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

CHAPTER vI.-conunued.

CHAkIkzh tls-I0nt&uoc0-
ur~ashlsss. Merriam listened. his face
.sline. and breafhiess Florence watched
~ when the reader had anished and
~ no word. Her dark. pathetic eyes
80 nxed upon her husbands paiiid face.
srep fimi6ly she stretched forth her hand
~I2sndy. DEAR she whispered
Nerriam reused himself with sudden
.sert. Forgive me. Fioy darling. But
~ II q dreadful shock WIN you mind
- getting a pzperr' and he looked ap-
srn1Inxiy about him. A waiter sprang
forvard Did the captain wish anything2
ne morning paper. Certainly. Which
enef Oh. any one-All Of them. in fact:
ara presently they were brought. ~ Was
- breakfast. and the breakfast grew cold
whfIe ne read on through paper after pa
nsr. rfewsome details In one and all. yet
~ she details he sought
And Florence had lost all appetite and
- intent only on him. waiting almost
oseaiy for him 10 speak. Some OF the
napers declared the injuries mortal
Randy passed the papers one after an
efbeY without comment TO her as he read
ebe,n She took each as II came, obedient-
n. heipfnliy. but folded and laid II by her
-. then returned TO her wordiess study
- M troubled face. AT last the fourth
6neet was finished. and with a long sigh
= turned and saw her. My darling, my
AIDING he whispered, a great shame
"A SORROW overpowesing him a. he noted
~ intensity Of her sympathy mingling
M the nsournful sense of her utter moth
ingpeos to him at the moment. "Oh. Flor
NEE, how could I be 50 forgetful OF you?
nj have had q dreadful shock. You do
not know what this means. what IL would
oean II McI1ane should die now-and
eaanOf tell you
Ara all she said vas: Hush. Randy,
Oar. don't wish you to tell me now
But NcIane did not die--at once, at least.
fAgss weeks the police worked at that
elns and the doctors at him, and neither
With much suceess-certainiy with little
hejo from the victim. who was In woful
state Of collapse much OF the time. protest.
m ignorance Of any excuse for shooting
q the part Of anybody. and consumed with
dreadful fear Of death. II was a wonder
that under the circumstances he rallied
eufhclentiy to be up and able 10 be moved.
fhe March winds Of Frisco were leagued
against him. The doctors wished to take
lin back TO Coronado. but he declared that
any part Of California would be death 10
him He wished to 20 home n once. With
n the week Of the shooting Eed Parry ar
rived from Chicago. and had some long
Interviews with his sister-in-law, but was
rot allowed TO see the patient. neither was
she except At rare intervals. an affiiction
which she bore with Christian resignation.
Then Parry had to go back, but not before
De had received note from Merriam, had
visited him, and had shown every atten-
don to and deep interest In his gentle bride.
end had one long conference with the hus-
band, alone.
when Mr.. McIane was declared well
enough TO move they carried him aboard
steamer and sent him to Panama. Fanny.
his wife. In attendance. as In duty bound.
But even then the best and biggest state
room was Gloss and stuffy. as she said,
and her hours were mainly spent on deck
II was the nurse who had to bear with
Macs ceassleas plants. He had grown sud-
denly old. childish. decrepit. fearful. They
had to stay some days at Panama, and
had uretched time. at least he did. being
Transferred thence TO Havana, where he
Vas enJodned to remain at least six weeks.
nut some morbid longing drew him ire
elstibly back to New York Go he would.
ana In April they exchanged the summer
eeas. the soft. perfume-iaden air, the warm
sunshine Of the tropics for the fogs and
Muster OF the North Atlantic seaboard.
fneunonia set In and claimed the feeble
wreck FOR Its own. Several weeks before
the anniversary OF that brilliant wedding
and sun more brilliant reception. Fanny
Ceiane was weeping decorously In
yhows weeds and listening TO the details
the last win and testament.
Much. but not all. had been left to his
allowed wife. Frances Hayward McI.ane.
~ even that much was curiously be-
vowed. Why should Uncle Mellen be so
nrsely beneficiary? Why should he be
placed In chargefbf her property Was she
not old enough TO look after what was her
swny Why should Uncle Mellen here and
Uncle Mellen there appear on rage after
page OF that formidable document With
alarming suddenness the tears had vanished,
dried on. presumably. by the hot flush on
her lovely cheek. Some one had obtained
undue influence over her husband In his
last moment. she declared. Some one had
swfndled her. Some one should be given
TO understand she was n child--a puppet--
no longer. and two some ones. Uncle and
Aunt Melien. had n tremendous scene with
the widow before the funeral baked meats
were fairly cold-before the flowers began
10 droop about the new-fiiied grave. One
row led 10 another. and then to litigation.
and then sister Charlotte had rciented,
sister love and tenderness triumphiug over
the sense OF Indignation which followed
Fans repeated neglects of sssteriy letters
and sis,eriy advice. and she came East with
her imperturhabie Ned. and found Fan
boxing white and III and troubled, and
while Ned remained for legal battle royal
with the girls putatlve guardian. Char
lette took Frances to charming resort IN
the West for n placid summer. and that
fall tho lovely widow was domiciied in an
apartment ~ her own within view OF the
Aashing waves Of Lake Michigan. within
sound OF the ceiseiess roar of Chicago.
Meantime the Junior member OF the
great firrn OF Graeme. Rayburn a Parry
had been doing yeomau service In p'nch-
ing Uncle MeIlen, and many valuable
concession had been made. and. thanks
10 her gifted hrother-in-law. the fair ana
now fully restored widow found herself In
apparently undisruted possession of the
revenues OF certain houses lots and lands.
stocks ard bonds that would have been
heycnd her claim: and now had come the
longing to spread her wings and fly. Tor
With Independence came the intolerance
o. Charloste's wsil-meant. yet ili-advised
monitions She would have no elder sis
Ger preaching Don't do this and don't
"a that" day after day TO her. She could
not assume at all times the expression of
0r'ee she did not feel. The weeds. the
customary suits Of solemn black" even
the little caps We're donned whenever she
vent abroad. but that cap was so coquct-
elph as TO draw down Lots denpnciation.
END even deep mourning was to be dis
earSed long before the prescribed twelve
month.
FREAK. whim. caprice OF every NinO hau
Der elder sister expected OF her. even 20
the encouragement OF this weii-grcenei.
Veit-preserved broker magHate who came
~ plea OF new investments and business
Interests. hot that Frances should declare
her Intention OF going 20 Fort Sedgwtck.
even uadcT the protection Of the Graftons
rccs had never occurred TO her for a mo-
1cn' as a possibility. II was stanninS'
N was too dreadful for anything She
would have written mad. siStersy protest
u Mrs. Grafton but for Nes's stern pro-
Afhtion Let her go. my child" said he.
IN THO half Maternal way he sometimes as
ar,c,1s -Y =. 49, .. k,sNvx f.rafsNn