The Southern herald., 1900-11-09
BLUE FOR CONSTANCY
THE STORY TOLD BY THE LOoKET,

Patmore was a good-looking fellow,
whose faults were that he used too
much perfectly unintelligbls scad-
envy French, and that he took himself
Oyer-seriously. The former, time
would probably remedy; but the lat-
ter meant that at the close Of his
career he would be one of two things,
according as the Fates-in the guise
Of his superiors, from his captain to
the adjutant general and the presi-
dent of the United States-should
deal with him. He would either be-
come an efficient officer Of consider
able rank and renown, or a dis
gruntled martinez Of the service-go-
ing-to-the-dogs- ogs-and-politician type.
The love at first sight was entirely
upon Miss Barrett's side, Patmore
himself was not thinking about any
thing of that kind. Not that he ewas
prig or cynic; only that bis interest
in housekeeping was directed to run
ming the troop mess, and his affections
centered in pointer puppy which he
was training to hunt and to eat sar-
dimes. But he was at a three-com-
pany post, remote from everywhere.
Miss Barrett was the only girl, and
he was the only bachelor-except
- surgeon who hated women and was
getting on in years. So, after time,
he reached the conclusion that he
ought to be getting married and set
tling down. He was not living riot
Ously, for the facilities we're few, bu!
very young men may be relied upon
TO pass through that stage, as a pup
py does through distemper, And Pat
more was only fve-andtwenty years
old, and the crabbedness of the sur
geon was a fearful warning to him.
That was the first step. The next
was to persuade himself that he loved
Miss Barrett The order ought prop
erly to have been reversed, but he did
not think of that. Besides, he was as
susceptible to abject alteration as the
next man. And it might, therefore,
have resulted in his taking the ire
vocable step, had not a purely i'm
personal war department come to the
rescue by removing him and his regi-
ment from the station where they had
been too long, to a much more desir-
able one, the Pacific coast.
Capt. Barrett's troopers went to the
Preside. 1t was the first time in his
experience-which, except for West
Point, had been confined to little
middle-west town-that Patmore had
been near a big city for any length Of
time. Life took on new meaning in
his eyes-and SO did Love. For he
met Miss Tyndall. Miss Tyndall wa
only beautiful and clever; whereas
Miss Barrett was nice little thing
and good to her mother and th'
younger children, and would hav'
made a man a good wife, But Pat
more was young and foolish, and dic
not think of all that. He had no
seen Miss Tyndall dozen times be
fore he was very badly in love will
her. and did not care in the least VIII
knew it.
Miss Barrett was the last to do SC
but once knowing it, beyond any rea
sonable doubt, she set him free
There was quite a little scene. Sh
bad wept for days and nights, and tn
fountain Of her tears might well hay
been dry. But she wept again nov
'You used to love me-" she told hin
81 know you did" PatmOre kne'
otherwise in the light Of the presen
You used to love me, but you don
any more"
Patmore had an uncomfortab
feeling that be had not behaved iu
right, and he protested.
Miss Barrett caught the false rir
of it, and smiled through her tears
a smile of pity for herself and hir
dts no use," she said; "do you su
pose I can't see that you love he
And she probably loves you. HO
could she help it?" She held out
unostentatious little ring TO him, al
her hand shook painfully. "You a
Free" she told him. "But you ev
come back to me, l shall be waitil
for you, always"
Patmore rather approved OF wol
ans loving that way, Itisiust as W
for a man to have an chor-buoy
Come mort Ruf though he bade