Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-01-06
Was 1t a
Wrath
II Brought Smell Of the See /
and Seawssd With
. Letter.
BY 2. A. MICHEL
Copyright, 1870 by American Press
l cta Association. t...s
BY =. A. Mitchell

Kate Langdon was 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
simple -ehild -ofl nuture ~she was GER
tainiy reckless. She would firt with
several men at time without needing
the consequences and when cornered
would, II 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 a MILDLY come upon the
edge of the vortex, get drawn In, 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 1t or whether she had no ap-
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 fine 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 vio-
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 find 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 tho whole Of it.
There were a number Of disappoint-
ments In consequence Of this victory,
the most serious Of which was Leslie
Holt Kate had given him n great
deal OF encouragement and for some
time after she came TO a decision
hadn't the heart to break with him.
When II finally came out that Peck
ham had won, Holt went TO see her 20
ask II 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 1t demolished.
Holt 80 long as he lived-he did not |
live long 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 ships 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 hostilltles |
commenced.
The following spring Peckham and |
Holt were graduated and assigned to
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 |
man Of them swore by the bride and |
considered the groom the lucklest 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 hght In Manila bay, then the en-
trance Of the Spanish Admiral Cerve-
ra's feet into Cuban waters, its at |
tempt 10 escape and Its destruction.
Peckham and Holt went through |
this last fight, and when II was over |
the latter officer was ordered TO the |
command OF small supply boat and |
directed to sail for the Brooklyn navy
yard.
Can ! do anything for you at |
homer he asked Of Peckham.
Nothing, unless you viii take a
letter for my wife You can mail It
as soon as you get to Brooklyn"
with pleasure" replied Holt.
Peckham wrote a short note to his |
wife and gave It to Holt
"The trap I'm to command IA not |
very seaworthy," said the latter. "If
meet a big blow may not get
through. But promise you, Hector,
that your wife shall have the letter"
Peckham hoped that his friend
would get through safely, ana they
parted.
Ono morning young Mrs. Peckham
was sitting in her room at Annapolis
accounts OF the naval fight of |
Cuba-she had read them many times
before-when draft blow open the