The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-03-11
FORT FRAYNE.
(Concluded.)

sF (COuCluQcu.J
.'Of all things that could have hap
pened to a man, think Of this!" he cried.
major Wayne, didn't you promise me
from the field to send that dispatch to
Hatfield the moment you got to the
post?''
II did, and pledge my solemn word
that kept it. sent it the very first
post struck. .
"You did, for fact, you moonstruck
-oh, but just listen, all of you! In
stead of my travelling suit here's what
find-a letter from Hatfield, forwarded
from Fort Washable. Dear Sir: In &C.
cordance with your Geographic instruc-
tions, we have this day forwarded to
you cutaway tweed travelling suit by
American express and trust the same
is, etc., also statement of'-um, never
mind that-'We are'-now, mark this,
all of you, good people-'we are some
what at loss to understand your sud-
den change of address, but are compelled
to act on your telegram, copy of which
is inclosed. Fort Washable, May 25.
Have tweed cutaway travelling suit here
by 18th prox. without fail. w. Far
rar. - Fort Washable! Gracious pow
ers! Think of my travelling suit at
Washable and here and the train COM
ing!"
"But, Willy, DEAR said his mother
soothingly, ''surely you can wear for
just a day or two last years suit. -
"That? Now? Why, heavens ablazel
Rorke couldn't squeeze me into it with
a shoehorn. I'll have to travel in my
pyjamas. Oh, couldn't I murder you,
Major Percival Wayne!"
rour Wayne's cup was indeed Iuii 20
OVERLOOKING Martin and some of the
youngsters lugged Will off to squeeze
him into last years garments, made on
cadet measure, and then down came
Kitty, the bonniest of brides, in the
daintiest and most coquettish of cos
tunes, and while Rorke and his. satel-
lites were passing the champagne, and
rybody-no, almost every body-was
crowding about the bride, there stood
poor Wayne still diving into those long
forgotten placer mines of his pockets
and fetching up bills and billets and
odds and ends, while Lucretia tremu-
lousy and Fenton, Farwell and Amory
delightedly watched him, and then
came a neY excitement. Enter Will,
squeezed at last into the light gray
tweeds he had SO complacently donned
a year before and that now fitted him
like the skin of sausage A sudden
move of one arm carried away the
breast button.
cts no use" he cried. "I'm worse
off than Peggotty. Every jumps but.
ton" And then Kitty caught sight of
him, and then there came scene.
whats that?" she exclaimed. s'That
isn't the man I married. I won't stir a
step with him in those things
"But I haven't any other" pleaded
Will in despair.
"Who wants you to wear such
things?" she fairly screamed in almost
hysterical laughter. II married SOL
dier. Your uniform, sir, your best
blouse and trousers and forage cap, and
don't you dare wear cts till tell you. -
And, as it was manifest that he
couldn't wear those now incasing him,
the groom a third time fastened away
to the upper regions, and, while dozens
clustered as before about Kitty, an alb
sorbed group still hung upon the move
ments of the major. The light as of
other days was dawning on his face.
He was searching still, and at last he
found and drew forth a tiny box, at sight
Of which Lucretia's maiden heart fut-
tered almost out of her throat.
"And now what have you unearthed,
old Rip Van Winkle:' doomed Fenton.
"A ring, by all that's gorgeous-a ring,
and beauty, and an inscription on it.
p. W. to L. F., 1874 Who's P. w. :?
Who's-but a glance at his sisters trans
figured face as she totlered there at his
side warned the old warrior to desist.
Wayne was painting with excitement.
II know" he cried. "Of course it
wasn't my class ring. It was this. I
got it for And here he turned and
drew her to his arm, and the others
considerably moved away as at last
Nhoo AAAG w 90 AUUCO W UuC AuSOl luac
had been waiting for it 20 long years.
Five minutes more, and with Rorke
leading off in the cheers, with music
and sunshine, mirth and gladness, smiles
and tears and prayers and blessings, the
young couple were whirled away to the
station, bound for the bliss of the honey
moon.
But what made that wedding day so
remarkable was that it seemed to lead
to SO many more. There came letter
from Martin to Jack Ormsby only the
other day. The latter, being New
York guardsman, was sweltering in his
tent at Peekskill, while Mrs. Jack con-
soled herself by brief visit to the
Leales at West Point. The former. be-
ing West Pointer, fell back naturally
into the vernacular Of his cadet days,
and this was somewhat as he wrote
"Your blessed brother-in-la law continues
to be the joy of the Twelfth, and the
dovecot is every whit as hospitable as
Amory's. But of course Will and Mrs.
Will haven't outlived their salad days,
and their tiffs and make ups are too
funny for anything. Will is just as true