The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-03-29

| alIlN dllcI tut Captdiu Hlo SOHSluCi-
ately presented him with a list of what
he was to attend to.
"I'll see that you attend to yours;
and, of course, further discussion was
uncalled for.
1t was therefore q great happiness
to Mrs. Major" when Lannon was
suddenly summoned home on ilnpor-
tant family matters; but when the news
came to the regiment that the death of
his uncle had made of him a rich man
poor "Mrs. Majol!"
Years afterward, when Maud King
ston had been Mrs. Temple, of the
Twelfth Cavalry, for some time, she
often spoke Of the circumstance, and
how poor mamma vented her spleen
on Captain Derney, whom she snubbed
numerically.
We We're all glad to hear Of Halls
luck Che was always Hal to his init
mates), and a few months later he
came back to us-the same good fellow
as of old-only q rich only"
Then it was that so many Of the reg
iment discovered his numerous admir-
able traits, heretofore completely hid
den from view; but he met their adj
vances with polite indifference. 1t
was amusing to watch them-"Mrs.
Major" in the van; and it is still ira
dition in the regiment for these events
all occurred many years ago. that she
once worked for him the motto.
"What Is Home Without Mother?"
to which some facetious youngster
added "in-law."
About year after Halls luck, our
regiment, which had been serving in
the Territory some years, was ordered
East and consolidated at Fort Lorn.
After we had settled the veXatious
question Of quarters, and got straight
ened out, there began a life Of gayety
and excitement which was a revela-
tion. Fort Lorn was only mile from
the city of the same name-a bustling,
stirring place, filled with pretty, rich
girls and other attractions dear to the
heart of the average bachelor. There
were calls to receive and make, hops,
dinners, card parties, rides, drives, oc-
casional heartaches, and, as this is
true chronicle, occasional headaches.
Hal and l lived together-that is,
we had separate bedrooms, with COM
mon sitting or lounging room. which,
however, saw very little OF his presence.
He was constantly on the go, and
Captain Derney's joke (the only decent
one l ever knew him to perpetrate),
that "Lannon lived in the town and
occasionally visited the post" was al
most the truth.
After we had been stationed at Lorn
about half a year, rumor began to cou-
pie Halls name with that of Dolly
Seaton, one of the pretticst and bright
est girls in the place, but, alas! one of
the poorest. | had never met the
young woman, at this time, but Hal
almost bored me to death with her
name.
1t was dolly this" Dolly that"
"Miss Seaton here" "Miss Seaton
there" until, in despair, l promised to
go with him some evening and call on
her.
''She knows all about you, old man."
he said reassuringly, when l showed
some slight hesitaucy about accepting
his invitation-''t ''that Is" he continued,
noticing my somewhat startled ex-
preston, IL have spoken of you so
often that she says she almost feels as
if she knew you. Well, what do you
say about going down this evening?
I'll drive you down." Hal was as i'm
petuous as woman.
"All right" | answered, and seven
o'clock found me in my ''best bib and
tucker" with feeling of interest and
uneasincss that was quite foreign to
my usually placid, easy going nature
1t was modest, unpreteEtious house
Hal drove to. Miss S, ION came to
the door herself The parlor was
small, crowded and stufy-the we'll
known signs of gentecl poverty-but
as for Dolly Sratoll!-she was the
most magnificent woman | had ever
met. | could well understand Halls
infatuation. Her physique was per-
feet; her hands white and shapely: a
small, well-arched foot she was not
chary of showing; eyes dark and lus-
trous; mouth somewhat large, with full,
rcd lips, and a superb lot of black hair,
which she wore well up on her head.
When her warm, soft hand met mine
in clinging, almost caressing, grasp
could feel the blood creeping up into
my face in a manner that almost de-
stroyed my well-known coolness and
Indifference She was beautiful beyond
compare-there was not the shadow OF
doubt of it; and yet, despite her
! many attractions, she somewhat re-
PEELED me. There were an unnatural
ness in her manner and quick, uneasy
look in her eyes that spoke Of an am
bilious nature and desire to lead; and
in rcpose her mouth had a dropping,
cruel look. That she did not care for
Hal | realized almost at once. "Will