The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-21
TRIAL BY FIRE.

IhlAL BY flkE.
There are colonies and majors and
generals and some old captains who
hold that Isabel Hampden was the most
attractive woman who ever graced the
frontier, and in their time most women
seemed attractive becaus of their search
ty. She was handsome and accomplish.
ed and clever and something more than
all these which was inexplioable, but
very potent She had been brought up
in garrisons and large cities, and by the
time she was two and twenty she knew
the world rather we'll. Moreover, she
knew men-not girls and women, but
men.
Because she had been allowed to live
in posts during most of what should
have been her boarding school days and
because she was pleasant to look upon
and to converse with at an age when
most girls are impossible, men had fall
en- in love with her pretty much ever
since she could remember. It was said
that she had refused all the bachelors
In all the frontier regiments. This was
not far from the truth. A woman who
had married one of the rejected ones
said that refusing was q habit Miss
Hampden had formed, and that it began
to look as If she might never break
herself Of it. In the nature Of things
this was repeated to the girl. Her good
temper was one of her charms. ut is
so much better habit than accepting
them all, )" she argued sweetly. Never
theless, she wondered If there were not
some truth mingled with the malice.
But Lieutenant Loring was the last
victim Of her practice. He proposed to
her, unfortunately for himself, just after
she had met young Ardsley.
II thought this morning that maybe
would marry you" said Miss Hamp.
den. but I've changed my mind some
way"
Loring was accustomed to a great deal
Of frankness from her, but it clashed
with his notions Of feminine modesty
for woman to have entertained
thoughts Of marriage before the offer
thereof.
Weren't you just tritle prompt in !
determining my intentions:' he asked.
Has the event proved me wrongp
she returned.
He lost his temper. "You are
spoiled" he said.
If you knew how often have heard |
that! Yet do not think I am. am
simply sincere, and you are little too
vain, all Of you, to grasp tho difference
I like you awfully well-no, now, don't
misunderstood me. l don't love you,
and you are too nice fellow to be
married to girl who only likes you.
No, she repeated, II do not think I'm
spoiled. l am not agitated and fearful
as l ought to be, perhaps under the
circumstances. used to be, but I've
passed that have been SO placed that
men were making love to me at an age
when other girls were playing with dolls.
It's partly because am pretty and
partly, largely, because there are so few
women out here. When have been in
the east, l haven't made much of O sen.
sation. I've grown bit hardened per-
haps. Custom has dulled the edge
which was fcarfully keen and cutting at
tirst-of being told that am breaking
heart. But though am only 20 I've
lived to see dozens Of you marry and be
happy. You'll do the same. ~
"Oh, no, shall not!" moaned Lor-
ing
"Oh, yes, you will, Jack, and
shan't mind Now I've promised to
dance this with the new Mr.. Ardsley,
and if we stay out here any longer every
ono will guess what has happened"
They II know when they see me-
Don't be goose, Jack. It's only the
heart that is trying to take itself seri.
ously that exhibits tho pain"
Don't discuss subject you know
nothing about. You have no heart.
He left her with an exaggerated bow
as young Ardsley came up.
As Miss Hampden waltzed off with
Ardsley she knew that Loring was
wrong; that this tall boy, fresh from
West Point, as new in experience Of the
world az the brass buttons ON his blouse,
was the nan she was going to love. He
would lovo her, Of course. 1t is to DO
feared that it did not enter her head
that he might not She liked his strong
rough cut face, and his jolly, stone
gray eyes, and his drawing, heavy
voice, and his waltzing, and the way
he held her. After the dance she deter
mined that she liked his bands, and
when she looked at them she saw ring.
is that your class ring!' she said.
Eyes, J." he told her.
MAY l see it?''
He gave it to her, and while she OK
amined it he sat and admired her. On
his part he liked tho women who car
ried themselves haughtily; he liked tall
women; ne liked straight black hair
and olive skin and dark eyes and large
features and neck Of statuesque pro-
portions. In short, no liked exactly the
things he had never fancied up to then.
Miss Hampden raised her eyes and met
his. She smiled, hut it was like no
smile she had ever BESTOWED on man
before. He looked at her very gravely,
and her hand closed tightly over the
ring. In moment she was studying it
again.
II like this. It's unususl," she said
II am glad you think SO, as con.
ceived the design" He expected to be
told that he was clever.
''1ndeedP' was all she said, and that
indifferently.
"How cooll rather thought you'd
express surprise and give me some cred.
1t. You are not addicted to flattery, it
would seem"
Il am not. But | don't think it
would have been flattering to be sur
prised that You have done it. 1t struck
inc as being quite the thing you would
natural IL do -