The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-15
vnxh,, isss. by r. Tennyson Needy.
CHATTER II.

2Wo0i0& o. -tlc< ffa- ~ 8i9 4f1-4 En-
& - - followed 50 speedily the an.
z.-.-~pnent Of the engagement that elder
- 80 nen, long years the chums OF the
-, barely had time to concoct suita-
~ ssr-rus Of compliment and conxratulz-
- Th~ reception which followed the
4 s-~.~nv. however Was on such 4 scais Of
.s~cIecsnce ar 10 leave little room for
s-sht snas the MeiIeas had long been pre-
.~,,rr for thc event The business r~ia-
- existing for = decade between Uncle
sr1ll<n s:ad John Mei1ane we're well under
S~oa Indeed. the match WAS declared
q - Of Uncle Msilea's making. and the
ssale transaction was openly referred TO
- vornr..- club men as D most Asiien-
%nlv AFFAIR. Charlotte Parry went On
- Chicago 10 attend II, but Ned. her
Ssrofsd lord pleading very pressing pro-
SL.storai engagements. positively refused
q :. ne wrote n letter to Uncle Neiien
s,or, tina; time. however. which gave
Sehe~ reasons for his non . tendance. and
q which he recipient. after several at
s.upts. found II impossible TO reply.
m Parry FASTENED back TO Chicago i'm
Sedistesy after the reception. and from
- asy neither she nor her husband Sc:
-, within the Meiiens' doors Aunt
rssrtotfe declared the conduct Of her
r1,cs most du'ifui. nngrateful. unzr-
.1u,ntabse, but her husband said nothing.
Fse brsls was 4 vision OF girissh beauty.
es,s briaht juno wedding day. and Hcf<ane
as A. handsome and well prexerved q fei-
- 81 Is a. even New York could show He
=, evidently deeply In love and immess-
rr.biy proud and happy. AS for the lady.
~ boxed 20 The full as joyous ard radiant
= sry Iover lord could ask and her man
- toward McLane-nuch more than
0v3ce her ycars"-neariy three times. 10
fsct-was sweet. shy. appealing, and trust
NJ al In one. Many women In society.
~ and young. enyied her. and everybody
appropriately congratulated him and wished
~ joy Macs plan for the honeymoon
leelufef yachting tour through the Scot
IN isles and 20 on to North Cape, but
Yzr surprised him. She had seen 50 much
q Europe she raid. and 81 little Of their
esn country Couida'f they 70 70 Chicago
fpr the Worlds far and then go TO Niagara
ard down the ST. Lawrence. ard through
fae White mountains and the Catskillsg
= this they d.d. coming back 10 Gotham
~ round OF receptions and social gale
~ IN the late autumn. then going 20 Flor
- and thence TO New Orleans for the
NardI Gf2s. ard then Fan begged to be TIA
ken TO Coronado and Monterey. She loneed.
me ssli. to see southern California. and the
Sunset Route bore Them within three miles
q old Fort sedswick on their westward
way.
The 6raftons were stiIi at West Point.
There was only one officer at the post
whom she knew. and none who were
known 10 her husband. II was 5 o'clock
II soft. sun-sh!ny February afternoon.
enc Of those matchiess days for which the
valley OF the Rio Bravo In famous. Me-
Lane was playing dummy I'm the smok-
lrx-room. The young wife was yawning
ever 4 book. She was looking. Il must be
owned, not only bored. but somewhat
Dusty and disheveiied. and she was con-
ecious OF the fact. which made her look
I'll worse. She was remarkinr how bak-
ID and dry and dreary and mono,onous
vas the landscape. and wondering where
hey were and what was the name Of
hose far-away blue mountains under the
nsry path OF the sun-geogrHphy was not
enf or her strong points-when the train
slsekcnsd speed. and rolled slowly into a
station that seemed more populous than
any recently passed. and there stood an
other train. almost the counterpart OF
fhsir own. and on the station platform OF
what was evidently connecting road
were groups of swarthy, cigarettc-smoklng
Nesicans. n few stoiid. silent Indians. ana
fhen--was ~ enthusiastically. fashion
ably dressed women. and officers in rid
ms garb. and there at the platform stood
waiting afnhulances and orderiIes with led
horres. and the sound OF merry chat and
laughter came floating In nj the open win
eos, and people occupying sections on the
left side of the Pullman crossed over 20
her side. and gased with all thetr eyes
What's the name Of this station some
enc asked the porter. Santa Fe June
ton." was the answer ''yawnduh'- Font
e~fgwick. three miles out there on the
mesa
Fanny MoI.ane's heart gave a sudden
fmp. Tho train, which had stopped an
instant before crossing the other track,
moved slowly on. and then under the grip
o. the air brakes came 20 a stand beside
The platform. and. conscious that she was
boxing her worst-looklng yellow. in fact
--she drew back from the window and hast
~ lowered rhe SHADE. Then merry yoines
an3 laughter. and light. bounding foot
steps were heard AZ tho head Of the car.
AL N came Joyous party, officers ard
hdler and a tall. slender girl seemed the
OBJECT Of general Interest. and her bundles
and wraps were deposited IA the opposite
section by one officer. another bore
Brand new bag, another bunch Of beau
tsnl roses, and ten women hunr about the
rri and Kissed her and cooei over her,
ard, with tho experienced eye of her sex,
Mrs McLane needed only aae glance a,
The pretty. stylish travelling suit. a, the
nnnty htilc hat. at the slender taperin<
eeoi all so new and GLOSSY. 20 realize at
eace that hero was q hride-an army bride
-aas one beloved OF her Kind. for one
after another. women ciuax TO her as they
tsssi and many eyes were vet. and all
~s-e n'lei with love and trust and ten
esrness- ''Cod bless you. Fley. dariing!"
erred one enthusiasts girl I'm so. so
ta1 we've got You In ou- regiment |
vas 50 afraid tho Rircrs would never let
Yea 60" And this. too. seemed an all
r>rraiinr sentiment among the men whose
GAPS were decorated wfn crossed sahrss
vtNe m others. who wore the badge cf
Ne .sfaniSy, and their wives and eaugh-
isfS. seemed to have another seag 20 sing.
Florence saa broke our hearts By marry
NC oai % ne regiment hs; at ieas, Vel
seea have YOU back at Sedwwick VAS
sas Rarr0ri ~ what was sali by more than
ere of their number.
Then came warnings TO leave the train.
Tie conductor was shouting, "AH aboard
sad. bearing her with them. they rushed
'snei,uopsly 90 the rear platform. Then.
sefy slowly az first. the car began TO move.
sai the other occupants OF the Pullman
lokei thrir heads out OF tho windows ard
ieeSed hack along the platform. as acc'a-
nations followed them. but Mrs. Nc
AAce stiii shrsrk behind the lowered
saaae. her heart hating strangely. and
~ ears s;ra thing as though % catch the
eass OF voice long unhcard. last heard
Wy with sweet emotions. Manly tones
we're shouting GOdspeeds and good-eyes.
Nemaniy Nuiccs were adding their inean-
s'aefaie pleas fer letters. and then ar the
.yfsH increased and the voices .isl away.
passengers Slipped hfck 10 their sec
selS ant Sirove nos 20 seem to be on the
Nstpa Tor tire rvtarH % the bride. 10 vas
se h'tle While before she rs1ppeared
- Netare vas conscious she vas com
eecanse % the backward Elsnces Of
ir'leN travellers. aat. under heir lcnS
- aer own eyes took their eager.
teiS peep She came slowly. a sall
sseiiF form IN gray cling EAra close
! Der sice. one arm half encircitnx. half
sHng her. Shs had evidently eeen
N--nlnE Q MIl-e fnr .. abe ..-at.A harsalf