The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-25
THE EVENING sroRY.
A Token Of EternaI surrenfIel

"A 4oken Of Eternal Surrender.
Dinner was just over at the mess
room OF the young officers OF the white
Hussarss stationed outside of Pontivy
and a group of gay fellows stood. fdiy
iounglng. on the beautiful terrace that
overlooked the city.
Suddenly Lieut., Kirby turned to one
OF the men behind him, and, Selling his
arm, cried mischievously:
It's no use. old mani We ali know
fessl''
The officer to whom he had spoken
looked up in establishment He was a
sInguiarIy handsome fellow, with hon
est blue eyes and a proud bearing.
what in thunder are you talking
ABOUT he demanded, amiably.
Don't look so surprised replied the
Other- Every one here knows that you
are engaged to Miss Kitty Darass.'
Ihey know more than I do, them
was the calm reply. Because 1 hap
pehed to lead the cotillon with her the
Olner night at Lady Ashes and because
l have been seen riding with her and
hef brother, it follows, forsooth, that I
am engaged to the ladyi It is Just what
you might expect in a little garrison
Lieut.. Kirby listened with an incredu-
lous SMILE
That's all very WELL" he said. but
II had been in your place, should
nave looked nearer home. Col. Gregory
IS a most bewitching young lady! But
Bobby Erskine IS the favored mortal, at
present, lucky dogi"
This time his words produced a dis
tinct effect.
''Erskine and Madeline-little Mad!
Why, she is only a childr'
That shows all you know about it,,
said Kirby, teasingly. Children have
a way of growing up and becoming fas-
cinating young ladiesi'
Bernard WOfthingtOn did not reply.
He had received a shock, and it was
not long before he made some excuse
and hastily quilted the company of his
fellow officers.
Decidedly, we are born enemies!'
Bernard Wilked rapidly in the direc-
ton of the colonels house The cur
tains were not yet drawn, and showed
the large parlor brilliantly lighted, but
the balcony, Madeline's favorite place.
was empty.
The lieutenant was just about to
ring the bell when the young girls
laugh rang out clearly above his head.
Without doubt, Bobby Erskine was
there.
He turned away, furious with him
self and every one else. The i'm
pudent young puppy! What business
had he to be coming around Made
line2 And why hadn't he, Bernard,
seen that the coloneTs daughter was
no longer a, child, but a very beauti-
full young lady? Did it need a
transformation? The lieutenant kick
ed himself mentally.
Returning to his rooms, he sat for
a long time watching the silvery moon
light that flooded the window He
could think of nothing but Madeline
and now she must detest him for his
domineering courtesies that no one
but he had shown the coIOneis toni
boy daughter. Demands mind was
full only of the sharp speech he had
made her a few days before, when her
1eVity had seemed particularly i'll
timed, and the memory OF a. tear she
had dashed away became intOlerable
In fact, that single tear prevented
him from sleeping. He tossed and
turned in vain.
At last, with the dawn, and an
early ride through the cool country,
the lieutenant succeeded in getting
some order in the confused chaos Of
his ideas. Promptly at 10 o'clock he
made his way once more to the
colonePs door, and this time he did
not hesitate as he rang the bell
The maid led him to the back of
the house, where a wide piazza over
looked the beautiful garden.
Troubled, his heart beating wildly
a thousand confused ideas rushing
madly through his head. Bernard
looked about him. The piazza was
deserted! But down under one of the
big trees the young fellow caught
glimpse of a white dress.
He fastened down the steps and
surprised Madeline reading, or, rather,
pretending to read, though her atti-
tude was Hstless. and it seemed to the
lieutenant that she looked sad. He
stammered an excuse for his early
visit.
Madeline received him with a weary
smile.
"'Are you not always welcome ?"
she said, in answer to his excuse.
Bernard sat down beside her, Won
dering how to begin the subject that
lay nearest his heart.
IT wanted to make sure of little
visit wit hyou," he said. Il shall
probably be very busy for the next
two or three days"
''Was that the reason you did not
come to see US last night?" asked
Mad, trifie bitterly
Last night? No; II had head
ache"
DOUBTLESS your new duties as
fance prevented you also! How is the
attractive Miss Kitty %
"Confound Miss Kittyl Do you be-
lieve that cock-and- story too,
Mad? I thought you had more sense
than to credit every story that the
gossips in this internal place set go
ing!" growled Bernard.
A sudden smile crossed Madeline
piquant face, but she reDressed 1t IN
stantly.
''Why. but I thought she was such
an intelligent lady-so well balanced
and methodicalI Quite the vision OF
your dreams" she added, a SPICE OF
malice in her tone.
''She is a thousand miles from be-
ing the lady OF my dreams!'' declared
the lieutenant, warmly looking earn
estly at his pretty companion. she
Never! She has none of the charrn'
the freshness, the wit. that would at
tract me- I want at least show OF
tenderness in the woman to whose
mercies I intrust my heartl Some one
sides. Mad" he added, suddenly re-
straining his impetuous outbreak,
stvou might have trusted me enough
to know that I would have told you
before any one else if 1t was anything
serious. Do you trust me at all
ATad?'' he asked, after a pause.
THE vouua girl looked at him in sur