The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-15
AN ARMY WIFE.
III CAPTAIN cMAsEEs xxse r.
~VN


devoted bridegroom. was Randolph Mar
Ram
And there At the rear door she lowered
until the clouds OF choking DUST drove her
within IL sax the mer's end oS the car.
ami fragrant cigar smoke was drifting
from the room IN which her husband and
his cronies were playing whist II only The
long car were tanned end for snds II only
she could get her bag and reach the wo-
mems toilet room unesservsd. Let him.
and hss-ard that riri-see her looking as
she Vas now. Not for worsdx. Get to
that toilet room and wash away the CRIME
ard DUST and ciBders. &c, out her alcohol
lamp and curl that reSellioEs. strtngy
front" and prink and powder and re,oucn
those faded iaznes and brows-aii this she
must do before facing him and her. But
how TO get there without being seen. She
must pass Them 80 close AZ 10 almost touch
his shoulder. No. A furfive peep from be-
hind the brown curtain into the dim inte-
nor revealed the broad. gray shoulders
bent far over 10 the girls end Of the seat
lie was leaning over her. looking down Into
her eyes. talking earnestly TO her. There
was nc comfort In the sight. II stuas her
to Instant action. They we're running swift
~ down grade now. following the windsngs
Of the San Aateo. but she made a rush for
her section. grabbed the handsome silver
mounted bag that lay Just within reach.
and with bowed head and bent form was
Fastening On. when the forward trucks
struck a sharp curve. the big car gave .
sudden iarch that tUmb.ed her into the Sec
ton directly In front Of the biissfui couple.
cGd spTawled her ixnominioGsly upon the
ifCnt seat The occupant of the other was
a snoring commercial Traveller. Her bag
dropped IN me crash. fsli to the floor ana
burst open. and before she could recover
herself CT Its contents the man in gray had
Axr .fA k.1 t.ssT. AMIR
scent flask and other trif.es back into the
receptacle. shut its silver lips with a snap.
and bowling court>ousiy enceavored TO re-
store II. AvrrtinG her fsce--cover.ng II al
most with her Aandkereaief-she siroye TO
rise and go her way. but the car stin
swayed and swung. He put forth a helping
hand 10 lift her 20 her feet. but she did
not see IL. Scrarabling out, stiii hiding her
face. che se.zed again her sa;chei. and.
never looking. never speaking. hurried past
him and disappeared at the forward end OF
the car, leaving Merriam gazing biaAkiy.
fxsdly after her.
''Didn't she speak 10 you at ALP asked
the bride. moment later. as Merriam.
With strange. daxed look on his face.
returned TO his seat by her side. I'm
afraid she's dreadfuiiy hurt. for her knee
struck the seat-arm ever so hard
And still Merriam could not speak.
What Is IL, Randyg" she whispered.
after a moments anxious study Of his
face. You look so-uniike yourself"
With an effort he pulled himself togeth-
er. did you see her face, Fioy, dear?
What was she hkeT'
why, she's blond With only got a
glimpse. Randy--she's a blond. with light
hair and blue eyes She might be pref
~. Why, deary' And the dear came so
timidiy.
II thought had seen her before, but
us mpossihle-absurd. Go on and tell me
what Mrs. Grafton wrote You. sweet
heart. Never mind the capsized blond
just now"
But he himself could mind no one else
when. half an hour later. there came trip
ping down the aisle from the ladies' toilet
room a slender. graceful, stylishiy draped
figure. with such a radiantiy pretty girl
woman face-a fair. sweet blond. with
lovely. curling hair, the brightest OF big
blue eyes. the rosiest OF tiny mouths. with
giimpses OF snow-white teeth as she smii-
ingly approached. and. with infinite grace.
held out prettily gioved hand.
TO think that l should have been here
in time TO tender nay congratulations.
Won't you present me to Mrs. Merriam"
And Randolph Merriam. for once In his
life. was utterly at a loss what 20 say or
do lie could hardly speak. He could
hardly breathe. "Fioy." he finally said
and his tone was strange and cold. this
Is Mrs. McIane. OF New York. an old-ac-
quaintsnce." then turned away as Mrs.
McLane efrusiveiy. deiightediy bent over
that she might shake hands with the
bride.
light effects. yet the shadows we're falling
thick on Florence Merriam's wedding day
before the setting of the glowing sun
Go Be Contlnaed)