Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-13
TRIAL BY FIRE.

" uS Lie oloi Vi an al LlS LSllCJ
There are colonies and majors and
generals and some old captains who
hold that Isabel HampGeu was the
most attractive woman who ever
graced the frontier: and in their time
most women seemed attractive because
of their scarcity. She was handsome,
and accomplished, and clever, and
something more than all these which
was ircGplicable 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 fallen in love with her pretty
much ever since she could remember.
1t was said that she had refused all
the bachelors in all the frontier resi-
ments. This was not far from the
- uSAA. ~ Noilstii WIZ lliu llttlllGt one
OF the rejected ones said that refusing
was habit Miss Hampden had form
ed, 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 1T is so much better
a habit than accepting them ALL" she
~.
wounded if there were not some truth
mingled with the malice.
But Lieutenant Lorng was the last
victim Of her practice. He proposed
to her, unfortunately for himself, just
after she had met young Ardsley.
II thou ght this morning that maybe
l would marry YOU said Miss Hamp-
den. but I've changed my mind,
someway"
Loring was accustomed to a great
deal of frankress from her, but it
clashed with his notions of feminine
modesty for woman to have enter
tanned thoughts of marriage before the
offer thereof
Weren't you just trifle prompt in
q.
Has the event proved me wrong?"
she returned.
He lost his temper. you are spoil
ed" he said
IF You knew how often have heard
that! Yet l do not think I am. am
simply sincere, and you are little toe
vain, all of you, to grasp the difference.
7 lilo evil,
misunderstood ME. l don't love you.
And you are too nice a fellow to be
married to girl who only likes you.
No. she repeated. Il do not think I'm
spoiled. l am not agitated and fearful
as | ought to be, perhaps, under the
circumstances. I 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
dolls. It's partly because | am pretty
and partly, largely, because there are
so few women out here. When I have
been in the East, haven't made much
OF sensation. I've grown a bit hard
ened, perhaps. Custom has duI!ed the
edge-which was fearfully keen and
cutting, at first-of being told that ]
am breaking heart. But, though ]
am only twenty-five, I've lived to see
dozens of your marry and be happy
You'll do the same"
"Oh! no, l shall not" rmoAned Lor-
ing.
ooh! yes you will, Jack. And sha'nt
mind. Now I've promised to dance
this with the new Mr.. Ardsley. and il
we stay out here any longer every one
Will surely guess what has happened"
They'll know, when they see me-"
Don't be a goose, Jack It's only
the heart that is trying to take itself
seriously that exhibits the pain"
Don't discuss a subject you know
nothing about. You have no heart"
lie left her, with an exaggerated
DOW, as young Ardsley came up.
AS Miss Hampton 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 as the brass buttons on his
blouse, was the man she was going to
love. He would love her of course. 1t