The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-09-18

disappointed. No matter how much iha
cares for her husband, she wouldn' { be
her mothers daughter if she didn't Try
to fascinate him over again.
Fancy the comfort Of having such
| letter as that to read to an apprecia6ve
| audiencel Mrs. Brooks fed with it to
Mrs. Frazier, who thought it ought not
to be read-it was too like Dorothy Pei
ham for anything. But Mrs. Brooks
| took and read it to neighbors who were
chatting and sewing together and had
no such scruples- And that night it was
dribblinE about the post that Barclay
had decided to resign. had refused de-
tail on tie staff Of General Corliss. Some
body else would get Ned Lawrence's
troop. Brooks heaved q sigh and said
! to himself he was glad Of it, and the
| women heaved q sigh and wished he
might have come, If only for a little
while, just to make things interesting.
''It would be such novelty to have
millionaire mine owner in garrison and
actually doing duty as captain Of cav
airy Finally they began to wonder
i Wlub Mis-. Will MOAA0 SOY HOWg oAS
having had nothing at all to say.
That very evening it chanced to oc-
cur to Mr.. Hodge that he had not re-
turned Lieutenant Winn's call (by
/ card, the cavalryman having dropped
/ in when he knew the new arrival to
| have dropped out), and when Hodge
presented himself at the Winns' Che
had spoken of his intention at mess in
the presence and hearing of the negro
| attendant, who had mentioned it with
out delay to the Winns' colored combi-
nation of cook and serving maid, who
| had come over to borrow q cup of cook
ing sherry, it being too far to the sut-
! ler's, and that damsel had duly notified
! her mistress of the intended honor he
was shown into the dimly lighted army
sitting room, where, toasting her feet
before the fire, sat dreaming the young
mistress of the establishment, who start
ed up in apparent surprise. She had
heard neither the step nor the ring.
Very possibly she was doing, she ad-
mitted, for baby was sleeping aloft and
her husband was gone. She was attired
in silken gown that Hodge described
somewhat later at the majors as ''puf-
fickly stunning''-a garment that re-
vealed the rich curves of her beautiful
throat and neck and arms. Women who
heard wondered why she should be
wearing that most becoming evening
robe when there was not even a hop.
She looked handsomer than the gown,
said Hodge, as she rose and greeted him,
her cheeks flushed, her eyes languorou:
and smoldering at first, then growin-
slowly brilliant. She apologized for the
absence cf Mr.. Winn. He was spending
much time at the Office just now. "h'
is regimental commissary, you know, CT
at least he has been," she explained
Hodge knew all about that, and he aisC
knew that If what he heard about tht
post was true it would have been better
had Winn spent more time at the offict
before. Then Mrs. Winn was moved tt
be gracious. She had heard SO many
many pleasant things of Mr.. Hodg
since his arrival. She was so honoreC
that he should call when he must b
having SO many claims on his time, s.
many dinner calls to pay. She and Mr.
Winn were so sorry they had been un
able to entertain Mr.. Hodge, but unit
the cook they were expecting from Sal
Antonio came they were positively starv
ing and could invite no one to shar
their scraps.
"That cook has been expected a Who'll
year." said other women, but Mrs
Winn paraded him as the canse of he
social shortcomings as confidently 2
ever. Then Mrs. Winn went ON to spea
of how much she had heard of Hodg
at Omaha-dear Omaha "What Lowell
times we had along the Platte in th
good old days." Hodge blushed wit
JOY and preened and twittered an
! thought how blessed q thing it was t
be welcomed to the fireside of such
, bello and beauty and to be remembers
by her as one of the gay young bachelor
; at Sidney. Such wicked stories as w
, heard of you scapegraces from time :
time!'' said she, whereat Hodge locke
as though he might indeed have bee
! shockinSly wicked, as perhaps he haC
, Indeed she feared they (the young off
cers) were sad lot, a sad lotr' an
looked up at him from under the drooI
ing lashes in way that prompted hiI
o to an inspiration that was almost eleC
!. trio in its effect on him. Hodge fairl
+ seemed to sparkle, to scintillate. Sad
We were in despair said he, "bu
, that was when we heard of your e1
! gagement-oh, ah, the second one,
mean 70 he stumbled on, for it woul
! never do, thought he, to mention til
> first.
But he need have had no hesitation
], Laura Winn had heard from other an
4 obscurer sources something of the rumol
: @H