Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-02-08
DECEIVER EVER.
BY GwENDoLEN OvERTON.


der at the time. Everybody connected
with it is dead also-his mother and
the other two women-and so many
first lieutenants have filled his place
since then that no ones heart is likely
to be wounded by repeating it.
He was a superb great fellow--as all
the men in his regiment were said to be
in those days-of the big, blonde, and
brave type, knowing neither fear no1
failure, and his fascination was some
thing that has become tradition in the
service. So many girls-aye, and mar
ried 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 dented a little, as is
usually the case in such affairs; their
lives were openly ruined, yet Claiming
kept himself free of blame. Not one
could say "he should have done thus OF
So" he never committed himself, he
never acted in compromising fashion
In the presence of 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
the fire of his looks, never again passed
beyond into the land of content across
the wilderness. They despised them
selves in that pitiful fashion that wom-
en- have, but they loved him always
for such is the way of their kind.
1t 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 well; there was never any definite
proof. But in the early summer of 'S5,
the pitcher that had been carried
ninety-nine times to the well narrowly
escaped being broken.
The bride of Capt. Morton, having
seen fit, with due encouragement, to
fall 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: "Channing,
you'd better take leave and get out for
a bit.'
"Why?"
well, it's a delicate subject, but
Morton's an old friend of mine, and /
don't want to see his wife disgrace
him"
But what have done? l am as in
nocent as a baby; and besides I think
you are mistaken"
"We all exonerate you. It's not your
fault; but l am not mistaken. It's evil
dent to the whole post. Take my ad-
vice and go see your mother like duti-
full SON."
Claiming was flattered, 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 aud graceful and Indifferent in the
doorway, she grew so white that the
whole room noticed it, and she trem-
bled visibly. She realized her paleness
and knew that Capt Lytton's quick
movement to put himself between her
and the watching eyes had been una
vailing,
Her own soft eyes filled as she raised
them piteously. "You see what spec
tacle l am making of myself. can't
help it. I've tried hard. There's
nothing for it but to go away or break
down."
Poor little girl! Come away, then"
"If you will just take me home, and
tell Dan /" she stopped, losing the
thread of her words, for Claiming was
approaching.
Capt. Lytton offered her his arm.
Come, quickly" he said
"Just wait minute, please-iust till
tell Mr.. Claiming can't stay for our
dance"
She had flushed up and her eyes were
brilliant. She put out her hand to
Channing, drew it back, and again
stretched it forth, confusedly.
He took it and pressed it-yes, she
was sure he pressed it, almost. "Fhe
third you promised me, wasn't it?"
"Yes, think So" she answered.
Capt. Lytton turned on his heel and
walked away.
At the end of the third dance, while
they strolled together up and down
the line, Claiming experimental to see
how far she would go. To his coDster-
nation he found that she would stop at
nothing short of blazoning her infatu.
alton from the housetops. A scandal
was not what Claiming wanted. He
was very gentle with her, but she wept
and said all manner of foolish things,
until Capt. Lytton came upon them and
took her home.
Very soon after this the lieutenant
went on to visit hismother She was a
Virginian, of the conventional poor but
proud order; and she lived on what had
once heen the kitchen-garden of the
| family estate. Quite as often as not