The Advocate and news., 1898-11-30
ocPHElqMTS 1885, ~ %S.l''''"e"VT cO"R"'Tl

gone, but In its place there lurked
among the tiny threads Of lines or
wrinkles just forming at the corners Of
her brilliant eyes and in the witohing
curves about her mobile, sensitive, ex-
quislte lips a charm beside which her
virgin graces were cold and formal.
She had been what all men called q
wonderfully pretty girl She was now
what many women termed a 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
body to present himself or herself to
the wife Of the commanding officer in
case that official was so provided. Mrs.
Frazier was seated in plain view Of the
queenly creature, who having advanced
few steps beyond the portals and the
loiterers there assembled now halted,
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, and the first lady of the garrison
rose to greet her.
Unsuitable as is the full uniform for
cavalry purposes today, 1t was worse in
1870, when our shoulders were deoked
with wabbly epaulets and our waists
were draped with a silken sash that
few men wore properly. But whatever
might be said Of Sir Galahad's short.
COmings as boon companion, or Of his
severely simple and economical mode of
life, there was no manifestation Of
parsimony in his attire. No man in the
room was so we'll uniformed or wore
the garb Of his profession with better
grace He who came in a flannel shirt
and q rough gray suit, with q silver
watch and leather watch chain, appear
ed this night in uniform Of faultless cut
and tit, 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 dingy purple.
On his left breast Barclay wore the
badge in gold and enamel of a famous
fighting division in a gallant corps, and
such badges we're rare in the days
whereof write. Moreover, though nei-
ther tall man nor o stalwart, Captain
Barclay was erect, wiry and we'll pro-
portioned, and his head and face were
well worth the second look every one
had be0n giving this night "The
Twelfth have been swearing like pirates
At having another doughboy saddled on
'em, Ghuckled Captain Perkins, him
self doughboy. "Begad, the Twelfth
has no better picture Of the officer and
the gentleman than this importation
from the foot" But no one spoke with
the thought Of being heard as Laura
Winn finished her greeting 20 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 neighbors.
Charlotte Frazier actually rose from
her seat and stepped out into the room
that she might have better view.
And Barclay would not have been
the obServant man he had already shown
himself to be had he not known it. His
color was bit high for one whose face
was ordinarily so pale, but he stood
calmly erect, with an expression of
pleased contemplation in his fine eyes,
waiting for Mrs Winn to finish the
somewhat hurried yet lavish words that
she addressed to Mrs. Frazier; then she
turned effusively upon him.
Captain Barclayl" she exclaimed.
Flow very good 60 soc you here, and