The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-05-11
Born Enemies"
And a Token of
Eternal Surrender

Dinner was just over at the mess
room Of the young officers of the
White hussars, stationed outside Of
Pontivy, and a group of gay fellows
stood idly lounging on the beautiful
terrace that overlooked the city.
Suddenly Lieutenant Kirby turn
ed to one of the men behind him
and, seizing his arm, cried mischiev-
ously:
"It's no use, old man! We all
know about it, so you might as well
confessw
The officer to whom he had spo-
ken looked up in astonishment. He
was a singularly handsome fellow,
with honest blue eyes and 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."
"rhey know more than 1 do,
then," was the calm reply. Because
| happened to lead the cotillon with
her the other night at Lady Ashes
and because | have been seen riding
with her and her brother it follows,
forsooth, that l am engaged to the
lady! 1t is just what you might ex-
pect in a little garrison town."
Lieutenant Kirby listened with an
incredulous smile.
'"rhat's all very WE'LL" he said,
''but if l had been in your place [
should have looked nearer home.
Colonel Gregory loves you like
son, and Miss Madeline is a most
bewitching young lady. But Bobby
Erskine is the favored mortal at
present, lucky dogw
This time his words produced q
distinct effect.
''Erskine and Madeline = little
Mad! Why, she is only child"
''rhat shows all you know about
it," said Kirby teasingly. Children
have way of growing up and be-
coming fascinating young ladies'"
Bernard Worthington did not re-
ply. He had received a shock, and it
was not long before he made some
excuse and hastily quilted the COM
pany of his fellow officers.
Decidedly we are born enc
mics y"
Bernard walked rapidly in the di-
rection of the colonel's house. The
curtains were not yet drawn and
showed the large parlor brilliantly
lighted, but the balcony, Madeline's
fayorite 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
himself and every one else. The
impudent young puppy! What bust
ness had he to be coming around
Madeline? And why hadn't he, Ber-
nard, seen that the colonels daugh-
ter was no longer a child, but very
beautiful young lady? Did it need
stranger to make him recognize
the transformation? The leuten-
ant kicked himself mentally.
Returning to his rooms, he sat for
long time watching the silvery
moonlight that flooded the window.
He could think Of nothing but Mad
cline, and now she must detest him
for his domineering ways, entirely
forgetting the many little courtesies
that no one but he had shown the
coloncl's tomboy daughter. Ber-
nard's mind was full only of the
sharp speech he had made her few
days before when her levity had
seemed particularly ill timed, and the
memory of a tear she had dashed
away became intolerable.
In fact, that single tear prevent
ed 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
colonels 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 Wild
ly, a thousand confused ideas rush
ing madly through his head, Ber-
nard looked about him. The piazza
was deserted, but down under one
of the big trees the young fellow
caught glimpse of white dress.
He hastened down the steps and
surprised Madeline reading, or, rath-
er, pretending to read, though her
attitude was listless, and it seemed