The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-01
TRIAL BY FIRE.

TRIAL BY FIRE
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 because Of their search
ty. She was handsome and accomplish
ed and clever and something more than
all these which was inexplicable, 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 well. Moreover, she
knew men-not girls and women, but
men.
Because she had been allowed to live
= 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. 1t 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 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 at is
90 much better q habit than accepting
them all" she argued sweetly. Never
theless, she wondered II 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 triffe prompt in
determining my intentions!" he asked
HAS the event proved me wrong?"
she returned
He lost his temper. "You are
spoiled" he said.
If you knew how often have heard
thatl Yet do not think I am. I am
simply sincere and you are little too
vain, all Of you, to grasp the difference.
l like you awfully well-no, now, don't
misunderstood me. I don't love you,
and you are too nice a fellow to be
married to girl who only likes you.
No." she repeated, II do not think I'm
spoiled. I am not agitated and fearful
as I 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 with dolls.
It's partly because i am pretty and
partly, largely, because there are SO few
women out here. When have been in
the east, I haven't made much of SEN
sation. I've grown bit hardened, per-
laps Custom has dulled the edge
which was fearfnlly keen and cutting at
first-of being told that am breaking
a heart. But though am only 20 I've
lived to see dozens Of you marry and be
happy. Youth do the same"
ooh, no, shall notl'' moaned Lor-
ing .,'-' '--."... rr.
"Oh, yes, you will, Jack, and I
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 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 the pain"
Don't discuss subject you know
Nothing about, You have no heart"
He left her with an exaggerated bow
Is 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 as the brass buttons on his blouse
vas the man she was going to love. He !!
would love her, of course. 1t is to Be |
cared that 1t did not enter her head |
hat he might not. She liked his strong,
ough cut face and his jolly, stone
ray eyes, and his drawling, heavy
'oice, and his waltzing, and the way
le held her. After the dance she deter
mined that she liked his hands, and
When she looked at them she saw ring.
Is that your class ring?" she said.
Yes" he told her.
May see it?"
He gave it to her, and while she OK
mined it he sat and admired her. On
is part he liked the women who car
led themselves haughtily he liked tall
'omen; he liked straight black hair
nd olive skin and dark eyes and large
eatures and neck Of statuesque pro-
ortions. In short, he liked exactly the
lings be had never fanoied up to then.
Hiss Hampden raised her eyes and met
is. She smiled, but it was like no
nile she had ever bestowed on man
efore. He looked at her very gravely,
I'D her hand closed tightly over the
ng. In moment she was studying it
gain.
II like this. It's unusual" she said.
II am glad you think SO, as I con.
lived the design" He expected to be
I'D that no WAS clever. i
"1ndeedl" was all she said, and that
differently.
How COOL rather thought you'd
tpross surprise and give me some cred.
. You are not addicted to fattery, it
ould SEEM"
~ am not. But I don't think it
ould have been flattering to be sur
Used that you have done it, It struck
g as being quite the thing you would
.turally do"
THAT is very pretty"
1T is perfectly true"
1t happened oddly enough that Ards.
y CHANGED not to have heard of Miss
reputation by the next night.
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