Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-05-03


this Mr. Colston, whose head had been
breezy, healthful scouting, accepted
only in part-that part which included
the break. Forman had the fresh start
and the walk over and held the trophy
lust two months when il dawned upon
him that Margaret loved dancing far
more than she did him clumsy per-
former, and that she would dance
night after night, the lightest, dain-
tiest creature in the hop room, and
never have a word or a look for him
who leaned in gloomy admiration
against the wall and never took his
eyes off her. He became jealous,
moody, ugly-tempered and finally had
the good luck to get his congo as the
result of an attempt TO assert himself
and limit her dances. She was blithe
and radiant and fancy free when Frank
Garrison reached the post, wee bit
hipped, it was whispered, because Of
the failure Of somewhat half hearted
suit Of his IN the far east, aud the Fairy
bounded into the darkness Of his life
and fairly dazzled him. Somebody
had said that Frank Garrison had
money.
There is no need to tell OF the disillu-
sion that gradually came. Frank found
his debts mounting up and his cares in
creasing. She was all sympathy and re-
greet when he mentioned 1t, but-there
were certain comforts, luxuries and
things she had always been accustomed
to, and couldn't live without. Surely he
would not have her apply to papa, No,
but-could she not manage with lit
tie less? He was willing to give up his
cigars Indeed, he had long since done
sol and to make his uniforms last a
year longer-he who was in his day the
most carefully dressed man at the
Point. Well-she thought perhaps he
ought TO do Embellishments fash
ions changed but slowly, whereas WON
ems We'll, I'd rather be dead than
out of style, Frank"
And so it went
But if she did not love her husband
there was one being in whom her
frivolous heart was really bound up
Nita-her baby sister," as she called
her, and when Terriss, the colonel, went
the way of all flesh. preceded only a few
months by the wife of his bosom, the
few thousands in life insurance he had
managed to maintain went to the two
daughters. Not one penny was ever
laid out in payment of the debts of
either the father or husband. Mia was
sent to an eXtravagant finishing school
in Gotham. and along in May of the
young girls graduating year, blithe lit
tie Mrs. Garrison arrived, fresh from
the far west, and after a few weeks of
sightseeing and shopping the sisters
appeared at the Point, even half-mourn-
ing by this time discarded. Thirteen
years difference was there in the ages
of the Fairy Sisters, and not a soul save
those who knew them in former days on
the frontier would have suspected 1t.
Mrs. Frank in evening dress didn't look
over 20.
One lovely evening early in August,
just about the time that Cadet Capt.
Latrobe began to show we'll to the
front in the run for the prize, the two
sisters had gone to their room at the
hotel to dress for the hop. Il was their
custom to disappear from public gaze
about six o'clock. and when they came
floating down the stairs in filmy,
diaphanous clouds of white. the halls
were well filled with impatient cavaliers
In the natty cadet uniform, and the
women waiting to see. Then the sis
tiers would go into the dining-room and
have some light refreshments, with a
.,lo % tar hnx
torrid the heat or how flushed and
dragged other women might look. they
were inviting pictures of all that was
ever fresh, cool and fragrant. The two
fluffy blonde heads would be huddled
close together a minute as they studied
the bill of fare. and yirtuous matrons at
other tables, tanning vigorously. would
sniff and say: "All for effect. They
know that supper bill by heart. 1t
never changes" All the same, at the
bottom of this public display of sisterly
devotion and harmony and in spite OF
occasional tiffs and differences, there
was genuine affection on both sides,
for as child Nita had adored Margaret,
and there could be no doubling the
elders love for the child. Some regi-
mental observers said that every bit of
heart that eldest Terriss girl had was
wrapped up in the little one. Neither
girl. even after Margaret's marriage,
would listen TO a word in disparagement
Of the other, but in the sanctity of the
sisterly retreat on the third floor Of the
old hotel there occurred sometimes
spirited verbal Tits that were quite dis
tirctly audible 10 paSSers-by in the cor
ridor. provided they cared 10 listen,
which some OF them did On this IS
pecial August evening Mrs rank was
in an admonitory frame oil mind. They
had knnwn Mr.. Latrobe barely three
Sesks, and yet as Mrs. Frank was
saunterlng around turn in Filtration
Walk, leaning on the arm of the cadet
adiutant, there in the pathway right
ahead stood Nita, a lovely little picture.
with downcast eyes, and Pat" Latrobe
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