The Somerset reporter., 1897-01-14
DECEIVERS EVER.

0rst lieutenant, Nlnin cavalry uleu SO
long ago that most of his story is for
gotten, although it was very great
wonder at tie time. Everybody connect
ed with it Is dead aso-his mother and
the other two women-and so many
first heutehants have filled his place
since then that no ones heart is likely
to be wounded Ivy repeating it.
He was a superb great fellow-as all
the men il his regiment were said to be
in those days-of the big blond 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
ried women, too--had loved him that
the shores upon which he had touched
We're strewn with wrecks.
The hearts Of all those women had
been broken, actually broken, not just
dented little, as is usually the case in
such affairs. Their lives were openly
ruined, yet Charming kept himself free
of blame. No one could say "he should
not have done thus or so;' he never
committed himself; he never acted in u
compromising fashion in the presence
of a third person But the women who
ran insanely on into the desert of disil-
fusion, following the elusive pillars Of
the smoke of his words and the fire Of
his looks, never again passed beyond
into the land Of content across the will
derness They despised themselves in
that pitiful fashion that women have,
but they loved him always, for such is
the way Of their kind.
1t had been his coed 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 managed
well; there was never any definite proof.
But i'll the early summer of 1850 the
pitcher that had been carried SO times
to the we'll narrowly escaped being
broken.
The bride of Captain Morton, having
seen fit, with due encouragement, to
fall in love with him, threatened to be-
come unmanageable. She was 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 i'll much danger of
having his methods exposed
His captain advised him. Charming,
for hit. g"
"Why?"
well, it's delicate subject, but
Morton s an old friend of mine, and
don't want to see his wife disgrace him. "
But what have done? am as in
nooent as baby, and besides, think
you are mistaken.
1--WE all exonerate you. It's not your
fault, but I'm not mistaken. It's evil
dent TO the whole post Take my advice
and go see your mother, like dutiful
son. "
Charming was tiattered, but he was
also frightened; nevertheless, he was
undecided.
There was IL hop that same night.
Mrs. Morton was there, aud it was her
actions that dc,cuninrd Claiming to
take Captain Lytton's counsel She was
already in the hoproom talking to the
latter when Claiming appeared, and the
moment she saw him, standing tall and
graceful and Indifferent III the doorway,
she grew so white that the whole room
noticed it, and she trembled yisibly.
She realized her paleness and knew that
Captain Lytton's quick movement to
put himself between her and the watch
ing eyes had been unavailing
Her own soft eyes filled as she raised
them piteously you see what a spec
tacle | am making of myself can't
help it, I've tried hard. There's moth
ing for IT but to go away or break
down. "
Poor little girl Come away, then. "
IF you will just take mo home and
tell Dan - She stopped, losing the
thread of her words, for Charming was
approaching
Captain Lytton offered her his arm.
"Come quickly" he said.
Just wait a minute, please-just till
tell Mr. Charming | can't stay for our
dance. "
She had flushed up, and her eyes were
brilliant. She put out her hand to Chan
ming, drew it back and again stretched
1t forth confuscdly.
He took it and pressed it-yes, she
was sure he pressed 1t almost. 1.-The
third you promised me, wasn't it?'
eyes, think so, she answered.
Captain Lytton turned on his heel
and walked away
At the end of the third dance while
they strolled together up and down the
line, Charming experimental tosee how
far she would 60 To his CONSERVATION,
he found that she would stop at nothing
short Of bIa2omng her infatuation from
the house tops A scandal was not what
Charming wanted. He was very gentle
with her, but she wept and said ali man
ner Of fool h things, until Captain Byt-
ton came uYon 't'm and took her home.
Very soon after this the lieutenant
went on to visit his mother She was a
VirPinian II thc conventional poor but
proud order. and she lived on what had
once been the Kitchen garden of the
family osiale Cru as often as not she
was on IT, lo.itrt iurGor. when there
was no demand jDr the u,,dleWork of
her quiyeruG Ola fingers Her son did
not coulriiute ~ her support 'All of
my bepgariy - and more, too, goes to
keep mp apiDuuces. My regiment is
great On esplit dr corps I'D like awful
ly well to lr.p You, mother but | must
hold up my end Of The row. | am