The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-19

CHAPTER VIM.

- Vek went BY, and by that tina. oS q
member OF the Grafton household and =
social success At Sedgwick. the lovely
widow vas an established fact Every
body. ~ in duty bound. had called within
the seven days. Mr.. and Ma. Merriam with
the Others and not among the last: but
they chose Tuesday svensng. which vas
not hop night. but the very evening on
which dozens Of others would Be calling.
and even then they went In company with
the Haynes. and found. - they expeeted-
indeed. a. they knev-the little army par
lor fun OF people.
Ms NcIane's welcome Was charming.
Already the soft ak. and sunshine. - ss3
was saying. had been of INFINITE benefit,
and her physician must have known ex-
acsiy what TO prescribe for her. for she felt
ever % much better, and her cough wnD %
much less frequent. Certainly she was
looking wondroVs,y weli-whsther Dame
Nature or some more subtle artist had
touched the rounded cheeks and the
framework Of those lustrous eysA A. the
Qoartette entered. Mr.. HAyne. the elder
matron. leading, and the men arose and
the women callers looked smaingiy on.
and MFs- Grafton gracefully presented the
hrss conner. the welcome accorded Mrs.
dayne WAS cordial and gracious. with just
tings Of reserve. but it was Fiorenoe.
standing with flushed cheeks just behind
her friend and ally. the lovely blue eyes
sought out and then lighted instantly with
hands were extended. and with a little
cry Of Mira Merriam, Oh. how glad am
TO see you again. the accomplished little
lady stepped forward. uplifted her soft
lips and-kissed her. What Florence
would have looked and said or done had
she not been fully forewarned cannot be
hasarded hare. Il think 1t more than
probable that she win kiss you. FYoy."
Merriam had said, so look as unconcerned
as you can" Look unconceFned Floy did
not She Redeemed. She almost recoiled.
but Randolph was at her elbow. and bent
quickly forward in admirable time. with
most audAeious pleasantly. Any one
would have sworn that he hoped to be
similarly welcomed. II was more than
Mrs AcLane had hargaincd for.
why. Mr.. Merriamr' she exclaimed,
starting back In apparent confusion and
establishment.
DO not be Disconnected" said he. with
placid smile. I've always understood that
q man should share his wife's joys ~ well
IS her Sorrows." but the rest Sas lost be-
cause everybody began TO laugh. and to
believe. a. Mrs. Hayne and Mrs Grafton
did not. that the relations between the
McLanes and Merriams on that idyllic
wedding Journey must indeed have been
ever. who laughed not-Hayne and Whit
taker. Grafton was away on duty. and
! there was one woman who felt q singing
sense OF defeat-Fanny McLAne herself
i. In that one action on the part OF Merriam
there was manifest utter indifference TO
her former fasclnattons. uttsr defiance Of
her powers
A doaen people. altogether. must have
been gathered In the room at the moment.
N 49, - -
raada without. There were not chairs
enough, 40 the men gossiped about the
piano. while the women grouped about the
guest, and in the general chatter Mrs.
McLane had no opportunity OF singing
out and renewing her advance upon Mrs.
Il2GGriam- Presently those who had been
there longest arose to so. and their place
was speedily taken by other arrivals; that
soon let the Haynes and Merriams out,
and as they tripped away homeward each
seemed to draw q long breath.
Wont you come In and SIT . little
while7" begged Mrs Hayne. as they neared
the captains gate.
Not tonight thanks" was Merriam's
reply. as he felt Ffoy's prompt twitch at
his sleeve. She was stiIl nervous. She
wished to get away and to bear him with
her.
Merriam" said Hayne, II admire your
We'll. 1t was rather q trying moment"
said Merriam. graveIy. Florence would
rather be struck than kissed by her. and
feared she could not avoid showing st."
We'll. you created q diversion certain
b." said Hayne. Good night. Y you must
60" But Mrs. Hayne did not speak until
they were out OF sight. Che was anxiousiy
watching Florence. who. beyond Q barely
audible GOOD night" had not uttered .
word.
Lawrence" said she finally. that may
have been stroke or hneese on Mr.. Mer-
RAMS part. and may have created diver
sion. as you say. and distracted attention
from F1oy. but-she didn't like IT,"
Some OF the fair Widows calls were re-
turned almost Immediately. the Merriams'
among the first. although the Merriams
were not among the first to welcome her
arrival. As luck would have II. Merriam
was out on some troop duty. Mrs. Mer-
Ram saw her coming. accompanied by
Mrs Grafton. and fairly new MP stairs to
her room instead Of giving Instructions 70
her servant. as an old soldier OF society
would have done. In consequence the
Chinaman admitted her caller 70 Fioy's
pretty parlor, and went in search OF the
lady Of the house. Mrs Grftoa seated
herself In an easy-chair. but Fanny fitted
rapidly from point 10 point. scanning pic
lures books and bric-a-brac- John"
presently resppeared. smiling vicuousiy.
mo can zee. She sick. velly," he sfurdi-
II reported.
Mrs Grafton looked concerned: Mira
McLane annoyed.
.T'm sure saw her on the tennis court
not an hour since" she muttsred 20 her
hostess az after proper expressions OF
sympathy and regret. they regainsd the
roadway.
wen. she hasn't been looking wen for
some days" said Mrs. Grafton. and II =
quite possible she 10 ~
The schoo,nates RAD been housed to-
gether only a few DAYS before Mrs Graf
ton became convinced that Fsnny's devo-
tons were rapidly waning. that with re
covering health and bloom and <ys'rits me
CRYING need for the one dear friend 20
lean or had vanished. Less and less grew
THE hours Of confidential chat. More and
more was the late dtseonscfate widow De-
coming interested. not 10 say absorbed, IN
the details Of garrison life Freeman.
formerly OF the -th. hut row squadron
commander at Sedgwick. remarked that
the lady was beginning IN take notice
,rns>,-rmoniy early" and Minturn. with
whom, ehe was quite ready 90 walk and
even 70 visit the tennis court was heard 70
ask 1. they never had such things A. haif-
MOURNING hops. Whitaker. who was
suiky about something and prefernaturat-
~ stately as . consequence. reminded Nm
thar Mrs. Ncfane was stili in deep mourn
ing-ful rsournins-fo which the cynic "a
shoulter-strars VINO happened 70 De p0es-
ent replied tina, he only wished fhaf other
suils could BE- as lightly worn. "She may
have been In the depths Of woe before she
lest Cnscaxo. as Mrs. Graston declares she
was" said Mrs Buxton. . lady with years
OF experiences. but she's hrsseiy over X
soon enough. she'r be dancing next-"
Ard this unchristtan. urcharitahis remark