The Iola register., 1898-09-30
y s,s,sss's,e.t,s,sIss
s THE VI6T0R'S SP0ILS. 4
W N~~~~---s-s~@- W
y A Story of Army Life. Y
~ H.
~ BY dwENDoLEN OvERToN z
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coming toward her. There were three
men with the girl. and only Lancaster
was with Miss Terrence, However, as
he was al 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
scrvations. Such are deservedly un-
popular. but command appreciative au-
diences that are the envy of the good
hearted. IT 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 10 the temporary repose
which alone can fall 10 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. aud Fergu-
son with her. and she was looking like
celestial being. They were both
dressed in white-but there was diff
ference. Mrs. Lansing says ii lay in
a silk foundation. Re that as IL may.
there was fcarfully and wonderful
lv-made hat all drifts, and mists, and
sprays of white, atop of Miss Leeds.
and huffy-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
vas there Dorothy moved to one
SIDE. II was her instant attitude, and,
! fear, prophetic. The woman who
steps aside can always stay there.
But all might have gone wei. and this
story might never have been told. II
Kant had not INDUCED his vulgar pro-
pensity for introductions. Miss Leeds
bestowed sweet and transitory smile
upon Miss Terrence; but Lancaster
is not the best-looking fellow i'm 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
q seeming TO look into ones very soul.
She has the most beautiful voice out
side OF the heavenly choir, and she
brought il into play also. Dorothy
stood II as long as she could. and then
she tried to get him away. He never
even heard her. II Miss Leeds had not
gazed soul-searchinRly al 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
nnXiously watching him. II will be
worth going 10 the hop TO see things
Happen"
Lancaster stood at the door Of the
dressing-room md watched Miss Leeds
while he waited for Dorothy. He saw
her throw back her gorgeous cloak
and drop il from her with the careless
disdain of n celestial creature discard
Ing some temporary earthly garment.
Dorothy waited at his side for fully
five minutes before he saw her. Then
she laughed mockingly mp into his
face, and wished that her laughter
might have been blow.
As soon as he could leave her be wen I
running and sliding across the floor TO
where Miss Leeds stood at bay before a
besieging group. She was backed
against the wall, and a suuburst Of
sabers was just above her head.
There are only 20 dances" she kept
repeating, "and / 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, il seemed 10
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
as she had promised and he had asked
nothing, his heart beat high with tri-
umph,
Not that il was a case OF love at first
sight. lie was In love with Dorothy.
But the most faithful Of men may pay
the court she expects TO a belle, and
may allow himself TO be hattered by
her marked favors
lie 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 firt." He meant that Miss
Terrence should understand how en-
tirely he abhorred that.
did she try TO firt when you called
upon her?"
He had made a point Of confessipg
the call directly il was made, and he
thought it tactless OF Dorothy 10 insist
upon it. He shrugged his shoulders.
"She does that with every man.
1t was a truth which he fully appre-
ciated, but its feeble lightno longer fell
upon the path of duty when the time
came that the sun of Miss Leeds coun-
tenance shed its glow upon the high