The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-12


the good manners 10 shrink a. the eexe
OF the streamf wherein these children OF
nature Sere dtxpertsag, the laughter and
screaming. even the spiazhing OF the wa
ter rising distinctly On the air. ogt GA
the mesa 10 the north the Quarfsrmaste-'
herd cas- neddinz slowly. sIeepily home
ward. powdered by dast-cioud OF III own
raising. and over at the infantry barracks
n the westward end of the long line
scores Of men we're already out in fuii
dress uniform. awaiting the h1gie can
that should demand the assembly. Mrs.
Grafton had been visiting UP the row and
vas coming smtiin1iy hack, nodsisnx greet
ing and sai1tafion 10 The ladies on the YER
andas OF the various quarters as she pass
ed. yet walking eagerly SO as 10 be at the
gate. As was her habit. when her captain
returned from stables: seeing which.
some OF the younger officers tried to de-
tain her or impede her way The captain
has stopped to take . drink AT Buxtons.
Mrs. Grafton / wouldn't hurry II were
you" said one mendacious. mischieyous
sub. TN leave II to Merriam II he
hasn't" thereby OBTAINING Merriam. who
was just as eager appare entity to reach his
own gate and receive the fond welcome
In Floy's deep. dark brown eyes. Others.
too. Joined the laughing conspiracy. and
gazing beyond them and seeing nothing q
her lord among the groups still further to
the rear. she as laughingiy surrendered
and entered into joyous chat with her cap
tors--the sight OF one of the youngest.
brightest and fairest Of their number SUI
rounded by half a dozen gal
lants being naturally comfort
TO the lookers-on along the quar-
ters-and when Randy, lifting his cap.
would have deserted them ard gone his
way. she was just coqaette enough to care
to hold the exhIbition-And her attendants
"a moment longer.
'Oh. Mr.. Merriam! Don't go yet. I've
really important news for you. Who do
you think Is coming to visit us?"
Randy had no idea He smiled politely,
even pleasantly. and said he couldn't i'm
agine-
We'll. but guess.~ persisted Mrs. Graf
ton. her very pretty face very full Of i'm
portanee
THE Walkers. from stoneman?' sug-
gested Randy.
No. indeed. Nobody from that way.
It's from the East"
Mrs. and Miss Pollard. from Marcy -
Not bit of It, No army people at ali,
but somebody you know very well and
like very much"
Then Randy began to look queer. but
stu couldn't begin TO guess I'm sure
I'm at loss" he faItered.
why, Fanny McLane. Of course. She's
been In miserable health since her hus-
band died, and they've practically ordered
her TO try this climate: so she's coming
to me. She'll be here Saturday. But Of
course you know she's in deep mourning
Jet and can't go anywhere"
For a moment Merriam was too amazed
too startled-to trust himself to speak
and she saw 1t, and with the quick intui-
ton Of her sex saw, too. that something
must be done to relieve the embarrass-
ment that would fan upon the party.
She YVES one of my bridesmaids-Fanny
Hayward" she hurriedly explained to the
surrounding group Mr.. Merriam's
bridesmaid, and the loveiiest girl you ever
saw: and. just think of 1t. Mr.. Minturn.
now she's a disconsoiate widow. with
don't know how much money all her
own" and then nervously she cast an anx-
ious glance at Merriam and again ad-
dressed him as though In self-defense
You know we visited with her on our
way West, and she told me of her charm
ing meeting with you and Mrs. Merriam
on your wedding journey and the lovely
times you had before they had to go to
San Francisco and now her voice had
become timid and appealing, for she saw
something was very, very much amiss
Merriams face had flushed. even through
its coat of tan. but was now a yellow
brown, all its happy, healthful glow van
ished. and Billy Whitaker. looking un-
easily at him. had linked an arm in his
and seemed about to urge him to come
away: yet Merriam had to say something,
and this. in evident constraint, WAS what
he said:
'Yes-we-did meet-Mrs McLane-rm
very sorry to hear she's been i'll. and am
much surprised to hear she's coming here
Excuse me. Mrs. Grafton, 1 must hurry
on"
That evening Fioy and her husband
failed TO attend the formal hop which was
held each week, and their absence was
noted. for she loved to dance and had
promised waltzes and two-steps without
number to her old friends of the Rifles and
the cavalry both. Some one proposed &C.
ing after them. Mrs Hayne did call en-
her way home. for she left early, and In
quired anxiousiy for Florence. 'She has
severe headache" said Randy. who
came to the door with gloom in his eyes.
land she felt too good-for-nothing to at
tempt It, so persuaded her to go to her
room" He asked them In. but did not in
wife. Both HRyne and his wife noted
that. and both felt they knew the cause Of
all the trouble when they met Whitaker
ten minutes later and learned from him
that the Graftons expected a guest from
the East on Saturday-Mrs. McIane.
And Saturday evening she came almost
at the same hour at which she first set
dered what was the name OF those far
blue hills. and who these officers and la
dies could be. But this time 4; was the
train from the northeast that bore her in
and its companion from the Sunset
Route was not yet there: neither was
there a swarm of officers and ladies' There
was only one of each-a grave, dignified
soldierly man In urdress un.form-a young
pretty. stylishly attired dame at his side
The Pullman came to stop at the plat
form. the porter sprang out laden with
bags and bundles: the conductor sfeppe 7
OF and raised his cap and offered his
hand to vision OF feminine charms. a
fair. sweet, smiling face framed In dainty
little cap The heavy Grape veil was
thrown back. and the slender. rounde.
form was dsckei In somher weeds. yet
how gracefully. effectively was IL drapad
Even Grafton could not fail to note 4,
No sign of dust ard CRIME of travel was
there The shroudlng. protecting veil and
ansier had been discarded only lust be-
fore they reached the station: Annette
had slowed them carefully away in the
shawl strap. while her beresved mistress
carefully and skilifully arrayed herself in
veil and bonnet that had been boxed
throughout the Journey. She steDn.s
forth into Harriet's welcoming arms as
trim As though she herself had Just issued
from a bandbox. her joy at once more be-
ing with such fond friends decorouslv
tempered with the sense OF her ever-pres-
eut. ail-pervsding sorrow, and the con-
seriousness % her delicate and uncertain
health Only a moment did she allow her
zlF d. 49,