Evening star., 1897-01-23

soldiers were about. and that it would he
| next to impossible to obtain such oppor-
| tunity for an interview as loyers sought,
| and having learned that his new idol was.
| like himself, engaged to another, also
| enemy, a council of war, composed OF some
| of the soldiers in the camp. called by
| the lover. The situation was considered.
| also the likelihood OF the girls Britisher be-
| ing on the fleet, and the prospect. in case
| of an attack on the town, that she would
| be able to meet him. The conclusion was
| reached that it would he proper to use
| little strategy and prevent so fair a damsel
| from falling into the arms of the enemy.
The Plan of Attack.
The members of the council were impress
| ed that it was q of love at first sight,
| and. although no words had passed be-
tween them, that Cupiis darts had done
| their work. and they would be recreant to
their friend if they did not assist him. The
plan of the attack was laid out. and party
| of four Gncluding the principal formed to
| carry 1t out. But first an opportunity must
| be found for the young man and maiden to
| meet and see If they could come to an un-
| derstanding. Selecting the time the hour
OF twilight, when il would he too early for
| candles and too dark fer sewing. the four
chosen ones called at the house. While two
engaged the mother and one of the girls
| III conversation about pompons. and
mending uniforms, the bricklayer having
bitten hole in his glove, asked his idol to
| sew UP the rent.
| Her needle being threaded she made
| ready to repair the damage to the glove,
! and. it being too dark in the room, he
walked to the front window, while she
paired the damage. Meanwhile he
breathing those tender words that come
direct from lovers hearts while the fourth
| soldier stood in the door ready TO give an
alarm in case the iynx-eyed mother should
| have her suspicious aroused. Never was a
campaign better planned, nor more sue
l fltl 90 ial for nt.l loot
| compiished, and, although the soldier only
| cid the talking, the language of the girl
| was her eyes and her smile. In less than
five minutes the interview was ended by
the soldier whispering Sunday evening to
| her. The principals and the soldiers knew
that the + street girl and the young British
| officer had lost their lovers.
The little coterie OF friends of the soldier
| We're of the opinion that it would be better
| that the knot lie speedily and securely
tied. so that whatever trouble might come
| would be Jointly shared. Through the aid
of friend when Mary had realized how
| hasty she had been, she instituted inquiries
| in regard to the character and standing of
her lover. The answers she received were
| perfectly satisfactory, and she resolved
| that whenever he was ready to marry
| she would he ready. Taking advantage of
| every fav orable opportunity, the two girls,
without the knowledge of their mother,
prepared their wardrobes In case so import
| ant event should take place on Sunday.
| While this was the condition of affairs in
the little household, in the camp of the
soldier ne and his companions had come
| to the conclusion that the wedding should
be Sunday evening. unless the de-
| mands of the service prevented, and they.
| arranged that all who could be spared
from camp should witness the ceremony.
| The mother of the girls became suspi-
| cious that they bad some secret. but could
| not believe that Cupid had proven himself
| so capricious with her daughter as to lead
her to discard the old love. The English
| fleet rode at anchor in the roads, but what
| was the intention of the commanding Off
| Ger matter of conjecture.
| People must eat in war and in peace. and
| the mother regularly laid in the major
part of the supplies OF. Saturday evenings.
| On this particular Saturday, as was her
\ custom, she took her basket to start to
| market.
| Mother. get something good for sup
per tomorI Iow,'' asked one of the girls
| Why she asked. do you expect COM
| pany"' Eyes, mother" answered one of
! the girls, some of our soldier friends Will
| take tea with US" The other girl, Mary,
| seemed to be in deep thought and to be
| willing that her sister should talk for her,
| ard her mother putting down the basket,
| loc ked at the girls critically and seemed
| to surmse that they were making prepa-
| ratiors for more than a mere call of their
| soldier friends. Looking at them, and
| particularly at Mary, she asked slowly and
deliberately: DO you intend to encourage
| and marry that soldier, of whom you
krow nothing? Why! you haven't known
him two weeks" Mary demurely answered
| that she would marry him if he wanted
| her. that she was satisfied from what she
| had learned of him that he would make
| her happy wife, and that she would be
| ready as soon he wanted her. She fur
| ther said. that through a friend, she had
/ made inquiries to his character and
| family, and satisfied with the
| swers. The mother then besought her
| daughter not to take such rash step till
| further inquiries could be made. Mary
ceived all this kindly, but firmly adhered
/ 70 f1xa GOlr he DIV 1..av-
| lover wanted her. The mother closed the
| interview by saying: You your own
| mistress, and can do you please, but i
| have done my duty as a mother
Preparations for the Event.
The journey to market was resumed and
the change in the quality. quantity and
| character of her purchases showed that
while she had not approved the course of
| her daughter If she was determined to
| marry, she would like to make the event
a successful one She also resolved, that
if the wedding was to come off. she would
learn what she could of the prospective
groom. Sunday morning the mother insti-
| tuted inquiries, which resulted in the
| sural,ce that the young man was of eX-
| cellent character and name sober, hon
| est and Industrious, and was as good a
| soldier as citizen. She thereupon bent her
| energies toward making the event one to
| which all concerned might look back on
| with pride and SatlS tlSfaction.
| AS tine naughty fee riding at an
1 ckor, in Annapolis Roads. and one of his
| vessels near enough to throw shot into
| the city, and the population, including the
| soldiery, eXpectant of an attack, the SOL
| dier and his comrades in camp, the bride,
| her mother and sister at home, prepared
| for the wedding, which played havoc with
| the n atrmonial prospects of the grooms
| first love and the brides affianced. Late
| on that afternoon the measured tread of
| a detachment of District militia, with side
! arms, escorting the rector Of St. Annes
| Episcopal Church, announced to the little
| company the coming of the groom. The
soldiers filed in the house. and when the
I bridal party, with groomsman and brides
| maid, entered the parlor few girls of the
| neighborhood were present The scene was
| pretty one, the uniforms of the officers
and soldiers, with the white dresses of the
| ladies, adding to the effect. The ceremony
was acc cording to the Episcopal form, and
one of the officers gave the bride away.
After the wedding cake had been cut-the
mother having had it secretly conveyed 10
| the house-the company spent a few hours
| pleasantly, and returned ere taps" to
camp.
| The honeymoon was of short duration.
| but 1t was not brought to a close on ac-
of a h,y ha D~it; rr.-