The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-04

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Was now admitting to the doctors eS.
| .5-.v. -, al, animation. ~. ..,
versation, and slowly facing the door.
way saw before him not ten PAGES away
the woman who was to have been his
wife, gazing straight at him as though
challenging him to look and be blinded,
as blinded by her beauty be had been
! before She was only q young, imma-
tire, untaught girl then, ignorant Of
| her powers. Now the soft bloom was
gone. but in its place there lurked
among the tiny threads OF lines or
wrinkles inst forming at the corners Of
her brilliant eyes and in the witching
curves about her mobile, sensitive, ex-
quisite lips charm beside which her
| virgin graces were cold and formal.
She had been what all men called .
wonderfully pretty girl, She was now
what many women termed a dangerous
~ 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
a 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, it was worse in
1870, when our shoulders were deoked
with wabbly epaulets and our waists
were draped with q 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 flannel shirt
and Q rough gray suit, with silver
watch and leather watch chain, appear
ed this night in uniform Of faultless cut
and fit, with brand new glittering cap
tain's epaulets, while his sash was Of
the costliest silk net Of q brighter red
than generally worn-most officers ap-
pearing in q stringy affair that age and
weather had turned to dingy purple.
On his left breast Barclay wore the
badge in gold and enamel Of famous
fighting division in gallant corps, and
such badges were rare In the days
whereof write. Moreover, though mel.
Their tall man nor 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 bean giving this night. 1.-THE
Twelfth have been swearing like pirates
at having another doughboy saddled on
EN-" chuckled 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
Vim finished her greeting to 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 Il 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. VIM to finish the
somewhat hurried yet lavish words that
she addressed to Mrs Frazier; then she
turned effusively upon him.
Captain Barclay" she exclaimed.
How very good to see you here, and
how glad we all are to welcome you to
the Twelfth. Mr.. VIM and have
been in despair because his illness has
kept him prisoner. Indeed I doubt II
I should have left him at all tonight
but for his positive Understand the
doctor. Then Of course much wanted
to see you-too."
She had begun confidently, even mas.
terfully. She looked him with deter
mined effort straight III the face at the
start, but her confidence fitted before
lozen words were said. Her voice fal.
tered before she had half finished, for
eyes frankly, even smilingly,
net hers, and with ease and dignity
md courteous interest all commingled
1e had bowed slightly over her hand,
owered 1t after brief, by no means
lingering, pressure and stood, merely
Mentioning her name, "Mrs. Winn,"
md, as was rather way Of his, letting
he other party do all the talking. 1t
vas godsend to Laura VIM that the
waltz music began at the next instant,
or his nonchalance was something ut.
erly unexpected. Oh, how dared he
ook SO calmly, indifferently, forgetful.
y, almost unrecognizingly into her
yes and stand there SO placidly when
Ter heart was fluttering wildly with