Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-01-11

b0Ome absorbed N the game ann 70
one who knows anything about army
life at q frontier post will not be a.
lonishing. Day after day goes BY with
little to do and still less to talk about
and often no amusement Here was
4 case well calculated for both. It
seemed to me that the especial pains
every one took to perpetrate the fraud
would defeat It Too many people
were going out Of their way to call
me Rogers. making all sorts Of very
thin excuses to do SO. then often stuffing
their handkerchiefs into their mouths
to avoid exploding with laughter.
Miss Edgerton seemed oblivious to
1t all. But she was such childlike
little thing that no one had much fear
Of her suspecting any deception. and If
she did suspect 1t there was no way Of
confirming it. Was not Rogers shut
up in his quarters, not daring to show
his face outside. both on account Of
military discipline and because he did
not wish to spoil Mrs Seymours mat.
rimonial plans for him?
Notwithstanding Miss Edgerton's In
nocence 1t struck me that she was
bit of dirt. At any rate. 1t seemed to
me at times that she was flirting with
me- l suppose in such affairs there Is
more or less Of a game going on be-
tween the parties interested. men
ton this as some excuse for myself for
entering upon q process calculated to
win the heart Of an innocent girl es-
pecially when was not sure that !
was doing it for pastime.
One morning the mail brought an
order from Washington to dismiss the
charges against Lieutenant Rogers and
release him from arrest. A bombshell
thrown into the garrison could not
have produced as much CONSERVATION.
Mrs. Seymour was in a terrible guam
dairy. having laid no plan for such
juncture. All the officers and o6lcerS'
families. who had been calling me
Rogers. began to think Of the position
they would occupy toward the girl
they had conspired to fool.
As soon as Rogers appeared for duty
he solved the problem He was to be
Lieutenant Boynton. and was to re-
main Lieutenant Rogers This satisfied
Mrs. Seymour. who invited rs both to
dinner. and so great was the interest
of the others In this complicated affair
that before the dinner came OF she In
vited all the officers and their wives.
! was stlll supposed to be In especial
attendance upon Miss Edgerton and
took her in to dinner. The first words
spoken by Rogers caused consterna-
ton.
Il say. Rogers" be said to me. II
congratulate you on your release from
arrest What did you want to make
beast of yourself for?'
As soon as l could regain my equa.
nimity turned upon him with feigned
severity and said:
what do You mean. sir, BY thus &C.
cusing q brother officer"
II mean that Lieutenant Alfred Rog-
ers at the last hop got tipsy on three
glasses of champagne and q pony Of
brandy. called the major names and
was arrested and confined to his
quarters. Charges were preferred. and
Lieutenant Rogers father. being a
senator. succeeded In having them
dropped. Now. who is Lieutenant Rog-
ers If he is not you? Are you in the
army under an assumed name to hide
some former disgracew :
Up spoke Miss Edgerton. During
this harangue she had drawn away
from me as far as possible. regarding
me with singular expression. Then
she turned to Mrs. Seymour.
What does this meanr' she de-
manded.
Mrs Seymour was 30 agonized that
she couldn't find either voice or words
for reply. Miss Edgerton left her seat
went to her friend and put her arms
about her Then, standing by her. she
said:
The farce is ended. Let those laugh
best who laugh last. Soon after my
arrival here | saw at a window an OH.
Ger whom ! had met last summer at
West Point and whose name knew to
be Alfred Rogers. We chatted. and be
confessed that be was confined to his
room under arrest for getting dpsy
and being disrespectfuI to the major
had no difficulty In getting out OF
him this scheme to substitute Lieuten
ant BoyntOn In his place. Since that
time the real Lieutenant Rogers and
have been carrying on q clandestine
correspondence"
During this revelation to those who
had supposed themselves to have beer
deriving amusement at Miss Edger
tons expense. of how she and Roger
bad Outwitted the whole Of us. there
was an attentive audience. When she
ceased speaking some smiled. other,
blushed. while few looked irritated.
my friends" said Rogers. accept
my heartfelt thanks for your kindness
In shielding me from the consequences
Of my weak bead for wine. And &c
you. Boynton. ! am under especial
obligations for personating q wihe