Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-05-04
A BREVET BACHELOR.
BY GwendOIyen OvsrtOn.


ciples and some prejudices which 1t
is lust as well not to run up against, be-
cause the service can take revenge upon
occasions. Ordinarily a moderate amount
of tact and common decency Will take
YOU through until you have learned those
things which are set down in neither the
drill manual nor the regulations. But
Miss Hadley had only beauty and pure
check. She came from somewhere down
the southern way-Los Angeles or San
Diego or something to visit the Strongs
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 knesling 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
ratings. 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 Hadley 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
others warns to life, as the snake on the
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 firtatious
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 a good
hearted little thing and had done a kind
turn to every one in the garrison at one
time or another, and it resented seeing
her made jealousy wretched, her pale
eyes filling and her lips quivering as the
ner and leveled her batteries upon him.
Everybody was scandalized and the feel
ings of the bachelors were hurt. 1t was
just a little too insolent. So they sought
a 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, a 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 1t would fall
through at once.
1--WE only want il 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"
ut won't be necessary" they assured
him. III she asks-Which is unlikely
we will say with one accord that you arr
a brevet bachelor" You will not find the
definition of that in the tactics.
So Proctor went over to the Strongs
quarters and found Miss Hadley, got VI
in the sort of mourning robe that it il
not customary to display to the gaze o.
several hundred soldiers, more or less, il
a corner Of the porch with La Roche
Proctor ousted him in about ten minutes
He fought openly, dwelling upon thu
charms of La Roche's four small chill
dren, the details of the cunning thing
they said and of the last attack of crouI
of the youngest, how its dada" haC
nursed it and how the babies loved him
Miss Hadley laughed. That hurt Ii
Roche's self esteem, and he went home.
Then Proctor started in to do as b.
was bid. 1t was pleasant game enough
Miss Hadley could be agreeable when sh
chose. She was the one man at u tim
stamp of girl, and for the nonce Procto
was the man. He staid all the morning
also to luncheon, also all the afternoon
Part OF the time they played together o.
the mandolin and guitar, and for the res
they talked. Then he staid to dinner an
until some time after TAPS" When off
cial duties called him off, he was bac
again surprisingly soon.
OF course there was the chance in thi
kind of thing that Miss Hadley nigh
grow sick of him. But he took it, Their
was the better chance that she woul
be very much fattered, and Proctor b,
lieved that he was the sort of fellow VIII
could be interesting for Is hours at
, stretch.
IT'S not fair" Mrs. Strong proteste
to her husband.
: You'd have thought it so il it la
been me instead of La Roche" he SUI
gested.
But it's not fair to Ella" she insist'
weakly.
ELLA will think it a good joke, whic
1t is. He has written her the who
thing. He told me So"
"But is it right of us? Miss Hadl'
is our guest"
"Oh, no, she's not. That's a mistak
We are here on sufferance. You are us
full to order the meals and to qua
her against intruders on their tete-
tetes." He reminded her of episodes
proof OF this.
Strong wanted to know.
He said that she had "And l t.
her that he was a brevet bachelor. Pr,
tor himself came in at the moment, a
she dropped it. Now you be still for
day or two, and let things take tn
course" And they took it at a ha
gallOp.
Miss Hadley might have guessed II
one first lieutenant could never have
fOrded all the fancy boxes OF flow,
and candies that came over for her
Proctor's name by about every boat,