Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-09-29

\ THE VI6TOR'S SPOILS. !
y
I A Story of Army Life.
BY dwEND0LEN OyERToN.
A Story of Army Lii

miss TERRENCE, going down the
IVl line, watched the girl who was
coming toward her. There were three
men with the girl, and only Lancaster
was with Miss Terrence. However, as
he was all the world to her, Helena
like, she lacked not worlds of COM
pany. The six men met on the walk
in front of Capt. Lansing's quarters.
Lansing was cynic who observed
his kind and told the result of his OBJ
servations. Such are deseryedly I'M
popular, but command appreciative au-
diences that are the envy of the good
hearted. 1t was to an audience of the
sort that he recounted the meeting,
the same afternoon, when the band
had stopped playing and the invading
hosts from the town had scattered and
left the post to its rightful owners.
dorothy Terrence"-he began. lay
ing his saber across his knees and set
Ting 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 Fergu-
son with her, and she was looking like
a celestial being. They were both
dressed in white-but there was diff
ference. Mrs. Lansing says 1t lay In
a silk foundation. Be that as 1t may,
there was fearfully and wonderful-
ly-made hat, all drifts, and mists, and
sprays of white, atop of Miss Leeds.
and ffuffy-all-round sort of parasol
atop of that. Dorothy saw Miss Leeds
from afar, but the latter did not see
Dorothy. They came together in front
CT my quarters-'and / with my harp
was there Dorothy moved to one
side. 1t was her instant attitude, and,
I 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, II
Kant had not INDUCED his vulgar pro-
pensity for introductions. Miss Leeds
bestowed a sweet and transitory smile
upon Miss Terrence; but Lancaster
is not the best-looking fellow in the
Preside for nothing. If any Of you
happen to share my good fortune Of
knowing her, you will understand
what--in the nature of things and
men-happened when she turned her
eyes upon him with trick she has
Of seeming to look into ones very soul.
She has the most beautiful voice out
side of the heavenly choir, and she
brought 1t into play also. Dorothy
stood il ms long as she could, and then
she tried 10 get him away. He never
even heard her. II Miss Leeds had not
gazed soul-searchingly 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 viii be
worth going to the hop to see things
happen"
Lancaster stood at the door of the
dressing-room and watched Miss Leeds
while he waited for Dorothy. He saw
her throw back her gorgeous cloak
and drop IL from her with the careless
Gsdain of celestial creature discard
ing some temporary earthly garment.
Dorothy waited at his side for fully
five minutes before he saw her. Then
she laughed moclSingly 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 sunburst of
sabers was just above her head.
There are only 20 Dances" she kept
"and l 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. 1t seemed to
him. no woman had ever smiled before.
She put her card into his hand.
''The two with the crosses are. the
ones l promised you" she said. And
hS sne udu proulstu anu ne udu aSkeQ
his heart beat high with tri-
umph.
Not that IL was case of love at first
sight. He was in love with Dorothy.
But the most faithful of men may pay
the court she expects 10 belle, and
may allow himself to be fattered by
her marked favors.
He could honestly then and for sew
eral weeks afterward, give Dorothy the
comfort she sorely needed, and say
that he did not even think Miss Leeds
beautiful. "She has style and charm"
he passed judgment, but not beauty.
And she is fiirt." He meant that Miss
Terrence should understand how en-
tirely be abhorred that.
did she try to fiirt when you called
upon her?"
He had made q point of confessing
the call directly il was made. and he
thought it tactless Of Dorothy TO insist
upon 1t. He shrugged his shoulders.
'She does that with every man."
II was a truth which he fully appre-
ciased. but fits feeble light no longer fell