Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-02-21

0AOhiA9 ACA, dhu III
at the post of duty. and the rest Of tn,
stock phrases Of romance. There are I
few fixed principles and some preju
dices which 1t Is just as well not to rul
up against. because the service can taxi
revenge upon occasions. Ordinarily ,
moderate amount Of tact and common
decency will take you through unit
you have learned those things which
are set down in neither the drill manua
nor the regulations. But Miss Hadle.
had only beauty and pure cheek. Sh,
came from somewhere down the south
ern wny-Los Angeles. or San Diego
or something. to visit the Strongs a
Angel Island. And from the momen
she set foot upon the landing she begaI
to make herself unpopular She had hat
visions Of stepping ashore among {
group Of kneeling lieutenants. rather
after the fashion of the accredited
paintings of the Landing of Colum
bus" or the Jesuit Fathers" But the
lieutenants were busy. or they were
taking maps. or sitting on their from
porches, with their feet on the railings
They crossed the bay to the city daily
and graced every cotillion and function
worth speaking of, and beautiful girl.
were not new. They had never ever
heard that Miss Hadley was beautiful
They were in deep darkness concerning
the local bellies of-wherever 1t was
down south.
However. several Of them met her a
dinner that night. and the rest cailet
afterwards, as Is the custom. Mis-:
Hadley did not know II was the custom
She thought 1t was all on her own ac
count. and that the post was beginning
to come to its senses. which made heI
yet more arrogant. Some dispositions
thrive upon being made much of, re
turning courtesy with good coin; bu
the latent meanncss of others warns
to life as the snake on the wood chop
per's hearth. As If there were no,
enough unattached men to occupy her
she turned her attention pointedly tt
La Roche. and when she saw his wife
vince she redoubled her energies.
La Roche was French. and flirtatious
and clever. And whatever else was to
be said Of Miss Hadley, she was clever
too. In worldly sort of way. Put Mrs
la Roche was stupid. and blushingly
aware of her stupidity Still. she was
a good-hearted little thing. and had
done kind turn to every one in the
garrison at one time or another, and II
resented seeing her made jealousfy
wretched, her pale eyes filling and her
lips quivering. as the beauty drew La
Roche to a remote corner and leveled
her batteries upon him. Everybody was
scandalized-and the feelings of the
bachelors were hurt. 1t was just little
too insolent. So they sought a punish
ment to fit the crime. and this is wha,
they devised:
There was one man who had not
called that first night. 1t was Proctor
the adjutant. He had been over In the
city at a dinner. When he came back
by the first boat, In the morning. dep
utation met him at the wharf and car
ried him off to his quarters. and told
him what was expected of him.
"l'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 1t would be very
good for the girl. Proctor said It would
fall through at once.
I'VE only want II to last a day OF
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 "
''It won't be necessary" they assured
him ''If she asks-which is unlikely
are a abrevet-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
ten up in the sort of morning robe that
1t 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. He fought openly. dwell
ing upon the charms of La Roche's four
small children. the details of the cum
ming things they said, and Of the last
attack Of Group Of the youngest; how
its "Da -da" had nursed It. and how the
babies loved him. Miss Hadley laughed
That hurt La Roche's self-esteem. and
be went home.
Then Proctor started In to do as he
was bid. 1t was a pleasant game
h<,
able when she chose. She was the one
man at-a-time stamp Of girl. and for the
nonce Proctor was the man. He stayed
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 stayed to dinner, and until
some time after taps. When otfica!
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 1t. There
was the better chance that she would
be very much fiattered. and Proctor be
lieved that he was the sort of fellow
who could be interesting for eighteen
hours at a stretch.
"It's not fair" Mrs. Strong protested
to her husband.
you'd have thought it SO. II it had
been me instead Of La Roche" he sug
gested.
But it's not fair to Ella" she insist
ed. weakly.
ELLA will think it's good joke.
which It Is He has written her the
whole thing. He told me So"
"But IL it right Of us? Miss Hadley IL
eur guest"
"Oh, no, she's not; that's a mistake
We sre here on suferance. You ara
useful to order the meals and to guard
her against intruders on their tete-a-
tetes." He reminded her Of episodss in
proof Of this