Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-05-08
Black Butterflies


The devotion of her look was afford
ing amusement to the chaperOns and
elderly officers. who, by reason of ply
steal infirmities, were convinced that
dancing is a hollow vanity, and there
fore abStained from it, but not from
comments upon people and frocks,
which have been definitely proven not
10 be VanitieS, and are INDUCED in by
the most potent, grave, and reverend
signors, and have their sanction.
She was dancing with Taunton,
Waiting the long-stepped, fast, Gid
ing waltz which the cavalry is apt to
affect, and which has in it the dash
and verve commonly supposed to be
attributes of that gallant branch of the
service
It was a case of true love, and had
not run smooth. Miss Rossini was torn
, between a desire to obey her parents
and the wish to give way to Taunton's
antreaties. The outcome of the con-
dict has been written beforehand in
the book of life these thousands of cen
turtles A weakness of will-sweetly
feminine, but trying when it is not
one's self who Yields the power-was
her worst fault. Her promises were
governed entirely by the speaker Of the
moment. To her father she swore eter-
aal remuneration of Taunton; to Taun-
ION, eternal fidelity in her love; and
Jet, II untruth is to be judged only by
its intention, she was not guilty Of.
falsehood. The time had passed, some
swo weeks before, when she might with
honesty tell her father that she would
give the first lieutenant up forever.
Moreover, Captain Rossini had begun
70 lose faith in the promises. At last
she replied to his circumstances, one
day, that she loved Taunton, that he
loved her, and that she meant even
tually to marry him. At this she
turned first red, and then pale, but
remained firm against all the paternal
wrath poured on her head with a
Vshemence and force Of language cal
eulated to impress her with the deep
respect a child should nourish toward
the author Of its being. To his choice
epithets she made no reply. The hui
NOR Of the situation struck her even
then-the vast paradox of paternal rev.
srence. But she showed the obstinacy
which lies at the bottom of even a
weak nature, which is part of the in
gtinct of self preservation, and she held
her tongue.
The strain was telling on her, how
sver. She was greatly changed from
the girl who, but six months before,
had come back from school to the gay
ETY. and adulation Of a big army post.
The suffering gave a sweetness to her
rather cool prettiness, which lent her
charm. The garrison was sorry for
her; Il did all In its power to help
along the meetings of this much-enam-
cred couple. and succeeded only too
well.
Captain and Mrs. ROssini were per-
sons Of a type not prevalent in the ser
Vice, with an eye very much to the
main chance, worldly wise to a degree.
A rich man back East" who had ia
ken a fancy to the little boarding school
miss, and who sent her numerous let
ters, rolls of music, books, and boxes
81 candy, was looked upon as a far
better match than a first lieutenant,
even a most exemplary first lieutenant,
rs Taunton certainly was. When Taun-
tons attentions had become too mark
ed, he had been forbidden the house
and Lucia had been commanded to re-
pulse him. The mere fact that she
promised faithfully to do so, in pres
ence Of her fathers wrath, had no in.
duence on her when once she was
thrown with her lover. 1t was choice
Of evils: whether she should oppose
her parents or Taunton, and she chose
the former as less unpleasant.
just at first they kept their meet
hgs secret, but once they were dis
covered, they threw aside concealment
and saw each other openly under the
very eyes of the pOwerless father and
mother. They took long rides among
the foothills, long walks around the
outskirts of the garrison, Taunton strid-
ing along with his fine head very erect,
his gray eyes seeing nothing but the
girl at his side, who picked her way
daintily among the litter Of tin cans
and broken bottles and old horseshoes
that marked the approach to the post.
There were no leafy bowers under
which to stroll, and no velvety sward
to press their feet upon but they could
well afford to ignore the surroundings;
Il Is only later In life that we learn
the value Of the background Of the pic
hnra RH common consent they avoided