The Delta independent., 1898-11-18
~ As..,srsesrE esa.sa'ss .

and like some finished actress, swept
the room with her radiant eyes. as
though compelling all men. all women.
to yield to her their attention and re-
gard, and then. smiling brightly. beam
ingly (dutiful Brayton guided by the
pressure of her daintily glOved hand),
moved with almost royal grace and de-
liberation to where Mrs Frazier sat in
state. aud the first lady Of the garrison
rose to greet her.
Unsuitable as is tho full uniform for
cavalry purposes today. it was worse in
1870. when our shoulders were decked
with wabbly epaulets and our waists
were draped with silken sash that
few men were properly. But whatever
might be said Of Sir Galahad's short
tomings as boon companion. or OF his
severely simple aud economical mode Ct
life, there was no manifestation OF
parsimony in his attire. No man in the
room was SO we'll uniformed or wore
the Rarb of his profession with better
grace He who came in a flannel shirt
mud o rough gray suit. with silver
watch and leather watch chain, appear
ed this night in uniform Of faultless cut
and fit, with brand new glittering cap
tain's epaulets, while his sash was OF
the costliest silk net Of brighter red
than generally worn-most officers ap-
pearing in . stringy affair that age and
weather had turned to din2y purple
On his left breast Barclay wore the
badge in gold aud enamel Of q famous
fighting division in . gallant corps. and
such badges were rare in the days
whereof write. Moreover, though nei-
ther tall man nor a stalwart, Captain
Barclay was erect. wiry and we'll pro-
I crtioned, and bis head aud face were
well worth the second look every one
had been giving this night Tho
Twelfth have been swearing like pirates
at having another doughboy saddled on
EN-. " chuckled Captain Perkins, him
self doughboy "Besad. the Twelfth
has no better picture Of the officer and
tho gentleman than this importation
from the foot But no Que spoke with
the thought OF being heard as Laura
Winn finished her greeting to Mrs
Frazier. Every man and woman was
intent only on what was coming next,
although many strove to speak or to
appear to listen to their neighbour
Charlotte Frssier actually rose from
her seat and stepped out into the room
that she might have a better view.
And Barclay would not have been
the observant man he had already shown
himself to bc had he not known it. His
color was q bit high for one whose facs
was ordinarily 30 pale. but he stood
calmly erect, with an expression OF
pleased contemplation in his hne eyes,
waiting for MIRA Winn to finish the
somewhat hurried yet lavish words that
she addressed to Mira Frnzier: then she
turned effusively upon him
Captain Barclay!" she exclaimed
"How very good to see you here. and
how glad We all arc to welcome You to
the Twelfth. Mr.. Winn and I have
been in despair because his illness has
kept him prisoner Indeed doubt IL
l should have left him at all tonight
but for his positive orders-and the
doctor. Then Of course much wanted
TO see you-too."
She hsd begun confidently. even mas
terfully. She looked him with deter
mined effort straight In the faco at tho
start, but her confidence fitted before .
dozen words were said. Her voice fall
tered before she had half finished, for
Barclays eyes frankly. even smilingly.
met hers, and with case and dignity
and courteous interest all commingled
he had bowed slightly over her band,
lowered IL after . brief. BY no means
lingering. pressure and stood. merely
mentioning her name, Mrs. Winn,
and. ~ was rather . wsy Of his, letting
the other party do all the talking. Il
was q godsend TO Laura Winn that tho
waltz music began at the next instant.
for his nonchalance was something ut
terly unexpected Oh, how dared he
look 90 calmly. indinerently. forRetful
ly. almost unrecognizingly into her
eyes md stand there 50 placidly whom
her heart was nutteTihg wildly with
nervous excieement. her words coming
in gasps?
"Oh, M. Erayton. how heavenly"
she exclaimed. "Don't let u lore an
instant Of that wnltx" Over his gilt
tering shoulder she beamed in parting
. bewitching smile. levelcd all st Bar.
clay. and slided away. q foatinR cloud
Of filmy drapery. . vision Of flashing
eyes, Of flushing checks, Of dazzling
white tsssh cleaning between the part
ed rose leaves of her mouth. Of snowy
sho.lders and sbspely arms. Of peepiDg.
pointed, satin shod feet. the handsomest
creatur, 10 all that crowded room and
the most dismalIy unhappy She had
met him in tho witnessing presence n
sll Fort Worth. and all the garrison
saw that ehe had sustained . crushing
defeat. She who was to have been his
wife and had duped him. she who had
looked to subjugate him once more. was
duped In turn. the victim Of her own
vanity.
And to think. - said Mira De Lancy.
'sshe ouly changed her half mouruipQ a