The Portland daily press., 1899-01-20
A VICT0R'S SPOILS.

Miss Terrence, going down the line,
watched the girl who was coming toward
her. There were three men with the girl,
and only Lancaster was with Miss Ter
renee. However. as he was all the world to
her, Helena-like, she lacked not worlds OF
company. The six met on the walk In
front of Captain Lansing's quarters.
Lansing was a cynic who observed his
kind and told the result Of his obserVa-
tions. Such are deservedly unpopular, but
command appreciative audiences that are
the envy of the good hearted. II was to an
audience of the sort that he recounted the
meeting the same afternoon when the hand
had stopped playing and the invading
hosts from the town had scattered ana leit
the post 10 its rightful owners.
Dorothy Terrence he began laying
his saber across his knees and settling back
TO the Temporary repose which alone can
fall to the lot of the officer of the day;
Dorothy Terrence cameup the walk. She
had Lancaster with her, and she was look
ing happy, Miss Leeds--thc bankers
daughter, you know came down the
walk. She bestowed sweet and transi-
tory smile upon Miss Terrence, but Ian
caster is not the best looking fellow in the
Presidio for nothing. If any of you hap
pen to share my good fortune of knowing
her, you will understand what, in the ma
ture of things and of men, happened when
she turned her eyes upon him with 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
1t into play also. Dorothy stood it 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 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. 1t will be worth
going to the hop TO see things happen
Lancaster stood at the door of the dress
ing room and 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 "a celestial
creature discarding some temporary earth
ly garment. That it fell on a chair and
crushed other less splendid wrappings be
meath it was a detail which escaped him.
He watched her as the budding feminine
mass made way for her at the mirror, and
she stood unchallenged, leisurely touching
her glimmering brown hair and pinning
q great white 6ose upon her shoulder.
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
a blow.
As soon as he could leave her he went
running and sliding across the floor to
where Miss Leeds stood at bay before
besieging group. She was backed against
the wall, and sunburst of sabers was
Just above her head.
There are only 20 dances, " she kept re-
peating, land / never divide.
Lancaster took two Of his fellow officers
by the shoulders and put them out of his
way. Miss Leeds looked into his eye and
smiled as, it seemed TO him, no woman
had over smiled before. She put her card
into his hand.
1.-The two with the crosses are the ones
i promised you" she said, and as she had
promised and he had asked nothing his
heart beat high with triumph.
Not that it was a case Of love at first
sight He 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 flattered by her marked IA
vors
He could honestly then and for several
weeks afterward, give Dorothy the com
fort she soroly 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 flirt." He
meant that Miss Terrence should under
stand how entirely he abhorred that.
Did she try to firt when you called
upon herr"
He had made point of confessing the
call directly 1t 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 a truth which he fully appreci-
ated but its feeble light no longer fell
upon the path of duty when the time came
that the sun of Miss Leeds countenanoe
shed its glow upon the highway of ineli-
nation. And yet she did her best TO make
IL clear TO him.
Now, listen to something l mean to
tell You. " she said to him. She set down
her teacup and learned toward him, with
her elbows upon her knees and he- chin
between her soft, pink palms. Her eyes
were looking straight into his, and they
filled his heart with 7ticipation. do you
think that this is risky game VIC are
playing, and that we have been playing it
for all it is worth this last fortnight or
soy
Lancaster knit his brows
Z" 1t is not worth while to pretend you
don't understand. We both know exactly
what mean. But want to be sure we
both know that 1t is only a game. ! am
not in earnest, and you must not be B"
He gazed at her, speechless.
II suppose you are thinking that the
suggestion of serious intentions might
come first from you" she said. That
may be your way Of looking at it, but it
is not mine. l don't care to let you have
anything TO reproaeh me with. / have had
enough of that in the past. ] am hope
less f1irt, you know. go into the thing
for the fun there is in it, aud it is only