The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-24
AN ARMY WIFE
BY Capt. Charne- king. II. >. A.
Copyright. 1896. by F. rennyson Nee,v,

In striving TO learn the extent and nature
OF Merriam's wounds: then, the colonel
being over home. turned for advice to
Grafton.
Only our contract doctor left" he
said. The others are off with the
Riners or-in chase" Hurriedly he wrote
Few lines TO Buxton ard then turned
TO McGrath.
Tell Captain Grafton about these
messages for Mr.. Merriam. will your
said ne, and, Captain, will you please
attend TO that while / look TO Randy's
relef?. Thank God they didn't kill him.
ne added as he went noisily out. What
In heavens name did Buxton expect HIN
10 do. anyhow"
Have you right TO say what Is
wanted OF Mr.. Merriam and whom these
are from?" asked Grafton of the opera
tor
couldn't say a word. sir, ordinarily,
out L believe they'll never blame me
now It's Mr.. Edward Parry and he
pegs Mr. Merriam, who can get through,
10 come up beyond Cimarron TO him on
important business-his trains blockaded
by strikers"
Give me blank said Grafton quick
~. think partially understand the
case, and these were the words that
were wired at / o'clock to the eager
lawyer on the waiting train:
Merriam wounded in affair with bandits
IT,.
Is stlll under my roof. Command my services.
GEORGE GRAFTON. Captain"
Then Grafton followed the trail of the
adJutant-went straightway to Buxton,
VINO was taking his monday siesta and
mated to be disturbed at such a time
and was crusty, as could be expected,
When asked permission by Captain Graf
ton TO ride out and meet the wounded
oiilcer- He flew into a tantrum.
My God, sir! No. sir. Am to scat
ter my medical staff to, the four winds.
with Brady and Corcoran past praying
Tor mere, and then have my troop leaders
scattering too. The Lord only knows
WHAT'S going to happen before we get
through with this day, and now Mer-
rams shot and otherwise injured, and
all on account of those beggarly greas-
ers. No. sir. Not another man goes out
afield"
Captain Grafton turned without a word
OF remonstrance, with his usual grave
salute. From there he went TO see that
Aerriam's home was in readiness and
tnen to his wife, who read tidings of new
disaster in his troubled eyes.
"Oh, George," she cried Twill this
dreadful day never end? The servants
say Merriam's shot and mortally
wounded, and that the Rifiers are
wrecked at Calamas gorge"
Merriam Is shot and not mortally
10 be wrecked at Calamas gorge. Where
is Mrs. McLane? Has she heard?''
Dozing placidly in her room-too
mucn shaken TO come down stairs to-
day. Had her coffee and her luncheon
In bed, and / gave Annette positive or
ders TO let her know nothing about
Florence, and she hasn't. But presently
when she dresses for the afternoon and
comes down and hears about Randy?
What then?'
Still sleeping, is she?p asked Grafton.
ignoring for moment the question as
10 what might happen when their guest
awoke and heard the news. 'sYet l
think you said she was greatly excited
after getting that second dispatch and
had been dreadfully nervous
She certainly was for some hours, and
you know she walked and tossed last
night after she came upstairs. Then she
seemed to fall into a deep sleep, and
Annette said she could hardly arouse
her for her coffee this morning"
Grafton tugged at his mustache and
gave himself over to deep thought few
minutes. Mrs. Grafton anxiously watch
ing his face.
Well" said he, starting up, and, as it
were, shaking himself together, "let her
have her sleep out. / fancy more news
is on the road; know her lawyer is"
Why! Mr.. Parry?-her brother-in-
law"
is side-tracked by strikers miles above
Cimarron. There are three dispatches
from him for Randy now"
Mrs. Grafton was silent moment as
she stood by his side looking UP into his
thoughtful face as though seeking there
the solution Of the question that puzzled
her. Then, busting away with her finger
tips some flakes of cigar ashes that chung
to the breast of the captains undress
coat, she ventured:
There are two things can't under
stand. If he's her lawyer why he should
be wiring to Randy and not to her. and
why 1t is the strikers don't cut the wires
If they want to cut off all business"
His broad. brown hand patted caress-
ingly the taper, white fingers toying
about the little toggle of his watch chain
as he looked down into her anxious, up
turned face.
His letters to Fan have been un-
answered and he probably expects her to
pay as little attention to his dispatches.
AS for the wires, they are more neces-
sary to the strikers in their combinations
than to anybody else. otherwise they'd
have cut them long ago-ah, here comes
our messenger now"
And sure enough the orderly trum-
peter came trotting I'D the steps, the
usual brown envelope in his hand.
Mrs. Grafton eagerly watched her hus-
band as he read. Il thought So" said
handed her the dispatch.
ITO Captain Grafton, Fort Sedgwick:
Thanks for your courtesy. Shocked to
hear OF Merriams mishap Mrs McLane
should have met in Denver three days
ago. Must be ready moment road opens.
EDWARD PARRY
Three hours later, just as the ladies
and children began to appear in their
fresh afternoon toilets and the baby car
riages and nurses were in force along
the gravel walk, and the band was as
sembling for it's daily concert on the
parade a vision of womanly loneliness,
ai'~it CARRIED in somber black, came
sIni-.ryly down the stairs at Grafton's
| and T.. Ting out to shower gracious well
come on The little group OF ladies and
| officers on The front piazza Some of the
men were seated-Whittaker and Min
| turn notably being nearest the door
| others summing themselves out along the
| fence. while the ladies occupied their
| camp chairs or the steps as best pleased
| their fancy. Graftons was always a
| popular rendezvous on the cavalry side,
! and to-day the assembly was more nu-
merous than usual, and anybody but
| Fanny McLane could not have failed to
| note how deep was the shadow that
| ovefspread every face. how somber and
| mirthless the tenor OF the talk. Intent
/ only on charming, she came trippingly
| forth, bestowing a white hand on the
! red-striped Minturn. who was prompt TO
/ seize it and smiles and mods and CHR