The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-12-23
TRIAL Bl FIRE.

There are colonies and majors and
generals and some old captains who
hold that Isabel Hampden was the most
attractive woman who ever graced the
frontier: and in their time most wom-
en- seemed attractive because of their
scarcity. She was handsome, ac-
complished and clever, and something
more than all these which was mex
plcable but very potent. She had been
brought up in garrisons and large
cities, and by the time she was two
and-twenty she knew the world rather
well. Moreover, she knew men-not
girls aud women, but men.
Because she had been allowed to live
in posts during most of what should
have been her boardIng-school days.
and because she was pleasant to look
upon and to converse with at an age
when most girls are impossible, men
had fallen in love with her pretty much
ever since she could remember. 1t
was said that she had refused all the
Bachelors in all the frontier regiments.
This was not far from the truth A
woman who had married one of the re-
jected ones said that refusing was ~
habit Miss Hamden had formed, and
that it began to look as If she might
never break herself of it. In the nature
Of things, this was repeated to the girl.
Her good temper was one of ner
charms. 1T is so much better habit
than accepting them ALL she argued,
sweatly. Nevertheless, she wondered
if there were not some truth mingled
with the malice.
But Lieutenant Loring was the last
victim Of her practice. He proposed to
her, unfortunately for himself, just
after she had met young Ardsley.
Il thought this morning that maybe
would marry you," said Miss Hamden.
but I've changed my mind, some
way"
Loring was accustomed to a great
deal of frankness from her, but it
clashed with his notions of feminine
modesty for woman to have enter
tanned thoughts of marriage before the
offer thereof.
Weren't you just trif1e prompt In
determining my intentions?" he asked.
Has the event proved me wrong?"
she returned.
He lost his temper. you are spoil
ed" he said
IF you knew how often have heard
that! Yet l do not think / am. / am
simply sincere, and you are little too
vain, all of you, to grasp the difference.
like you awfully well--no. now, don't
misunderstand me. l don't love You.
And you are too nice q fellow to be
married to a girl who only likes you.
No" she repeated, Il do not think I'm
spoiled. l am not ag.tated and tear.
full as / ought to be, perhaps, under
the circumstances. ! used to be, but
I've passed that. l have been so plac-
ed that men were making love to me
at an age yhen other girls were playing
dolls. It's partly because l am pretty
and partly, largely, because there are
so few women out here. When have
heen in the East, haven't made much
of sensation. I've grown a bit hard
ened, perhaps. Custom has dulled the
edge-which was fearfully keen and
cutting at first-of being told that 4
am breaking heart. But, though I
am only twenty-five, I've lived to see
dozens of you marry and be happy.
You'll do the same"
"Oh, no, shall mott" moanod Lor-
ing.
"Oh, yes, you will, Jack. And I
sha'n't mind. Now I've promised to
dance this with the new Mr.. Ardsley,
and if we stay out here any longer,
every one will guess what has hap
pened."
They'll know, when they see me-"
Don't be goose, Jack. It's only
the heart that IS trying to take itself
seriously that exhibits the pain"
He left her, with an exaggerated
bow, as young Ardsley came up.
AS Miss Hampden waltzed off with
Ardsley, she knew that Loring was
wrong, that this tall boy, fresh from
West Point, as new in experience OF
the world as the brass buttons on his
blouse, was the man she was going to
love- He would love her, of course.
II is to be feared that it did not enter
her head that he might not. She liked
his srong. rough-cut face, and his jolly,
stcne-gray eyes, and his drawing,
heavy vioce, and his Waltzng, and the
way he held her. After the dance sho
determined that she liked his hands,
and when she looked at them, she saw
a ring.
May | see it?"
''Is that your class ring?" she said.
Yes he told her.
He gave ii to her, and while she ex-
amined it he sat and admired her.
On his part, he liked the women who
carried themselves haughtily, he liked
rail- women, he liked straight, black
hair and olive skin and dark eyes and
large features and neck of statuesuuC
proportions. Ii short, he liked exactly
tile things he had never fanced up tC
then. Miss Hampden raised her eye
and met his, She smiled, but it was
like no smile she had ever bestowed
on a man before. He looked at he
lightly very gravely, and her han
closed tightly over the ring. In mo
ment she was studing it again.
II like this, It's unusual" she said
II am glad you think so, as | con