The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-29

|, AN ARMY WIFE.
II CAPsAu oHAaEss xus $50
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CHAPTER w.

n~usssssl -. ~ ,. Tsnnyssn Nssly.
CHAPTER w.
seysnes 70 say. tho Journey back TO the
st.esslero seemed to benefit rather than
go Merriam. The doctor vsiniy en-
s~syorsd to restrain hiE-to indacs him
Z shersen the long days marches. but
~srrixrn declared he was never 90 well a.
ssxo IN szcdfe, and that nothing wearfed
-. A. much as waiting. II anything. he
ssrea less Jaaed than his physician
.ssn. on the third day, they reached the
ssxoaae Of tho little command, and Billy
ghstaker welcomed them to q supper OF
500 and frijoies. and Gained Aerr1ams
s,serish impstienee by the news that the
svtlsan who had so desired 10 see him was
III alive, conscious, but sinking rather
ar raining. The m4nery camp was Q
~ away. The dead had been buried.
"a de fead dropped with tho brief pray.
= With which the buiiet-riddled body wao
rsoxgued to earth weliS FIRST duty lay
~s,h The two troopers, who were In bitter
.srhs. and no snorsei Of food passed his
- untiI he had nnnistered to them Then
Tsrriam mad TO wait until he had swai-
svsd come coffee. and then, taking Whit
faker with them. they rode forward to .
ranch Of tho canyon, where at nightfail
e.rap. Wells made prompt examination OF
~ wounded man, and came out from the
,sss shelter under which he lay. glanced
!: whitaker and shook his head. Present.
: with q dared look on his face. Merriam
rusppearsd. Billy" said he. stand here
"a see that there are no savssdroppsrs.
know some OF this poor fellows people.
and be has msssageo TO send" The two
Az three hengsrs-on took the hint and
ar
rsss his statement later" ne whispered.
Come In II I call. out lee no one else
hear ua-"
sacramento, Cal. Died June -. ls92. Mes
saisro Mountains. N. NJ" Then. dropping
TIE pen. he fell back TO his rnds pillow.
aantins and exhausted. Wells quickly
saye him q stimulant. then he and Whit
nker affixed their names a. witnesses. A
moment later. while the surgeon remained
Win his patient. the two young officers
saspsd hands outside.
You're weak as a child yet. Randy.
What Is It, old boyf"
slly God. I can't afford to be weak
Sow" was the fierce answer. i've got to
set--to do as j never did before. How
long should II take our best rider, our
lAhtsst rider. to reach the railway. Tels-
rams must go East at once"
IF he take the back traii-the one you
esms Ia by from Sedg wick-hvs days and
rlzhts, least count. II he TO around by
shs exntenment Tor frsah horses. perhaps
seven"
my Goal Ny Godr' cried Merriam.
Even two days may be too long. You're
q command. Biliv. I can give no orders.
but that courier must start before moon
rss tonight Don't ask me to tell you
Why"
addressed TO Capt. Lawrence Hayne. til
isfAntry. Fort sedswick. slim little Irish
trooper was Looping. all alone. jauntily back
toward the valley OF tho Bravo. smackine
his Hips IN anticipation Of the good liquor
a. aiting him at Santa Fe Junction the
moment his duty was done Five days
and nights had he before him OF lonely
ride through desolate. almost desert
and. stopping only when necessary to feed
AID water and rub down his horse. build
bis little IRE and cook his slab Of bacon
and brew the battered pot OF coffee ana
match such sleep under tho stars as was
possible. Drawing Indians. rattiesnakes or
Lions without q trsmor for the
Dske of an Irishmans pride IN his troop.
his love OF dangerous duty and his fuu as
Dgsanos Of . good time At the journeys
nd.
Another day ana = rude grave was due
n the canyon. and the doctor read the SIM
DO service OF the church over the shroud-
u form OF the young prospector. and then.
against that Doctors Wishes. but not with
~; his reluctant consent Lieut.. Merriam.
With an escort Of two troopers. started in
,eraon 70 ride by the shortest trail 10
Ielgwick.
II was now tho 9Th Of June. II would
AXE him nearly week TO reach and cross
no Santa Clara. IL might take him eight
lays TO Sedgwick. and every hour seemed
day. Meantime DIR. Wells set about hav-
~ litters made for the two wounded
roapers, and by The 10th OF the month had
pent He found Tremains looking anx-
Gus. even anger~i: Mrs. Tremalne trou-
Ned on more than one account. apparently
lnd Florence pale and sAnguid.
ibid Mr.. Merriam send no letter. asked
Mrs Trernains. after he had told some
hing OF their experiences.
There was no time to write He beggeA
ne 90 give you his love and gratitude. TO
yiss II to all. and 10 say he would write In
hui the moment he got 10 Sedgw!ck. Oh.
Ies. he Is better--tnuch better. but the ner-
soas strain may bring on q return OF tho
lever" said the doctor Something OF SOL
Inn Consequence. Wells knew not what.
bad carried Merriam back 10 the railway
lie might have to 60 East at once.
But Randy never reached the railway.
hayne received aud read In startled amaze
he contants Of tho packet brought by the
sogrler. and sent at once from the june
ton two telegraphic messages: one to Mr..
Ned Parry. OF the arm OF Graeme. Ray
burn & Parry. OF Chicago; the other 10
NJ Abraham Meilen. New York city: re-
rsiysd from the latter neither acknowl-
sisement nor reply. aud from The former
he brief words: The marriage took place
hours age
without any delay. taking only single
elderly. Capt. Hayne rode away north
westward. past tho Santa Clara. past thu
ID Mission. and SO mountainward until
he blue gray barrier OF the Mescalero
tarred 10 stray and green, and. almost
within It's shadows just as the second set
ting sun Dropped behind its massive crest.
be met the trio from the Catamount-Mer
fsAsn. a haggari but determined rider. far
IA The lead. There was no time for salsta-
Iloa t...I
what anzwarg'' demanded the ieuten-
lai abruptly and with wide. burning.
s'ooishot eyes.
Too late said Hsynes too late by
IsFty-eisht hours
You don't mean" saspcd Merriam.
-ths, they are already naarrieds''
''Thats wha; Party wircs.' was the
Hs.ef response. Here's The dispatch."
For moment Merriam sat in saddle. q
tsHs1. s;upeaed look In his eloodiess fsc-.
Thea bis syss closed and he seemed about
10 sNooR. HayRe spFang from his painting
Ao-ss jusi as Msrrians's wearied escorts
oame numbering 10 tho spot Together
'hsy lifted HIM from his seat ana bore him
10 Atyls patch % grass. bathed hts tenn
PlsS frofa their czntceGs and save aim .
ssss,s "a c0Saac. They maze what Iron-
ier troops cAii dry camp" that night.
fsst where the Two psrdes met There
Vas t',ei. rlte grass, hut no water be-
'eat WHAT they hsd 10 their centeens. and