The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-26
AN ARMY WIFE


Notn1ng that i can understand or the
doctor either" said Randy. anxiously.
She hasn't been like herself for several
days, and gets worse instead of better.
l don't like to be away from her. al
though Mrs. Hayne is there a great deal.
/ bless her"
RAM" said GRAFTON, uncomfortably, for
l wasron the point of asking you to come
over and see Mrs. McLane about a mat
ter which is giving her deep anxiety"
Merriam's face began to darken at
once. but he said no word.
Randy" continued Grafton, after a
moments embarrassed pause, Il know
it's asking a great deaf more than /
should care to do were / in your place,
and l wouldn't ask 1t IL / didn't think II
might do good for all and do harm to
none. You heard of her sudden pros
tration the other night?"
"Yes-but-"
do you know-have you n IDEA of
the cause?"
Not the faintest-no. 1 can't say that.
She got a Telegram, l heard"
"She did. and an answer was de-
manded and / had to read 1t and reply
that she was Frustrated and couldn't an
swer herself, perhaps for days. / have
no right to tell you what was in the
message, but she seems TO need to see
you. She says tomorrow say to-
night
For a moment no answer came. AT
last, with evident effort, Merriam spoke.
Il had promised myself never to see
her alone. II is due TO my wife, IL not
to me. You know the relations tina ex-
listed. No. Mrs. Merriam does not-like
your guest" Z
Neither dc l." interrupted Grafton,
stoutiy. f'and I've an idea she'll go after
she's got what-information you can give
her"
And now Merriam's face began to lose
its dark look and to grow suddenly pale.
You mean that this telegram has
made-has anything to do with her wish
to see me?"
Everything, Merriam, according to
my belief. and II / could tell you what 1t
said 1 think you would not refuse her."
Intently Merriam eyed the captains
face as though burning with eagerness
to read his full meaning.
Very well, l will come right after re-
treat. Surely. five minutes ought to be
enough" he said at length, and then
went t~houghtfully homeward.
But retreat parade came within so
short a time after Grafton's return TO his
quarters that his message to Mrs. Nc
Lane covered that lady with consterna-
ton. What! Meet Randy Merriam
when she had less tina thirty minutes
in which TO dress! 1t couldn't be thought
Of When Merriam called Mrs. Grafton
fiuttered down with flushing cheeks and
indignant eyes. I'm so sorry, Mr.. Mer-
RAM, but really Mrs. McLane says she
Is so far from well again this evening
that she cannot see any one. She has
gone back TO bed, but begs that you will
come in at noon Tomorrow. How Is
dear F1orence? 1 should have been to
see her, but l am tied hands and feet"
And Randy went angering back to
Floy's mutely inquiring eyes. "What can
L do TO cheer you to-night my darling?'
he whispered as he bent over to kiss her.
rs Mrs. Hayne coming back?"
Florence was lying on the sofa in her
pretty room aloft, and Merriam knelt at
her side, taking her passive hands in his
and stroking gently the curls that SHIN
mered about her white temples. The
smile with which she greeted him was
very wan and fitting.
/ "She said she would after a little.
told her you'd be In right after parade,
, but" and the but had a m~ournful
tone to il.
Il had to stop a moment on the way.
, dear. A matter / promised to attend
to-" and again he bent and laid his lips
upon her brow. then pressed them to
7 hers Time was, and only a few days
gone by, when she used to meet that
t fond caress with a kiss as fond. as lin
t gering as his own. Now she lay
there patient. unresponsive. Something
, prompted him to pass his arm under
meath her neck and to draw her head to
his breast. and she let herself go, unre-
sisting, but her cheek did not nestle hap
PLY, confidently, as was its way. Her
big, pathetic eyes were downcast, even
averted.
Il wish i knew some way to gladden.
you a bit. my Brownie" he murmured
using for almost the first time her faith
t er's own fond pet name for her, and he
2 was startled beyond measure at the re-
suit One instant her face lighted as
with sudden. radiant JOY, then quivered
I all over with pent-up emotion. Then the
o pretty mouth began to twitch and the
lips to tremble, and then despite every
effort she turned back to her pillow and
e burst into a passion of tears, great sobs
shaking her slender frame from head &c
foot.
Florence! Florencer' he cried in utter
dismay and trouble. What is Ii, sweet.
heart? What is 1t. my pet. my precious.
Ah' don't turn from me like that. You
e are not well, my own, or you would no,
break my heart by Shrinking from me
What can L have said to so distress
e your And now he would take ne
denial. but had clasped his arms about
her and drawn her to his breast again
[ and began kissing away her tears anC
striving to check her sobbing. 1t was
o useless.
:" "Oh. let me cry-let me ry.' she
[ pleaded. lists what l need"
And so in pain and bewilderment hi
yielded to her wish and strove to con
Y tent himself with murmuring soft, sooth,
: ing words and holding her close to his
heart, and at last the storm of tear.
q \ seemed. drifting away and she coulC
speak in answer TO his pleading, anC
presently she looked one instant into his
( eyes and began:
do, you think-could we-go back t
the-cantonment for-just a littl,
v while?"
d why. Floy. darling. we've only JUS
come from there"
II know. And yet-and yet-oh, 4
G seems m-onths-years since-since then.
r And now the sobs again became uncon'
trollable. and in dread and distress h,
sprang up TO call the servant and bic
him go for Mrs. Hayne and the doctor
a Florence protested. even implored, but I,
no rrpos The message was sent. ano
before many minutes both were there.
The medico looked perturbed when h
g came down stairs; talked about Low
nervous condition; said that air, sun
h shine, cheerful companionship wer
s what she really needed. etc. Shed beer
n housing herself too much of late. II,
n would send over some sedatives from
the hospital: and then he hustled out
"A and. was glad TO get away. Then cam'
an orderly with the coloners compli
o ments and would Mr.. Merriam step owe
TO the office a minute; and, glancing on