The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-09

SSAAAASS AAAdSo l1dvS DSSu Illul kO--Ou,
fatal step! for which he, George Graf
ton. and no one else. was responsible!
away from the path that led to his
wife and home. straight to that which
bore him to the side of the woman he
had loved before ever he set eyes on
Floy Tremaine. And thither she, per-
chance, had followed: but there-what
had she seen?-what. had she heard3
There were aching hearts in many
households at sedgwick that cloudless
morning, but the man who suffered
most was Grafton. The whole truth
flashed upon him as he followed the
prints OF Mignon's nimble hoof. He
would have to tell his wife and Mrs.
Hayne, but no one else.
mo word of this to anyone, Whit
talIer," therefore he cautioned, with q
sigh.
well. I'm not all asinine," was that
troubled subaltern's reply, though I
dare say you've thought me so of late"
"God forbid that should Judge any
man," thought Grafton to himself,
"after what I've done this past night"
Harriet Grafton was greatly shocked
when told her husbands fears, and did
not altogether mcelly accept his eau
ton to keep the secret from Fanny,
who still slept the sleep Of the innocent
and virtuous and clear Of conscience.
Hop Ling had been told to 60 indoors,
put all the rooms to rights, have the
breakfast table set, and breakfast pre-
pared as usual, and he wondered but
obeyed. Mrs. Hayne was speedily
aroused by the that Mrs.
Grafton was below, and was well aware
that something extraordinary had co.
CURED to warrant call at so carly an
hour. Even the children. wcaried after
last nights vigil, We're still asleep. Dom
ming u wrapper, she FASTENED out on the
lnnding and softly called over the bal
listers: 81 know you have news for me,
Mrs. Grp fton, please come up"
And in the telling of her tidings. was it
any wonder that the younger mutron
burst into tears?
I'VE must try to make 1t seem that
she has ridden off at dawn in hopes of
meeting Randy on his return with tho
prisoners" was Mrs. HAYNES decision,
after she had recovered from the shock
and had heard the whole story; and
this commended itself TO Grafton MS
wise when his wife came back to him
and he had returned from the ncvcr-to-
be-neglected morning stables" And
this too was what they intended at first
to say TO Merriam when he should como
in, ravenous for breakfast and aston
ishcd at not finding his wife. Rut high
noon came and brought no Randy. In
the words Of the acting adjutant, high
noon brought only high jinks.
Crane, officer of the day, and dozen
other officers had seen Hop Ling's
frantic charge across the parade at
reveille, and numbers of men had heard
his announcement of the general hegira
at Merrinm's. Before guard mounting
ii was known that Mignon's trail led
straight away to the upper fords of tho
Santa Clara-far from the direction in
which Randy had gone. 4ttcn herds
man came in who said,he ,.'reckoned the
lady must have dropped this" He saw
her riding like the wind the short cut
for Josc's ranch on the ;old Navaj 10 trail,
and he handed over poor Florre's little
travelling bag, which she bad evidently
strapped to her saddle, never calcula,t-
ing-perhaps never cnring-what the
strain might be. newell missing it when
it was gone. They sent II to Mrs. Hnyne,
who could no longer keep up her brave
face but sobbed over titus would moth
er over some priced relic of lost and
beloved child
Then Bux ordered out three Of his
swiftest trailers and riders and the best
light wagon ut the post. With the wag-
on went the post surgeon and Mrs.
Hayne, who left her brood to a neighbours
care. They took with them such drugs
and restoratives MS seemed necessary.
and ut noon they were across the Santa
Clara on the road to the cant onment, exc
pecting to reach Jose's by nightfall and
find their runaway darling there, ex-
hnusted by her long hours in saddle and
compelled 10 stay under that friendly
shelter. as sometimes with her fnthcr
and twice at least with Rnndy) she had
stayed on her journeys to and fro.
There she would have to remain over
night until Mlgnon should be able to
go on again with the rise of the morning
star.
Meantime the wires from Cimarron
Junction had been hot with news, and
McGrnth, the operator, lived the day of
his life. for hours the most important
man at the post. The rioters had got
wind Of the coming OF troops and had
sought to block the way by wrcclting
freight cnboose in Culnmus Gorge.
The Rfiers swarmcd out and had things
in shape within the hour, and went
whistling on again. Everyone knew
trouble would end the moment they got
to the scene OF the strike, but what
might not happen meantime?
Something had happened. On one of
the passenger trains blockaded beyond
Cimnrron was a Chicago lawyer OF
most active mind and being, Chicngo-
an of no little experience with scenes Of
the kind, and this gentleman had fired
message after message to Lieut.. Ram
dolph Merriam. at Sedswick, and finully
demanded reason for TINT officers 81
lence.
"What'll do with this here, air?"
said McGrath. coming finally into the
ndjutant's office. "1here,s three mes
sages here for Mr.. Merriam, urgent
ones, too. and finally the sender asks
why he don't reply
"Say that Mr.. Merriam Is still away
after Mexican murdrrcts and we ex-
I, 3 AL