Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-25

Washington a good many years ago that Major
Darlington told this story. Mrs. Huntington's
dinners famous in those days, and Darlington
the guest of honor. AS agent of the Gov
eminent he had done much to allay the bitterness
which the Reconstruction period had cultivated in
Southern hearts, and was being mentioned for high
hOnorS
1t not alone celebrity, however, that
Mrs. Huntington had asked him. She was espe-
Pinckney White of South Carolina; for, like the rest
OF her sex, she delighted in match making and
suspected that White and Margret Hayward Car
ringtons ward, loved each other.
But in both directions Darlington disappointed
her keeny. He refused absolutely to be lion for
one thing, and for another his greeting of White.
been most peculiar. He had started and turned
color when their eyes met, and had stammered
incoherently. She had almost been ready to believe
that the two men had met before under
unpleasant circumstances, until she saw the look
Of wonder in Whites dark eyes
At the table Darlington had been markedly silent,
it might almost have been called morose silence.
Indeed, until late in the evening when Professor
Southern had put forth his belief that civilization had
failed to civize, and that beneath thin veneer,
which vanished instantly under the influence of
strong emotion, there still lived the primitive savage
he had taken interest in the conversation Then
1t was he had spoken up in agreement, and to sub
in the way he rected it caught his hearers attention
at once. and as they leaned forward eagerly, each
one intent upon every word, Mrs Huntington had
decided that she would forgive him.
Except for the names | shall use" he began,
my story is simply the recital of facts. | must
fictitious designations however, the story is
as yet unfinished, and some of you might know the
actors in it. Personally, | know everyone, and
know of my knowledge the incidents | am
about to relate
The story began in New York just before
was declared 1t began when Robert Jennings came
there from little town in New Eng and. His
object IN going there to die, preferably by
whisky. Back in the town where he had lived all
his life he had left girl with a broken heart. His
conduct had been such that, though she loved
him, she had closed her doors against him. Too
late he had realized his degradation, and he wanted
to die, and die drunk if possible that in his last
moments he might not be tortured by renorse.
Then came the war, and Jennings decided that
bullet might be quicker, he enlisted. His
company sent at to the front, in command
OF a young officer, Lieutenant Grantey. From the
first the Lieutenant took a most decided interest
in Jennings. By the strange instinct which men
feel for each other he seemed to divine Tenningss
trouble and to sympathze with it.
At first it aroused all the latter's antagonism.
II drove him to do wilder deeds than ever. He sank
lower and lower. If any other private had con-
Quoted himself SO, he would have been severely
disciplined; but Grantley paid any heed to
his msdeeds. Only sometimes the private would
catch the officer gazing at him with a peculiarly
sad look that would almost unman him.
So year passed. year of bitter fighting in
which both the officer and the private often
mentioned for conspicuous bravery; but if Jen-
nngs often diSobeyed the army regulations, on the