The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-01-26
FORT FRAYNE.
BY Cant. oHARLEg KING, U. S. A.

you, Il 1ONG yOu, uiu 81 uuNo ~ =
say o long goodby. I've made my fight
to be your friend and failed. At least
1 have been q soldier. 1 will not DO q
coward"
She could control herself no longer.
Though she had freed her hands, h
seemed Involuntary stretching them
forth. Then, leaning upon the table for
support, one hand found the glove that
he had removed and laid there. He had
withdrawn u pace and lifted his head
as though the blighted eyes were striv-
ing to peer from under their shade for
one look at the face they had gazed up
on in such passionate farewell so many
months before. The strains Of the
''Traumerei'' were still thrilling soft
ly through the open easements, and,
overcome with emotion, tenderness and
passion, Helen bent and laid her soft
lips in fervent pressure on the senseless
glove.
Then tho room rang with n sudden,
startling, joyous cry. The shade went
whizzing into space, and the next in
slant Lealo had sprung to her and seized
her in his arms.
"Helen, darling not that! Don't
waste those kisses!' And she sank sob
bling in his arms just as-grand, joyous,
triumphant-the strains Of the wedding
march burst forth, ro-echoing among
tho walls of Fort Fraync.
Rorko was the first man to como tear
ing in to announce the return Of the
wedding party and the guests, but Fen
ton was close OH his heels con hospita-
bic cares intent" and exploding over
Waync's performances. There was no
time for a formal reception. proceed
ings" had been delayed well nigh an
hour as it vas and the east bound train
was reported u~naccountably Oh time.
Bride and bridegroom, bridesmaids, ush-
ers, bachelors and b%cnedicts, maids and
matrons-Fort Frayne seemed surging
tumultuously up tho colonol's step, sur
rounding and bcdcviling poor Wayne to
the verge of distraction. He laid the
blanc on his spring %overcoat, a venera-
bic garment of tho fashion of 20 years
agono but that he had so seldom worn
as to cause it to seem to him over new
and available, and for this garment he
darted INTO tho adjoining quarters while
h laughing guests came tripping up
the steps in the wake of the bride, who,
totally ignoring Helen and Leale now,
who were gazing into each others eyes
in the deep bow window, rushed at her
uncle with characteristic explosive
abuse.
"I'll never DO married at Fort Frayne
again rs long rs I. livcl What OH earth
did Major But she could go no fur
Their, for tho shout of laughter that
greeted her sally and the c~Xclamations
which resulted from tho discovery Of
Leale and Helen silCnccd hor complete-
ly. And then the bride was rushed away
to dotf her finery and rcappear in trav-
cling garb, and thon Will was hustled
to his quarters to change his full dress
uniform to tho conventional garb of civ
IL life, just as Wayne came in, dazed,
half demented, ovCrcoat III ono hand
and a package in the other that he now
dreamily held forth to Ormsby, who
took it, as wonderingly opened and be-
gan slowly counting over q number Of
~greenbacks, solo contents of tho wrap
per, bnt he dropped them as Of little
consequence when the bowildcrcd major
produced u moment later another-a
little note from the depths of an inner
pocket. They were all crowding around
him now, but at sight of this missivo
Ellis made n spring and captured it, on
~ JaSN ~ iliiS MI" " a. EClLSS III luIl
by Ormsby, who pleaded for possession
of what was plainly addressed to him,
and then cam renewed uproar, for
Will ~reappcarcd in uniform trousers and
unfastened blouse and q towering rage.
"Of all things that could have hap
pened to Il man, think of thisl" he cried.
Major Wayne, didn't you promise me
from the field to send that dispatch to
Hatfield the moment you got to tho
post2''
81 did, and l pledge my solemn word
that L kept it. l sent 1t the very first
post 1 struck"
"You did, for a fact, you moonstruck
oh, but just listen, all Of you'll In
stead of my travelling suit here's what I
ind-a letter from Hatfield, forwarded
from Fort Washable. Dear Sir: In ac-
cordance with your telegraphio instruc-
tions, we have this day forwarded to
you Il cutaway tweed travelling suit by
American express and trust the Same
Is etc, also statement of'-um, never
mind that-'Wo are'-now, mark this,
all of you, good pcople-'wo are some-
what ut a loss to understand your sud-
den change of address, but are compelled
to act on your telegram, a copy Of which
is inclosed. Fort Washakie, May 20.
Have tweed cutaway travelling suit hero
by 18th prox. without fail. w. Far
rar." Fort Washakiel Gracious pow
ers! Think of my travelling suit at
Washakio and here and the train COM
ing!'
"But, Willy, DEAR" said his mother
aoothingly, "suroly you can wear for
just u day or two last years suit.
"That? Now? Why, heavens ablazei
Rorkc couldn't squeeze me into it with
Il shoehorn. III have to travel in my
pyjamas. Oh, couldn't I murder you,
Major Percival Waynol'
Poor Wayno's cup was indeed full to
overlooking. Martin and some of the
youngsters luggcd Will off to squeeze
MIN into last years garments, made on
cadet measure, and then down came
Kitty, the bonniest of brides, in tho
daintiest and most coquettish Of cos.
TUNES, and while Rorko and his satel.
lites were passing the champagne, an
eyerybody-no, almost cvcrybody-wn
crowding about the bride, there stood
poor Wayne still diving into those long
forgotten placer mines of his pockets
and fetching up bills and billots and
odds and ends, while Lucretia tremu-
- IZtNoly nA-1 NA.L- ID