The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-29
WIFE,.

emotion In their presence I desire you
70 read over this statement that I hays
written from your dicfation. II IFS en-
ureiy right say %. sign Il. and they VIII
Vines your signature. but VIII have No
knowiedgs Of its contents."
For few minutes hardly . sound saw
ths deep breathing Of three powerful. sol
cierfy men and the feeble gaspinx of the
sufferer broke the stiffness of the ruds
shelter. The wounded man lay propped on
Msrrianss shoulder. but. through weak
ness from his long Illness and the mental
exctsment OF the moment. the latter 1
trembling grew 20 marked that Whitaker
quickly slipped his left arm under the
dropping head and drew his friend away.
Alcl~ano seemed to gain strength from the
yigor OF this new support, though he could
DO no more than whisper thanks. Present
~ ne oeckoned TO Merriam and pointed to
line on the page.
Il said she was over O." he began. then
Aerrtam's hand was slipped over his
mouth
TN mako any corrections You wish.
but do not speak Of what II there" said
he. and with his fountain Den he erased .
word and wrote another. Then the suf-
ferer nodded. 1T h all right now" he
whispered. and taking the pen was lifted
to half-sitting posture. and feebiy.
scratchiiy wrote - follows: John Har-
Old AeLane. Jr.. aged g. born June l. 1867.
noe. 10 fetch once more the doctor from
the cantonment. and with Wells came the
ambulance. The cantonmen, lay ftsty miles
away TO the north. sedgwick hundred to
t tne soutneasI II was the nearest port In
This time Trsmaine would have had Mt
Tee up Tor him room In the big airy hos
Dstal. but his better half interviewed
II would never do after our having had
MIN here before" she said He must have
his old room under our roof and everything
ne had before-except Florence"
But when. after ten days OF burning fever
and desperate Illness, Randolph Merriam
seemed again TO realize where he WAS and
now weak he was. and how good they had
been TO him. the first name ne whispered.
TIE first thing he asked for, looked for.
seemed TO long for was Florencs-and they
let her come.
CHAPTER v.
1t was October before the surveyors I'm
ished their work In the Mescalero noun
tains and Merriam and his men were re-
called to Sedgwick. Late in July Billy
Whitaker had been relieved by his re-
stored comrade. and returned to head
quarters. he lost no time in calling on the
Haynes. and between him and that charm
Ing little army matron, Mrs Hayne. there
were exchanged significant smiles and
knowing looks. and not a few confidential
words. to all Of which the blond, Morse
looking captain and husband seemed to
give hearty approval. And letters from the
cantonment-long letters-cams to Mrs.
Hlyne from her friend. Mrs. Trsmalne,
and long. loving, blissful missives from
Florence. and when the Haynes, father
ana mother, boys and girls. all presently
Went In to Chicago for q month at the fair.
II leaked out In some way that Mrs Hayne
left freizhted with mysterious commissions
from her friends at the Catamount. Trs-
maines reverses permitting no such ex-
rava8sHce - . journey-especialiy in
view OF the many new and lovely items that
women decreed as Indispensable now.
And presently II was known at Sedgwick
that, despite his complete recovery. Mr.
Merriam seemed to find Il necessary to
leave the detachment In the mountains
and make frequent. even hazardous rides,
with only a single orderly. down deep In
10 the capon OF the Catamount. and 90 on
back To Wells and the environment Long
before the Haynes returned from Chicago.
therefore. the sweet secret was out, and
all Fort SedSwick was talking of Mer-
flams engagement to Floy Tremains. She
was but rs: he ~ She was shy, sensitive,
an idolized daughter. There were times
when she was actually lovely, so deep
and tender were her eyes. so winning her
smile. soft and caressIng her voice. He
was staiwart. soidieriy, ine-looking GER
tainly, but q man few heartily liked, while
few thoroughly knew him. He had been
wild. extravaEant. and some said dissi-
pated tho nrst two or three years after his
graduation. He was known to be frank
and truthful. and - a giver and lender
had been decidedly too generous. He was
@ conscientious officer IN may waya. ex-
cept when ne was serving undsr Buxton.
He couldn't bear "Bux." and Bux not In
frequently epoke disparssingly Of Mer-
RAMS ability. thing that might have
hurt him IN the eyes OF his superiors but
for the fact that they knew Bux far bet
ter than he knew them. Among officers
of his own grade there were none whose
opinion was worth having who really dis
liked Merriam, but very few who felt
themselves sufficiently intimate with him
70 actively like. They had nothing against
him. except a certain Indifference Of man.
ner. and nothing that called for enthusi-
as;ic praise. HIS conduct in returning
TO his regiment from an expensive East
ern station. and putting himself en- re-
traits until his debts should be lifted and
his duns appeascd. met with general COM
mendation. His course IN taking the Mes
calero detail of brother officers hands
was held 70 be Enthusiastically generous,
Hc had lots OF good points. had Merri-
am. they all conceded. but there were
not four people, officers or ladies' in eth
er the cavalry or the Rifles. who thought
him good enough for Florence Tremaine
Wish her joy Aye. with all my heart"
said the old colonel. when the news Of the
engagement was brought 70 him. ''hrft ran
we hone IT, Even Capt. Hsyne was not
sure though ne tried 20 be ard found COM
fcr, ard Inspiration N the enthusiasm Of
his devoted wife and tn the staunch cpin-
sors Of Billy Whitaker. These two wers
the two at Seixwick 70 whom uha: en-
easement brought xiadness without
alloy and since there were not fotr people
in the combined commands who could thor
oughiy approve The match. II follows that
al most therefore. there could be only
ore more. ard rhat ne ives .he most CONF
dent the most enthusiasts. the hapHies..
the eladdest the proniesf. 'h~ fcniess
ssrl tina, ever hve3-F'lorence. her own
sweef self In passion Of tears. ora
exquisite. n-oori,i evening iste IN J,Inc sire
had thrown h~rseif eyon her knees nv her
mothers side ara erehei OUT the news tina.
Merriam, lsaS told h~- ne lows. her sea-iy
and had asked her 10 - his wife. ard wnen
the mother drew her 70 her bosom nri
held her there. end mingled her sea.s~ With
those o. her beloved c,si1. her heart went
thar whtch T-er,aine could not understand
that 80 dep - sos' - a. possessing
wa. the love With which x3c--nce would
love. probably dsd love. that there could
he no listening 80 reason She rad pinned
her faith on Randolph Merriam and 10
r.v,ft ~. Ne SHAKEN