The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-26

which II giving her deep anxiety.
Merrfam-s face began TO carken n coc4
bur he said no word
.sRzuay.. Continued Grafton. after -
ment's embarrassed pause. II know Hf
asking . great deal more than l shdn
care to do we're l in your place. an \
wouldn't ask II IL didn't think IL mik4t
do good for al and do harm TO none -
heard Of her sudden prostration the oUQ
nightr'
"Yee-but- $
DO you know-have you any ids4 -
the cauSe," IL
Not the faintest-No. I can't say H.
She got telegram. heard" Exs
She did and an answer was demAn
and had to read II and reply that ~
vas prossrated and couldn't answer -
self, perhaps for days. I have no riEhf -
tell you what was in the message. -
she seems 10 need to see you. She s4yD
fomorrow-I say tonight" ~
Fur a moment no answer came. At -
with evident effort Merriam spoke.
81 had promised myself never to So ~
alone. 1t Is due to my wife. II not to uAe-
You know the relations that existed. Nuw
Mrs. Merriam does not-like your guest"
Neither do l." interrupted Grafton
stoutiy. ''and I've an idea she'll go after
she's got what-information you can give
her"
And now Nerriam's face began to lose III
dark look and to grow suddenly pale.
made-has anything to 90 with her wish to
see me-"
Everything. Merriam. according to nay
belief, and II could tell you what 1t said
think you would not refuse her.
Intently Merriam eyed the captains fA<o
as though burning with eagerness to read
his fun meaning.
I rxstv1 xfuht ofS -
retreat Surely five minutes ought to Be
enough" he said at length, and then
went thoughtfully homeward. 80
But retreat parade came within so short
q time after Graftons return to his quar-
tiers that his message to Mrs McLane cov-
cred that lady with CONSERVATION. What!
Meet Randy Merriam when she had less
than thirty minutes in which to dressi 1t
couldn't be thought Oft When Merriam
called. Mrs. Grafton fiuttered down, with
flushing cheeks and indignant eyes. I'm
SO sorry. Mr.. Merriam. but really Mrs.
McLaEe says she is so far from wen again
this evening that she cannot see any one.
She has gone back to bed. but begs that
you viii come in at noon tomorrow. How
Is dear Florencer / should have been 20
see her, but am tied hands and feet"
And Randy went angering back to Floy's
mutely inquiring eyes. what can I do
to cheer you tonight, my darling?" he
whispered, as he bent over TO kiss hsr.
rs Mrs. Hayne coming back?'
Florence was lying on the sofa In her
pretty room aloft. and Merriam knelt at
ner side. taking her passive hand in his
ana stroking gently the curtis that SHIN
msred about her white temples. The
smile with which she greeted him WAS
very wan and fitting.
She said she would after q little. I
told her you'd be in right after parade,
but" and the but had a mournful tons
TO 1t.
Il had to stop a moment on the way.
dear. matter promised to attend to-
and again he bent and laid his lips upon
her brow. then pressed them to hers,
Time WAS. and only few days gone hi
when she used to meet that fond cartss
with kiss as fond, as lingering as his
own Now she lay there patient. unre-
sponsive. Something prompted him 10
pass his arm underneath her neck and to
draw her head to his breast, and she let
herself go. unresisting. but her cheek did
not nestle happily. confidently. as was its
way. Her big. pathetic eyes were down.
cast even ayerted.
Il wish l knew some way to gladden.
you bit. Brownie" he murmured. using
for almost the first time her fathers own
fond pet name for her. and he was startled
beyond measure at the result. One m-
csoast hci AaSe nSuttu As Win sudden.
diant JOY, then quivered all over with
pent-up emotion. Then the pretty mouth
began to twitch and the lips to tren-
Die. and then despite every effort she turn
ed back to her pillow and burst into a pas
sion OF tears. great sobs shaking her slen-
der frame from head to foot.
Florence! Florence" he cried, In utter
dismay and trouble. What is 1t. sweet
heart? What is 1t my pet, my preciousr
n.
are not we'll. my own, or you would not
break my heart by shrinking from mr.
What can have said to so distress you?'
And now he would take no denial. but
had clasped his arms about her and drawn
her to his breast again. and began kiss
ing away her tears and striving to check
her sobbing. II was useless.
'Oh. let my cry-let me cryg. she
pleaded. "It's--lt's what / need"
And so in pain and bewiiderment he
yielded to her wish. and strove to content
himself with murmuring soft, soothing
words. and holding her close to his heart.
and at last the storm OF tears SCENE drift
ing away. and she could speak In answer
TO his pleading. and presently she looked
one instant into his eyes. and began:
"Do you think-could we-go back to the
--cansonrnent for-iust a little whiler'
why. F9oy, darling. we've just come
from there"
II know. And yet-ani yet-oh, &c
seems months--years since-since thenr'
And now the sobs again became uncon-
t-cllahle. and in dread and distress he
sprang up 20 call the servant and bid him
so for Mrs. Hayne and the doctor Flor
ence protested. even inpiored. but to no
purpose. The message was sent and before
many minutes both were there.
The medico looked perturbed when he
came down stairs; talked about low ner-
vons condition: said that air. sunshine.
cheerful companionship were what she
really needed etc. etc. She's been hous-
ing herself too much OF late He would send
over some seda,ives from the hospital;
and then hustled out, and was glad to get
away. Then came an orderly with the
coloneis compliments. and would Mr.. Ner-
RAM step over to the Office q minute: and.
CHANGING out across the parade Randy
was surprised to see that bright lights
were shining from the windows st head
quarters and there were signs of unusual
life and stir about the Infantry barracks.
Quickly he mounted the stairs and again
knelt BY the side Of his young wife. She
was quieter row. but evidently weak from
the violence OF her emotion, II from no
other cause Smiling sympstheti>a1iy
Mrs. Hayne arose from her place near
the head % the sofa that he might come
closer aad fcid Florence In his arms. as
she felt sure Florence wished 20 be folded,
and Randy did come nezrer and took the
slender hand n his and sake tenderly and
fo75ly. and bent again ana kissed TIE pale
forehead. rnrerirxly. and ell this Florence
seemed 70 accept without other notice than
silence sn1 submission Mrs Hsyne gazed
with swiftly changefGi expression. This
was something utterly new. utterly TN
Looked for. What coaii have occurred 70
turn Florence Merriam. fondes;. hsppiest
81 afras irtn this lar.r, r.r.ra...o-,sas...