The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-03


as sss had nser, ard s1e had spir-zllay
rn-p~n IL or. sac pscksd Il up now and
STRIVE 70 arrange X as he had tone- c1t
eou,d not STE arose ard eateed rsr ace
ard -vss ami xaxe%s oct ovs~ the roe oe-
s.--,ss5 rerz5e Sne had mt even sf1rred
vhen rne Rt.ers marched away. she Tacs1
the coo- again ard felt tsas she was YEA 4,
ard became conscious that sSs Tss fssnst
u-s-orzznr.eazly Eurg-y, AMI taen-cny
heavens, how eosssi snss-hox could she
have forgotten. Here was Randy On
guard. GO all sight and never ssefors since
fsex csr-. back from their welding tour
Rad STE failed when he was ofhcer o. me
guar. TO have a delightful little cna11s-
dish szspper All ready for him st Il oca@ck-
ard he used 10 come over from his Gdties
for halt an hour ard eat with szsch an apfse-
lite and praise her Welsh rareblt. or her
oysters. ard then take her in his arms with
such love and delight in his fond eyes. and
her~-an9 here IL was / O'Clock and she'd
utterly forgotten IL oh, poor Randy must
be starving,
In ten MINUTES Mrs. Merriam had bundled
VI her dEshevsiIH9 hair. tonnec some more
becoming gown than the turnblec wrapper.
aad had hustled down stairs and lighted
thu parlor lamp 70 signal Randy 70 come
home and De fed and forgiven and then
she ransAekei tire cupboard and started
her FIRE. and then peeped over toward the
distant guard room and saw no sign OF rs
coming. She trofted through the Kitchen
and banged Justify at Hop Lirg's door ana
eade HIN rise and 90 summon his master.
but the mental answered not He. too. bad
slipped away 40 the JuHetion-not so much
to see the Rifers on as 10 have a shy at
fan-,an and Florence was alone Never
mind. She had been born and reared IN
garrison. No one could teach her the ms
and outs of post life Why shouldn't ssls
run across the wide. diniy lighted fat and
surprise her darling at his desk, and BID
him come home with her and let her Irvine
herself about him. and have a happier cry
ss she told him how weak and wicked and
cruel and hateful she had been. and beg 70
be taken back into his love and trust Yes.
yes well she knew that he was too noble.
too grand TO treat her sternIy. eoldly. be-
cause OF her tempestuous outbreak u was
all because she loved him SOLVED him SO
that II was torture to think any other.
woman could claim or hold or even attract
him With Frightening eyes. with bound
ing heart. she threw over her head and
shoulders Eight wrap and stepped out on
the piazza. Somebody was coming across
tho parade-from the guard house-even
now. He was stiil too far away TO be rec
ogntzed. but as he halted one minute ard
turned as though to listen 70 the sentries
Just beginning TO call half-past /. the
moonlight ginfea on the steel scabbarsi.
and shs knew il must be Randy. Then he
was coming 20 her after all. and she need
not have to seek him and be the first to
make up" as she used TO say In girlish
days The call went round with echo.ng
ring and then on came her lover husband
again. How she loved that martial stride
Of his, How erect and strong and spldierly
he seemed, How-why-he wasn't coming
straight to her. He had reached the flag
staff. There lay the beaten pathway right
before his eyes and hers He must see the
bright lights OF his home bidding him come
and find love and welcome. But he had
turned away-vas walking. not toward the
west end, but straight for the middle of the
row, strai ght to where the Graftons lived
where-that woman lived
But that meant nothing. Oh. no, Flor
eree wei knew that meant nothing. Had
he not said only little while before that
never would he see or speak with her
without coming first to his wife. his Flor
ence. and letting her know? Yet. why
should he go thither. at this hour Of the
night? That was not the way 20 the sen-
try posts. Unconsciously she approached
the edge Of the piazga-she saw him reach
the roadway-saw him cross it-saw him
--Merciful God Could she believe her
eyes saw him enter what mast be the
Grafton's gate and then become lost In the
SAaANNs HI TIE rNS RAkO&tI H4tAA
she did. Florence sped madiy down the
steps, out through the gate. and. almost
running. down eastward along the walk
Nearing the Grafton's. she pressed her
hand to her heart to still Its mad pound
ing. and as she came opposite the parlor
window she noted that the lamps were
burning diniy. late II was. Could he
have entered? BreR;hless. dazed. she
clung to the picket fence for support. not
knowing what 10 DO neNt. ard then tle
blood seemed to turn to ice in her veins.
for somewhere. close at hand. just beyond
those shelteriug vines she heard voices. his
voice and hers. low-tonsd. earnest. ahi
passionate-for she heard her murmu-.
oh Randy. Randy" and. stepping quick
iy forward, saw her Just around the cor
ner OF the trellls. apparently clinging 10
his arm. the two dim figures seemingly
linked together in one vague. indistin-
guIshable, yet danlning shape. and then all
grew dark 10 her. as though a pail had
been dropped from the starry heavens.
hiding from sight the sin and woe Of .
reelIng world.
CTo Be Contirusdl