Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-06
TRIAL BY FIRE.
(The Life Story of an Army Belle

(The Life Story of an Army BELIEF
There are colonels 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 scarcity. She was handsome,
and accomplished, 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 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 regi-
truth. A woman who had married 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 1t. In
the nature of things, this was repeated
to the girl. 'Ier good temper was one
of her charms "It Is so much better
habit than accepting them ALL" she
argued, sweetly. Nevertheless, she
wounded If there We're 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,
someway."
Loring was accustomed to a great
deal of frankness from her, but it
clashed with his notions of feminine
modesty for woman to have enter
tained thoughts of marriage before the
offer thereof.
Weren't you just trifle prompt in
determining my intentions?" he asked.
\ 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 do not think am. l 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. 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 am not agitated and fearful
as / ought to be. perhaps. under the
circumstances. l 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 have
been In the East, haven't made much
OF a sensation. I've grown bit hard
ened, perhaps. Custom has dulled 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 yorr marry and be happy.
You'll do the same"
'Oh! no. l shall not" moaned Lor.
ing.
''Oh! yes, you will, Jack And sha'nt
mind. Now I've promised to dance
this with the new Mr.. Ardsley. and II
we stay out here any longer every one