The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-05-01

The devotion OF her look was anOru-
ing amusement to the chaperons and
elderly officers, who, by reason Of ply
steal infirmities, were convinced that
dancing is hollow vanity, and there
fore abstained from 1t, but not from
comments upon people and frocks,
which have been definitely proven not
to be vanities, and are indulged In by
the most potent, grave and reverend
signors, and have their sanction.
She was dancing with Taunton,
waltzing the long-stepped, fast, gliding
waltz which the cavalry is apt to af-
feet, and which has in 1t the dash and
verve commonly supposed to be at
tributes of that gallant branch Of the
service.
1t was a case of true love, and had
not ran smooth. Miss Rossini was
torn between a desire to obey her pa
rents and the wish to give way to
Taunton's entreaties. The outcome Of
the conflict has been written before
hand in the book of life these thou
sands of centuries. A weakness Of will
-sweetly feminine, but trying when
II is not ones self who wields the pow
er-was her worst fault. Her prom
ises were governed entirely by the
speaker of the moment. To her father
she swore enternal renunciation of
Taunton; to Taunton eternal fidelity
In her love, and yet, II untruth is to
be judged only by its intention, she
was not guilty of falsehood. The
time had passed, some two weeks be-
fore, when she might with honesty tell
her father that she would give the
nrst lieutenant up forever. Moreover,
Captain Rossini had begun to lose
faith in the promises. At last she re-
piled to his remonstrances, one day,
that she loved Taunton, that he loved
her, and that she meant eventually to
marry him. At this she turned first
red, and then pale, but remained firm
against all the parental wrath poured
on her head with a vehemence and
force of language calculated to impress
her with the deep respect child
should nourish toward the author of
Its being. To his choice epithets she
made no reply. The humor of the sit
uation struck her even then-the vast
paradox Of paternal reverence. But
she showed the obstinacy which lies
at the bottom of even weak nature,
which Is part of the instinct 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 big army post.
The suffering gave sweetness to her
rather cool prettiness, which lent her
charm. The garrison was sorry for
her; it did all in its power to help
along the meetings Of this much
enamored couple, and succeeded only
too well.
Captain and Mrs. Rossini were per-
sons of a type not prevalent in the
service, with an eye very much to the
main chance, worldly wise to degree.
A rich man "back East" who had TAX
On fancy to the little boarding
school miss, and who sent numerous
letters, rolls of music, books and boxes
of candy, was looked upon as far
better match than first lieutenant,
oven most exemplary first lieutenant,
IS Taunton certainly was. When
Thunton's attentions had become too
marked, he had been forbidden the
house and Lucia had been commanded
to repulse him. The mere fact that she
promised faithfully to do SO, in pres
ence of her fathers wrath, had no in
Huence 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 meetings
secret, but once they were discovered,
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 foot
hills, long walks around the outskirts
OF the garrison, Taunton striding 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 brok-
en- bottles and old horseshoes that
marked the approach to the post.
There were no leafy bowers under
which to stroll and no velvet sward to
press their feet upon; but they could
well afford to ignore the surroundings;
It is only later in life that we learn the
value Of the background of the picture
At the hops, too, they danced together
q great deal of the time and made nc
secret of their infatuation. Captain
Rossini looked savage and Mrs. Eos
rini was manifestly uneasy, but an oper
scene was not to be thought of, public
opinion being against the parents
There were bad half-hours and tearfu
nights for Lucia after each defiance
but there was more sweet in Taunton'i
love than bitter in her fathers fury.
And Sc it happened that the loni