The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-10-18
CHAPTER. vi

CHAPTER vi.
Ten days passed Barclay had become
an institution at Fort Worth, yet opin-
ions were as divided and talk of him as
constant as before he came. First and
foremost, he had met Mrs. Winn, and
his demeanor on that presumably try
ing occasion had proved distinct dis
appointment. Winn was recovering
health, if not spirits. A stageload of
officers and ladies had come from the
environment to spend 4S hours and
big dance was prescribed for their bene-
fit. Mrs VIM danced divinely, and
never looked SO we'll as when with a
suitable partner on suitable floor.
Those were the days when we raved
over the "Mabel," the "Guards,'' the
"Maude" and the "Hilda' waltzes,
Godfrey's melodious creations, when
the galop and toris temps were going
out, and we "Boston dipped" to every
tune from "Pat Malloy'' to "Five
O'Clock In the Morning." and the
Worth orchestra was a good one when
the first violin wasn't drunk, condi-
ton which had to be provided against
with assiduous care. The party arrived
during one of his lucid intervals, and
the adjutant promptly placed the artist
under bonds to shun the cup until after
the guests had gone; then he could Gil
up to his hearts content and no fear Of
fine Winn couldn t attend, but Laur.
was looking wan and sallow. She need
! ed air and exercise, and her husband
urged her to accept Mr.. Brayton's escort
and go; SO did Collabone; so did her
own inclination. Superbly gowned and
coifed and otherwise decorated, she
went, and her entrance was the sensa-
ton of the evening. 1t was long after
10 when she appeared. The hop was in
full blast; the big room. gayly decorated,
was throbbing with the rhythm move
ment of the closing figure of the Ian
GERS. Almost everybody was on the
floor, for energetic We're our dancers in
those bygone days. just as the music
came to full stop, and with joyous
laughter and merry words of parting
the sets broke up, the women and girls,
middle aged or young (they never grow
old in the army, clinging to their part
ners' arms, tanning, possibly. their
flushed faces, were escorted to their
seats and the floor like magic was
cleared for the coming waltz The
group at the flag draped entrance parted
right and left, making way for young
officer in cavalry uniform at whom no.
body SO much as glanced, because Of
the tall and radiant woman at his side,
on whom all eyes were conferred. "Look
at Laura Winn," was the whisper that
flew from womanly lip to lip. "Isn't
she simply superb?" "Look at Mrs.
Winn," muttered manya man, his eyes
| lighting at the sight. 'Isn't she just
stunning?"
And then people began to hunt for
Barclay.
He was standing at the moment talk
ing quietly with Mrs Frazier, who was
making much of til ung captain now
and was accused Of having hopes of him
on account Of her eldest darling, who
had dined by his side three different
times at three different houses during
the week and was therefore said to be
receiving considerable attention" But
the hush of laughter and miscellaneous
chatter almost instantly attracted the
matron's attention. She glanced at the
door, gasped involuntarily, and then as
suddenly turned and narrowly watched
him, for he, too. noted the lull in con-
versation, and slowly facing the door
way saw before him not ten PAGES away
the woman who was to have been his
wife, gazing straight at him as though
challenging him to look and be blinded,
as blinded by her beauty he had been
before. She was only young, imma-
ture, untaught girl then, ignorant of
her powers Now the soft bloom was
gone, but in it's place there lurked
among the tiny threads of lines or
wrinkles just forming at the corners of
her brilliant eyes and in the witching
curves about her mobile, sensitive, ex-
quislte lips charm beside which her
virgin graces were cold and formal.
She had been what all men called a
wonderfully pretty girl. She was now
what many women termed dangerous
ly beautiful woman, and she knew it
we'll. When we had no one especially
selected to receive in those days, it
was sort Of garrison custom for every