The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-04-02

|
There are more things in the servic
than brass buttons and dashing cavalry
men and dying at the post of duty an
the rest Of the stock phrases o
romance. There are a few fixed prin
ciples and some prejudices which i
is just as well not to run up against, be
cause the service can take revenge upol
occasions. Ordinarily a moderate amour
you through until you have learned thos,
things which are set down in neither th'
drill manual nor the regulations. Bu
Miss Hadley had only beauty and pure
cheek. She came from somewhere dowr
the southern way-Los Angeles or Sar
Diego or something to visit the Strong;
at Angel island. And from the moment
she set foot upon the landing she. began
to make herself unpopular. She had had
visions Of stepping ashore among group
Of kneeling lieutenants, rather after the
fashion Of the accredited paintings Of the
Landing Of Columbus" or the "Jesuit
Fathers" But the lieutenants were busy,
or they were taking maps or sitting on
their front porches, with their feet on the
ralings. They crossed the bay to the
city daily and graced every cotillon and
function worth speaking Of, and beautiful
girls were not new. They had never even
heard that Miss Hadlcy was beautiful.
They were in deep darkness concerning
the local bellies Of wherever it was,
down south.
| However, several of them met her at
dinner that night, and the rest called aft
erward, as is the custom. Miss Hadley
| did not know it was the custom. She
| thought it was all on her own account
and that the post was beginning to come
to its senses, which made her yet more
arrogant. Some dispositions thrive upon
being made much of, returning courtesy
with good coin; the latent meanness Of
woodchopper's hearth. AS If there were
not enough unattached men to occupy her,
she turned her attention pointedly to La
Roche and when she saw his wife vince
she redoubled her energies.
La Roche was French and Artatious
and clever, and, whatever else was to be
said of Miss Hadley, she was clever too,
in worldly sort Of way, but Mrs. La
Roche was stupid, and blushingly aware
of her stupidity. Still, she was good
hearted little thing and had done kind
turn to every one in the garrison at one
time or another, and it resented seeing
her made jealously wretched, her pale
eyes filling and her lips quivering as the
beauty drew La Roche to a remote cor
ner ard leveled her batteries upon him.
Everybody was scandalized, and the feel
ings of the bachelors were hurt. 1t was
just little too insolent. So they sought
punishment to fit the crime, and this is
what they devised:
There was one man who had not called
that first night. 1t was Proctor, the ad-
jutant He had been over in the city
at dinner. When he came back, by the
first boat in the morning, deputation
met him at the wharf and carried him
off to his quarters and told him what was
expected of him.
I'm not sure that like the part,
though, you know" said Proctor when
they had explained. They impressed
upon him that the dignity Of the service
demanded it, also that it would be good
for the girl. Proctor said it would fall
through at once.
"We only want it to last day or two,"
said the deputation.
On that understanding he consented.
but ! won't lie, you know" he told
them. you'll have to do any Of that"
1T won't be necessary" they assured
him. 'lf she asks-which is unlikely
we will say with one accord that you are
n brcvet bachelor" You will not find the
definition Of that in the tactics.
SO Proctor went oter to the Strongs'
quarters and found Miss Hadey, got up
in the sort Of mourning robe that it is
not customary to display to the gaze of
several hundred soldiers, more or less, in
n corner Of the porch with La Roche.
Proctor ousted him in about ten minutes.
lie fought openly, dwelling upon the
charms Of La Rochc's four small chill
1rcn, the details Of the cunning things
they said and of the last attack of Group
of the youngest, how its dada" had
nursed it and how the babies loved him.
Miss Hadley laughed. That hurt La
Roche's self esteem, and he went home.
Then Proctor started in to do as he
was bid. 1t was a pleasant game enough.
Miss Hadley could be agreeable when she
chose. She was the one man at time
stamp Of girl, and for the nonce Proctor |
was the man. lie staid all the morning,
also to luncheon, also all the afternoon.
Part Of the time they played together on
the mandolin and guitar, and for the rest |
they talked. Then he staid to dinner and |
until some time after "taps." When Off
iuI lutias Ilad him, of bo x,,, L,,l~ |
again surprisingly soon.
or course there was the chance in this
kind Of thing that Miss Hadley might
grow sick Of him. But he took it. There
was the better chance that she would
be very much fattered, and Proctor be-
ieved that he was the sort of fellow who
could be interesting for IL hours at a
stretch.
"It's not fair" Mrs. Strong protested
10 her husband.
you'd have thought It SO IL it had
,een me instead Of La Roche" he sug-
,ested.
But it's not fair to Ella" she insisted
weakly.
ELLA will think It a good joke. which
{ Ia. He has written her the whole
hing. He told me So"
"But is 1t right of us? Miss Hadley
9 our guest"
"Oh, no, she's not. That's a mistake.
We are here on sufferance. You are use
'ul to order the meals and to guard
Ter against intruders on their tete-a-
tetes." He reminded her Of episodes in
proof of this.
HAS she asked you about him?" Mrs.
Strong wanted to know.
He said that she had. "And told
'er that he was brevet bachelor. Proc.
or himself came In at the moment, and