The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-12
w IFE.


her sister West. and later stiH the Graf
tons. en- route TO sedxwick At last. stopped
I'VE days In Chicago on their way. and
Fanny was 1T the station TO meet them on
their arrival and inktsted then, a. she had
before BY letter. upon their being her
guests at her own apartments ~ the Clas-
endon. She had a lovely little room all
ready for them. Now Grafton was pro-
v5dent man, an economical man. and five
days hotel bills made certainly big hole
in q months pay Something even then
whispered TO him that this extravagance
we're better than that TO which acceptance
Of the widows Invitation would lead. But
he banished the thought a. unworthy and
uncharffable- Fanny welcomed them with
INFINITE tact and taste-made them feel
that their coming was q blessing TO her. 50
sad and lonely was her life nos that It
was no longer Sleszed by the companion
ship and devotion Of the incomparabi
husband whom she had lost She could not
accompany them to the opera or to con-
csrfs and thezters. but she had the best
seats secured. and Ned and Charlotte were
properly attentive; and when II was time
for the CITATIONS to move on the ladies
actually parted with tears. Fanny looking
10 white. 30 pathetic, 10 fragile, and pro-
testing that Mrs. Grafton was the one
friend to whom her heart chung in its be-
reavemcnt and dssolation. A hacking lit
tie cough had already set in tthis xas late
In the faiD. 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 10 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 Har-
riet her cough would never worry her, but
lit could not belt could not be- There
were important legal matters to be set
tied. She must fight her battle alone. She
could not yet 60 50 far from that sacred
dust
All the same the Graftons were not fair
ly settled at Sedgwiek when Fans legal
difficulties seemed to have been settled and
her cough gricvously augmented. The
doctors talked of Bermuda or San Diego.
but the idea OF going to Bermuda among
strangers was a horror. 30 she wrote. and
as for Coronado. where less than a year
agone she had been SO happy, so blessed.
no. not II was impossible, Yet Chi
eago for the rest Of the winter was out of
the question. especially since the estranse-
ment that had grown UP between her and
her relatives In the East that had even
to some extent involved Charlotte, her be-
loved sister. Mrs. Grafton could not help
veIoped since their school days Then she
had never impressed any one as being
capable OF much deep feeling. There had
been few months indeed when Mrs.
Grafton was angry and astonished at
Frances. but those were just after she
broke" with Randy Merriam and mar
ried McI4ane. but Fan had wheedled her
out OF this unfavorable mood and con-
WINGED 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 gentleman OF such dignity and force
of character that she seemed powerless In
his presence, and his love was the sweet
est hattery. the most surprising. thrill
ing joy she had ever known. Not until he
came did she dream what love really
meant. and then IL was duty. IL was jus
tice. II was honor. that compelled her 10
release Mr.. Merriam. Had she married
him she would have gone TO the altar with
lie on her lips. for she loved another.
Grafton said nothing. but seemed to be
thinking a good deal, and II was plain that
he did not thoroughly approve of the
tickle Frances. When. however. Merriam
surprised everybody at the Point by his
marriage TO Fioy Tremaine. Grafton con-
ciuded IL 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. II thought you knew /
disapproved OF that scheme entirely" said
he.
You did, dear. when first spoke OF IL.
and so did l. I didn't think II would do
at all, but Fan talked 30 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 1t would have
been absurd. and now they were such good
friends. and she'd had such sweet.
sympathetic message from Mrs Merriam
after her sad. sad bereavement-why
what more was to be said?
Grafton listened rather grinly. He was
many years older than his wife. as had
been said and much less creduious. Again
the same uneasy presentiment oppressed
him. II don't think she should come here.
Harrie." he graveiy said. Anywhere
else. perhaps, 1 could have shared with
you the feeling OF Yeicome-certsiniy The
desire TO pay the debt OF hospitality. but
at sedgwiek. with the Merriams here. 1t
cannot be-"
And here poor Mrs. Grafton broke down
and wept 'Oh.' she cried. ITS got TO he.
I thought you'd forgiven her and that all
was well; and urged-and shes coming
--ue-next w-weck
We need not record the further remarks
OF Capt. Grafton on this point. since they
were after all imperative. but the first
dark shadow over their domestic peace
fell that very day and hour. For the lie
OF him he could not but feel that he had
been tricked and deceived, and yet so
rlausible were the explanations he could
not brush them entirely aside At all
events he would not now require his wife
TO recall the invitation. sent and accepted
II might even be as she claimed. that Fan
loved and chung to her as her only dear
and intimate friend. and crayed her society
and sympathy now IN her bereavement
and iil-heslih. and. though sun sus-
p,clons and dissatisfied. he gave his re-
I,ctant assent TO the plan, and was on
hand nj the junction 10 meet and welcome
his unwelccme guest
The Merriams had been paying a holiday
visit 10 F7cy's ds-aoseSf parents at the can
tnnuent, and were absent from Setg~tck
while these prciimtnaries were being AZ
ranged. Otherwise Grafton might have
cast conventionaliiy aside and asked
D.rsx for the truth about those alleged
lovely times when they were on their we'd
ding Journey. but he could not bring him
sels 10 write. and indeed there was no time
for letters TO go and come and decide an
issue that was already decided. IL was
Mrs. Grafton who. two days Before the a.
rival OF her lovely guest. broke the news
OF her coming to Mr.. Merriam. and was
astontshed at hiss reception thereof
II was almost sunset of one OF those
soft. dangerous Southern days that make
ever niia-winser warm and grateful IN the
lower valley Of the Bravo. Across the
barren level az the parade the troopers
were marching up from stables In their
white frccks aud sending long shadows
siridfng up the opposite eastward slope OF
the narroS canyon. The officers. In par