The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-08-10

Goodby, Wing. Herei I MUST shake
hands with you two again" And shake
he does; then is slowly boosted into
his wagon, where, as the whip cracks
and the mules plunge at their collars
and tilt Inn backward, the majors jol-
ly red face beams on all around, and
he waves his broad brimmed hat in ex-
uberant cordiality as they rattle away.
| The group of officers presently dis
perse, two tall lieutenants strolling off
together and throwing themselves under
the spreading branches of big cotton
wood. One of them, darker and some
what heavier built now, but muscular.
active, powerful, is Drummond; the
| other, younger man by brace of
years, tall, blue eyed, blond bearded,
wearing ON his scouting blouse the
straps of second lieutenant, is our
old friend Wing, and Wing does not
hesitate in presence of his senior officer
such is the bond of friendship between
them-to draw from his breast pocket
letter just received that day when
the courier met them at the crossing of
the Dry Fork, and to lose himself in
its contents.
"All we'll with the madam and the
kid?" queries Drummond, after the
manner of the frontier, when at last
Wing folds and replaces his letter, a
happy light in his brave blue eyes.
"All we'll. Paquita says that Harvey
has captured the entire household, and
that Grandpa Harvey is his abject
slave. There isn't anything in Chicago
too good for that 2-year-old. They've
had them photoed together-the kid on
his grandfather shoulder.
Aren't you afraid his Arizona uncle
will be jealous for his own boy sake?"
laughs Drummond.
81 don't believe Ned would begrudge
Fanny anything the old man might feel
| for her or for hers. He is generosity
| itself toward his sisters, and surely
could never have found warmer friend
out of the army. You know how he
stood by me-"
81 know, and it was most gratifying
not but that 1 feel sure you would
have won without his aid. The old man
simply couldn't quite be reconciled to
her marrying in the army and living
in Arizona.
"A strange land for honeymoon GER
tainly-yet where and when was there
happier? DO you remember how the
Apaches jumped the Verde blackboard
the very week after we were married ?"
And you spent half Of the honey
moon scouting the Tonic basin? l
should say so! What with q courtship
in robbers cave, a marriage in cav
airy camp and wedding tour in sad
die, you had unique experience, Wing,
but-you deserved her. And Drum
mond turns and grips his comrades
hand.
Wing is silent moment. His eyes
are wistfully searching the elders half
averted face.
Jim, you told me awhile ago of your
sisters approaching marriage. Are
you not going on?'
eyes. 1t will be early in October.
She's blissfully happy, is Puss, and
he's very substantial, solid sort of a
fellow. I'm well content, at last, that
her future is assured"
"And you are free agent practical
ly. Isn't it time we heard of your own
happiness-your own vine and fig tree,
old MANI"
"Time's gone by, I reckon, laughs
Drummond, yet not merrily. ''I've
had too much to think of-too much
responsibility-and probably have lost
my chance"
Wing looks as though he wanted
nightly to say something, but conquers
his impulse.
October is a long way off, I" he final
ly remarks, "and / thought you might
find earlier opportunity of going east.
Now that Ned has entire charge of the
business IN Arizona the old gentleman
takes life easier. The winter in Cuba
did him a lot of good, and Fan writes
that he seems so happy now, having his
two girls and his little grandson under
the same roof with his sister and her
children. What reunion after all
these years!"
where are they living in Chicago?"
"You would know better than ], for
think of it'll have never been east
of the Missouri since my babyhood, "
answers Wing. Fan writes that her
aunt has lovely house on what they
call the North Side-near the great
waterworks at the lake 'front.'
"I know the neighborhood well, "
says Drummond. Chicago is as IA
miliar to me as San Francisco was to
you. ONLY have no roof to call my
own anywhere, and as soon as Puss is
married shall not have a relative or
friend on earth who is not much more
deeply interested in somebody else. y
And the senior lieutenant is lying on
his back now, blinking up at the rapid
ly scudding clouds. Presently he pulls
the broad brim of his campaign hat
down over his eyes. "What do you
hear from your mother, Wing?"
Nothing new. Bless the dear old
lady! You should have seen her hap
piness in Harvey. She could hardly
bear to let the little fellow out other
arms, and how she cried and chung to
him when we parted at the Oakland
wharf! Poor little mother! She has
/ 4 4. = l. "A