor such is the way of their kind
: It 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 we'll; there was never any definite
proof. But in the early summer of IS,
the pitcher that had been carried
ninety-nine times to the we'll narrowly
escaped being broken.
The bride of Capt. Morton, having
seen fit, with due encouragement, to
fail in love with him, threatened to be-
come unmanageable. She was a 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 Charming was in much danger of
having his methods exposed.
His captain advised him: Charming,
you'd better take leave and get out for
Bit
"Why?"
"Well, it's a 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? 1 am as in
nocent as baby; and besides think
you are mistaken"
1--WE all exonerate you. It's not your
fault; but am not mistaken. It's evil
dent to the whole post. Take my adj
vice and go see your mother like n duti-
full son.
Charming was fattered, 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
to 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 she trem-
bled visibly. She realized her paieness
and knew that Capt. Lytton's quick
movement to put himself between her
and the watching eyes had been una
yailing.
Her own soft eyes filled as she raised
them piteously. you see what a spec
tacle I am making of myself. 1 can't
help it. I've tried hard. There's
nothing for it but to go away or break
down"
.sPoor little grill Come away. then
eff you will just take me home. and
tell Dan T." she stopped. losing the
thread of her words. for Claiming was
approaching.
Capt. Lytton offered her his arm.
'tCome, quickly" he said.
'Just wait a minute, please-iust till
I tell Mr.. Claiming can't stay for our
dance"
She had flushed up and her eyes were
brilliant. She put out her hand to
Charming, drcw it back, and again
stretched it forth. confusedly.
He took it and pressed it-yes. she