The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-16
HEREAFTER.
A BREVET BACHELOR
How Lieutenant Proctor Faced the
Foe of the Garrison.
By GwENDoLEN ovERToN.

+ !
There are more things in the service
than brass buttons and dashing cavalry.
men and dying at the post of duty and
the rest Of the stock phrases of
romance. There are a few fixed prin-
ciples and some prejudices which it
Is just 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
cheek. She came from somewhere down
the southern way-Ios Angeles or San
Diego or something TO visit the Strongs
at Angel island. Add from she moment
she set foot upon the landing she began
to make herself unpopular. she had had
visions Of stepping ashore among a group
Of kneeling lieutenants, rather after the
fashion Of the accredited paintings Of the
Landing Of Columbus" or the Jesuit
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 al
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 wien she saw his wife vince
she redoubled her energies.
La Roche was French and tirtatious
and clever, and, whatever else was to be
said of Miss Hatiley, she was clever, too.
in q 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 u 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 Quivcring as the
beauty drew La Roche to a remote cor
ner and leyelcd her batteries upon him
Everybody was scanda!iZed, and the feel
ings of the bachelors were hurt. 1t was
just q little too insOlcnt. So they sought
q 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 al
jutant He had been over in the city
Mt n dinner. When he came back, by the
first boat, in the morning. Grputation
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 ut once.
1--WE only want it to last day or two"
said the deputation.
On that understanding he consented.
"But l won't lie, you know" he told
them. You'll have to do any Of that"
ut won't be necessary" they assured
him. "If she asks-which is unlikely
we will say with one accord that you are
q 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 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
a corner Of the porch with La Roche.
Proctor ousted him in about ten minutes.
He fought openly, dwelling upon the
charms of La Roche's four small chill
drcn, the details Of the cumming 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 HadIey laughed. That hurt La
Roche's self esteem, and he wont home.
Then Proctor started i'll to do as he
was bid. 1t was 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
WINS LAG Sluiu thN iiih7
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
cial duties called him off, he was back
again surprisingly soon.
OF 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 hattered. and Proctor be-
lieyed that he was the sort of fellow who
could be interesting for Is hours at a
stretch.
"It's not fair" Mrs. Strong protested
to her husband.
YOU'D have thought it so il it had
been me instead of La Roche" he sug
gested.
"But it's not fair to Ella" she insisted
weakly.
ELLA will think it good joke, which
1t is. He hns written her the whole
thing. He told me So"
But is it right of US? Miss Hadlcy
is our guest"
"Oh, no, she's not. That's mistake.
We are here on suffcrancc. You are use
her against intrudcrs On their tete-a-
tetes." He reminded her of episodes in
proof Of this.
HAS she asked you about hinE Mrs.
Strong wanted to know.
He said that she had. and | told
her that he was brcvct bachelor. Proc,
tor himself came in at the moment, and
she dropped it. Now you be still for a
day or two, and let things take then
course" And they took it ut hand
gallop.
Miss Hadlcy might have guessed that
one first lieutenant could never have at
| forded all the fancy boxes of flowers
| and candies that came over for her II
| Proctor's name by about every boat, but
she did not stop to reflect probably, ant
she was nightly pleased, both with her
self and him, whcreupon she was Still
more disagrecable to every one else.
But a tiny cloud began to noat acros:
| her blue sky. The flowers and sweet: