The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-19
Was 1t a
Wrath?
i Brought = Smell of the Sea
and Seaweed With
y Letter.

Copyright, 1910. by American Press
y Association.

Association.
Kate Langdon was a character. Not
especially pretty, she had way with
her that first attracted peoples atten-
ton. then won them. Some said she
was very deep. others that she was a
simple child Of nature. She was GER
tainly reckless. She would firt with
several men at time without needing
the consequences and when cornered
would. if possible. dodge them all by
flight, leaving them to settle the mat
Ter among themselves.
And so 1t was that some blamed her.
Others defended her, but all were
amused by her. 1t was very interest
ing to see q MILDLY come upon the
edge of the vortex, get drawn III. drop
out. giving place perhaps to fellow
MILDLY. perhaps to an officer. Whether
the girl realized the wrong she was Of
ten doing, whether she was uncon-
scious Of it or whether she had no APP
probation Of the tenderness of mems
hearts, certain 1t Is that she never SEEM
ed either ashamed Of her conquests or
proud of them. Indeed, she gave every
evidence that she regretted them.
A f1ne field for such girls is either the
West Point or Annapolis academy,
where young men are trained for the
army or navy. Kate Langdon the year
of the breaking out Of the Spanish.
American war visited the Naval acad-
envy as the guest Of her aunt, Mrs.
Lyall, the wife Of one Of the professors.
She hadn't been there week before
she had half dozen cadets by the
ears"
In the class to be graduated the fol-
lowing spring were two young men,
Hector Peckham and Leslie Holt. Both
met Kate Langdon. and both fell VIC
lently In love with her. In the govern
ment academies the standard Of honor
is very high. Neither of the cadets
would take the slightest advantage OF
the other, but neither could hnd out
which was really the favored one. Nor
were they ever sure but that one Of
several other cadets might not after
all carry OF the prize.
Peckham finally won. Kate gave
him her heart and. to the surprise of
every one, gave him the whole Of 1t.
There were a number of disappoint-
ments In consequence Of this victory,
the most serious of which was Leslie
Holt Kate had given him a great
deal of encouragement and for some
time after she came to decision
hadn't the heart to break with him.
When 1t finally came out that Peck
ham had won, Holt went to see her to
ask If the news were true. She con-
fessed, and he told her that she had
wrecked his life.
Young men have said this before to
young women, to marry some other
and live happily. Some have remain
ed single, cherishing their idol in their
hearts, to meet that idol when past
middle age and find it demolished.
Holt SO long as he. lived--he did not
live fong-never recovered from his in
fatuation. The words he used at his
last meeting with Kate Langdon made
the first change in her. By them her
light, gladstone nature received its
first SOLDERING.
Meanwhile the Cuban war was COM
Ing on, and slips and munitions were
being hurriedly put In condition for
war. And the cadets, too, were being
hurried on In their academic course,
to be graduated as soon as hostilities
commenced.
The following spring Peckham and
Holt were graduated and assigned to
a war vessel sailing for Cuba. Peck
ham and Kate were married before he
sailed The wedding was notable
from the number Of disappointed
young men In attendance. But every
m2n Of them swore by the bride and
considered fhe groom the luckiest man
that had ever wooed woman.
Kate, having Joined the navy matri-
monially, felt at home at a naval sta
ton, and her aunt, who adored her.
invited her to remain with her in
definitely. So Kate stayed where she
would be in touch with her husband
far more than at home. That was an
exciting summer. First came news Of
the fight In Manila bay. then the en-
trance of the Spanish Admiral Cerve-
ra's feet into Cuban waters, its at
tempt to escape and it's destruction.
Peckham and Holt went through
shfs last fight. and when 1t was over
the latter officer was ordered to the
command Of a small supply boat and
directed to sail for the Brooklyn navy
yard.
"Can / do anything for you at
homer he asked of Peekham.
Nothing, unless You will take Il
letter for Iuy wife. You can mail 1t
as soon as you get to BROOKLYN"
"With pleasure" replied Holt.
! Peckham wrote a short note to his
wife and gave 1t to Holt.
THE trap I'm to command is not
very seawe-thy," said the latter. eff