The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-04-21
Y
/ The VIGTOR'S SPOILS. /
4 A Story of Army Life.
q BY QWENDOLEN OvERTON. I
MISS TERRENCE, going down the
wi line. watched the girl who was


men with the girl, and only Lancaster
was with Miss Terrence. However, as
he was all 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
servations. 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
fling back TO the temporary repose
which alone can fall to 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, and Fergu-
son with her. and she was looking like
a celestial being. They were both
dressed in white-but there was diff
ference. Mrs. Lansing says it lay in
silk foundation. Be that as it may,
there was a fearfully and wonderful
ly-made hat, all drifts, and mists, and
sprays of white, atop of Miss Leeds,
and a fluffy all-round sort of parasol
atop of that. Dorothy saw Miss Leeds
Dorothy. They came together in front
CT my quarters-'and I with my harp
was there Dorothy moved to one
SIDE. 1t was her instant attitude, and,
/ fear, prophetic. The woman who
steps aside can always stay there.
But all might have gone well, and this
story might never have been told, if
Kant had not INDUCED his vulgar pro-
pensity for introductions. Miss Leeds
bestowed a sweet and transitory smile
upon Miss Terrence; but Lancaster
is not the best-looking fellow in 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 a trick she has
Of seeming to look into ones very soul.
She has the most beautiful voice out
side of the heavenly choir, and she
brought it into play also. Dorothy
stood it as long as she could, and then
she tried to get him away He never
even heard her. If Miss Leeds had not
gazed soul-searchingly at 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
anxiously watching him. It will be
worth going to the hop to see things
Happen"
Lancaster stood at the door of the
dressing--room and watched Miss Leeds
while he waited for Dorothy. He saw
her throw back her gorgeous cloak
and drop it from her with the careless
6sdain of 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 up into his
face, and wished that her laughter
might have been blow.
AS soon as he could leave her he went
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 sunburst 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, it seemed to
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 it was case of love at first
sight. He was in love with Dorothy.
But the most faithful of men NAV nav
the court she expects to belle, and
may allow himself to be flattered by
her marked favors.
lie could honestly then and for sew
eral weeks afterward, give Dorothy the
comfort she sorely needed, and saw
that be did not even think Miss Leeds
beautiful. "She has style and charm"
he passed Judgment, 'but not beauty.
And she is a fiirt." He meant that Miss
Terrence should understand how en-
tirely he abhorred that.
did she try to flirt when YOU called
upon her?"
lie had made point of confessing
the call directly it was made. and he
thought it tactless of Dorothy to insist
upon it. He shrugged his shoulders.
She does that with every man."
1t was truth which he fully avpre
ciated, but its feeble light no 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
way OF inclination. And yet she dad
her best to make it clear to him.
Now, listen to something mean to
tell you,' she said to him. She set down
her tea cup and leaned toward him,
with her elbows upon her knees and her
chln between her soft, pink palms. Her
eyes were looking straight into his,
and they filled his heart with anticipa-
ton. DO you know that this is risky
game we are playing, and that we have
been playing it for all it is worth this
last fortnight or SOP"
Lancaster knit his brows.
1T is not worth while to pretend