The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-09-28


her, Helena-like. she lacked not worlds
of company. The six men met on the
walk in front of Captain Lansing's
quarters.
Lansing was cynio who observed
his kind and told the result Of his OBJ
servations. Such are deservedly un-
popular, but command appreciative
audiences that are the envy of the
good-hearted. 1t was to an audience
of the sort that he rocounted the meet
ing, the same afternoon, when the
band stopped playing and the invad-
ing hosts from the town had scattered
and left the post to its rightful owners.
Dorothy Terrence" he began,
laying his sabre across his knees and
settling back to the temporary repose
which alone can fall to the lot of the
officer of the day-"Dorothy Terrence
came up the walk. She had Lancaster
with her, and she was looking happy.
Miss Leeds-the bankers daughter,
you know-came down the walk. She
had Kant, and Dartmoor, and Fer
guesson with her, and she was look
ing like a celestial being. They were
both dressed in white-but there was
a difference. Mrs. Lansing says it
lay in silk foundation. Be that as
il may, there was fearfully and
wonderfully made hat, all drifts and
mists, and .sprays of white, atop of
Miss Leeds, and fluffy all-round
sort of parasol atop Of that. Dor
othy saw Miss Leeds from
afar, but the latter did not see
Dorothy. They came together in
front of my quarters-'and with my
harp was there. Dorothy moved to
one side. 1t was her instant attitude,
and, l fear, prophetic. The woman
who steps aside can always stay there.
But all might have gone well, and this
story might never have been told, if
Kant had not INDUCED his vulgar pro-
pensity for introductions. Miss Leeds
bestowed sweet and transitory smile
upon Miss Terrence; but Lancaster is
not the best-looking fellow in the Pre-
sidio for nothing. If any of you hap
pen to share my good fortune of know
ing her, you will understand what
in the nature of things and of men
happened when she turned her eyes
upon him with trick she has of SEEM
ing to look into ones very, soul. She has
the most beautiful voice outside of the
heavenly choir, and she brought it in
to play also. Dorothy stood it as long
MS she could, and then she tried to get
him away. He never even heard her.
If Miss Leeds had not gazed soul
Bearchingly at him, and told him that
she must be going, but would see him
at the hop, he doubtless would be
standing there still, with Dorothy
anxiously watching him. 1t will be
worth going to the hop to see things
happen.
Lancaster stood at the door of the
dressing-room and watched Miss
Leeds, whileshe waited for Dorothy.
He saw her throw back her gorgeous
cloak and drop it from her with the
careless disdain of celestial creature
discarding some temporary earthly gar
ment. That it fell ON chair and
crushed other less splendid wrappings
beneath it was detail which escaped
him. He watched her as the huddling
feminine mass made way for her at the
mirror and she stood unchallenged,
leisurely touching her glimmering
brown hair and pinning great white
rose upon her shoulder.
Dorothy waited at his side for fully
five minutes before he saw her. Then
she laughed mockingly up into his
face, and wished that her laughter
might have been blow.
As soon as he could leave her he
went running and sliding across the
floor to where Miss Leeds stood at bay
before besieging group. She was
backed against the wall, and a sun
burst of sabres was just above her
head.
"There are only twenty dances, u
she kept repeating, "and 1 never
divide"
Lancaster took two of his fellow.
officers by the shoulders and put them
out of his way. Miss Leeds looked
into his eyes and smiled as, it seemed
to him, no woman had ever smiled be-
fore. She put her card into his
hand.
"The two with the crosses are the
ones promised you" she said. And
as she had promised and he had
asked nothing, his heart beat higL
with triumph.
Not that it was case of love al
first sight. lie was in love will
norotbv put tia ,,oat faithful ol