The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-22

waa Only . cha and IN IN lsvU with hss
forfhvish- II never securysd = him ~ .
possshtHsy that F1cy In haB tarn night fan
IN lsve. But there wAs 20 delicious W.T.
for Florencs TO shs Pciss that yeaA The
moment examinations were ever ~ school
her mother started with Der for The far
West. and Tssmains met them at 6aptA
Re Junction Then. after one hk1eS week
~ eedgwsck. they had started FOR the can
torment. and there bad led their uns<ent-
ful ME Until he coming oe Randy Ae--
Ytam. prostrate with the days OF another
June And now. while Fiorsncs Was IN
tears and hiding IN her pretty room above
stairs. this Grant. erring, tnsxed warrior.
with no sign OF being himself sorely heart
snfften, was deteTminesiy talking Of going
back forthwith to the mountain traiis
Iremaire would no; ies his beloved help
meet speak. ekther to Florence or to Aer-
Ram. but he fully meant to cay moro
words than one to Aerrian himself. and
then he beshought him OF Dairymple. and
the famous frock that doughty major
conned whenever he saflied forth TO ask tbe
Intentions Of ONaiiey's dashing light
dragons. and this reflection gave him
pause. II. either by ac1dent or design.
the heart q his precious child bad been
wrapped up IN Merriam. then Merriam
snould not leave the post without an ex-
plantation But there was yet time II
might be that the poor fellow was really
sore srnistsn himself. and that the tender
but unconquered heart Of his daughter
was touched with pity for his suffering.
Meantime the cuipr4t officer hiusseS had
been carefully lifted into the Doctors bug
81. and with that excellent practitioner
was enjoying q drive. The one thehg Wells
could not understand. was that. while his
patient rapidly gained In health. desh and
appetite. he seemed so TO droop In spir4ts
Nrss - s%1A 49,
Rams broken engagement, beyond what
Mrs. Tresnaine had impaired. ard she could
give but scanty Information. Merriam was
grateful for all the care and attention
iavshed upon him. grateful for returning
strength. for sunshine. fresh air. and the
brisk drive along tho shores Of the wind
ing Catamounf, but Merriam was silent.
smiled but seldom. and laughed not At an
Merriam was plainly troubled. and that
night. when Mrs. Tremaine asked her
friend. the doctor. how his patient enjoy
ed the drive. that gentleman replied that
II II did him good he gave no sign. Il
believe" said he. that Merrtam's in love.
and that's why I cannot understand his
eagerness to get back to his troop" And
the mother leaped with hope. She, TOO,
had had other plans for Florence than that
she should marry a subaiterl officer: but
II by chance F1oy had chosen for herself
and fallen IN love with one. It could not
have been without some persuasion, some
pleading on his part. 1t must be that
he was the FIRST TO love and TO plainly show
IL.
That night Florence was very quiet. She
read aloud to her father. as was her Gus
tom. and chung to him as he kissed her
goodnight Merriam had gone early to
his room, as though fatigued by the drive
or rendered drowsy by the unaccustomed
motion In the air Somewhere about In
the morning there was an unusual sound
OF voices in excited talk near the guard
house. and Tremains awoke and was dress
ing hurriedly. when rapid steps came up
the walk. and the sergeant Of the guard,
with dust covered courier. stood at his
door. They bore a note from Whitaker.
A serious row had occurred between some
of the troops and a party OF miners ara
ptospectors. who had been camping near
them for three days. Pistols were drawn.
with the result that one miner was killed.
two troopers and one prospector we're fori.
ously, perhaps mortally. wounded. and
several others were injured. Could DIR.
Wells come out to them at once for a few
hours. at least. and was Merriam able to
ride? The young prospector who was so
seriously wounded had begged to Sc him.
as he had important information for him.
and babe them tell Mr.. Merriam that his
name was McLane. a son OF the man " no
was about TO marry Miss Hayward. A PEN
clled note in a closed envelope accom-
panied the verbal message for Merriam.
Florence. listening at her half-open door
as the captain read Whittaker's dispatch
aloud to her mother. shrank back TO her
bedside covered her face with her hands
and sank to her knees. II was thus she
was found a few moments later Merriam.
aroused by the unaccustomed sounds. had
lighted his candle. and. partially dressed,
came forth into the broad hallway Of the
commanding officers quarters. and IRE
maine met and gave him the messay &c and
the note. which latter Randy tore open and
read with staring eyes. For a moment he
stood coufoupded. then turned sharply to
Tremaine: "Now. sir. rye got TO 60. and
go at once-when Wells does" then turned
and hurried TO his room.
Tho captain himself aroused his post sur
seon. told him the news. and babe him sec
and quiet Merriam as soon as possible. Tho
dawn was breaking and the rosy light was
in tho eastern sky when the doctor reach-
ed his patient. finding him fully dressed
and rapidly slowing in his RddlebaEs tbs
simple articles Of a soldiers toilet.
This won't do Randy. You're not fit 10
stir" said he. But his determination ooztd
when Merriam. with white face. turned
and said:
More than 10Y nfe's at stake here. doc
tor--its worhan's honor. and I'm going.
live or die"