The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-12
CHAPTER VI

The manner in which Mrs. Frances
McLane secured her invitation to visit
the Graftons reflects credit on her gener-
alship If not on her general character.
She was deep in widows weeds and woe
the lovely summer OF "a so long as she
remained in the neighborhood of the
mausoleum OF the dear departed, and
Mrs. Grafton twice or thrice ran down
from the Point TO pour out sympathy
and consolation. but dear Fanny had
sustained too severe shock. This
dreadful. this mysterious. this murder
Gus assault upon Mr.. McLane had un-
nerved her completely. said Mrs. Graf
ton on her return to her nege, and she
does not seem to rally at all. Later. as
we have seen. Charlotte took her sister.
West, and later still the Graftons, en-
route TO Sedgwick at last. stopped five
days in Chicago on their way, and Fanny
was at the station to meet them on their
arrival, and insisted then, as she had
before by letter. upon their being her
guests at her own apartments at the
Clarendon. She had lovely little room
all ready for them Now. Grafton was
a provident man, an economical man,
and five days hotel bills made certainly
a big hole in months pay. Something
even then whispered TO him that this ex-
travagance were better than that to
which acceptance of the widows invita-
ton would lead But he banished the
thought as unworthy and uncharitable.
Fanny welcomed them with infinite tact
and taste-made them feel that their
coming was blessing to her, so sad and
lonely was her life now that 1t was no
devotion Of the Incompatible husband
whom she had lost She could not ac-
company them TO the opera or to con-
certs and theaters. but she had the best
seats secured, and Ned and Charlotte
were properly attentive; and when it was
time for the Graftons to move on the
ladies actually parted with tears, Fanny
looking so white. so pathetic. so fragile.
and protesting that Mrs. Grafton was
the one friend to whom her heart chung
in its bereavement and desolation. A
hacking little cough had already set in
(this was late in the falD, and the rigors
OF the Lake Michigan climate seemed
telling severely upon the Gotham born
girl. and urgently did Mrs. Grafton press
her to leave this clustering shore and to
come to her in that land where coughs
and bronchial and catarrhal troubles are
unknown, to bask in the sunshine and
drink in the delicious air Of southern
New Mexico; and Fan declared that
could she but be with Harriet her cough
would never worry her. butt could not
belt could not be. There were i'm
portant legal matters to be settled. She
must fight her battle alone. She could
not yet go so far from that sacred dust.
All the same the GraftonS were not
fairly settled at Sedgwick when Fans
legal difficulties seemed to have been
settled and her cough grievously aug
mented. The doctors talked Of Bermuda
or San Diego, but the idea OF going TO
Bermuda, among strangers, was a
horror, so she wrote; and as for Coro-
made, where, less than year agone, she
had been so happy, so bleSt?-no! no.
1t was impossible! Yet Chicago for the
rest OF the winter was out OF the ques-
ton, especially since the estrangement
that had grown up between her and her
relatives in the East. that had even to
some extent involved Charlotte, her be-
help thinking how remarkably Frances
had developed since their school days
Then she had never impressed any one
as being capable Of much deep feeling.
There had been a few months indeed
when Mrs. Grafton was angry and as
tonished at Frances, but those were just
after she broke with Randy Merriam
and married McLane, but Fan had
wheedled her out OF this unfavorable
mood and convinced her that she had
never really cared for Mr.. Merriam, who,
somehow, failed TO inspire her with that
feeling Of respect, even reverence, which
she felt was due the man she married;
whereas Mr.. McLane was a gentleman
OF such dignity and force of character
that she seemed pOwerless in his pres
eDce. and his love was the sweetest fiat
terry, the most surprising, thrilling joy
she had ever known. Not until he came
did she dream what love really meant,
and then 1t was duty, it was justice, it
was honor that compelled her to release
Mr.. Merriam. Had she married him she
would have gone to the altar with lie
on her lips, for she loved another. Graf
ton said nothing. but seemed to be think
Ing a good deal, and Ii was plain that he
did not thoroughly approve of the tickle
Frances When, however, Merriam sur
prised everybody at the Point by his
marriage TO Floy Trernaine. Grafton con-
cluded 1t time to drop the matter.
All the same he could not suppress his
surprise when Harriet announced that
Fanny had actually almost consented to
come to them. Il thought you knew /
disapproved of that scheme entirely
said he.
You did. dear. when first spoke of
II. and SO did I. didn't think it would
do at all. but Fan talked so frankly
about Mr.. Merriam and the lovely time
they'd had together on the Pacific coast
with him and his charming bride-and
how he and she had laughed over their
affair at the Point and agreed that it
would have been absurd, and now they
were such good friends. and she'd had
such a sweet, sympathetic message from
Mrs. Merriam after her sad, sad be-
reavement-why, what more was to be
said"
Grafton listened rather grimly. He
was many years older than his wife, as
has been said, and much less credulous.
Again the same uneasy presentiment OPP
pressed him. II don't think she should
come here. Harrie,'' he gravely said.
Anywhere else. perhaps, i could have
shared with you the feeling OF welcome
certainly the desire to pay the debt of
hospitality, but. at Sedgwick, with the
Merriams here. Ii cannot be-
And here poor Mrs. Grafton broke
down and wept. "Oh," she cried, ''it's
got to be. l thought you'd forgiven her
and that all was well; and I urged-and
she's ng-ne-ne-next w-week."
We need not record the further re-
marks Of Captain Grafton on this point,
since they were after all imperative. but
the first dark shadow over their domes-