Arizona republican., 1898-03-05
Continued From Yesterday.)
CHAPTER V.


 were recalled to Sedgwick. Late in July Billy Whitaker had been relieved by his restored comrade and returned to headquarters; he lost no time in call ing on the Haynes, and between him and that charming little army matron, Mrs. Hayne, there were exchanged sig nificant smiles and knowing looks, and not few confidential words, to all of which the blond, Norse-looking captain and husband seemed to give hearty ap- pToval. And letters from the canton ment - long letters - came to Mrs. Hayne from her friend, Mrs. Tremaine, and long, loving, blissful missives from Florence, and when the Haynes, father and mother, boys and girls, all present. ly went in to Chicago for a month at the fair it leaked out in some way that Mrs. Hayne left freighted with mysteri ous commissions from her friends t the Catamount, Tremaines reverses permit ting no such extravaganza as a journey - especially in view of the many new and lowell items that women decreed as indispensable now And presently it was known at Sedgwick that, despite his complete recovery, Mir. Merriam SSCA4Gd tO lIIti II 1t0SH@eAAN tO 4NeA' \ 'AAe detachment in the mountains and make frequent, even hazardous rides, with only a single orderly, down deep into the canyon of the Catamount, and so on back to Wells and the cantonment. Long before the Haynes returned from Chicago. therefore. the sweet secret was out. and all Fort Sedgwick was talking of Merriam's engagement to Floy Ire maine. She was but IS; he 28. She was shy. sensitive, an idolized daughter. There were times when she-was actual 1y lovely. so deep and tender were her eyes, so winning her smile, soft and oaressing her voice. He was stalwaTt, soldierly. fne-looking certainly, but man few heartily liked. while few thor ougAly knew him. He had been wild, es5travagant, and. some said, dissipated the first two or three years after his graduation. He was known to be frank and truthful, and as giver and lender Lad been decidedly too generous. He Vas a conscientious officer in many ways. except when he was serving Un- Cec Buxton. He couldn't bear "BuX, and Bux not infrequently spoke dis raragiDgIy of Merriam's ability. a thing z of his superiors but for the fact that faer knew Bux far better than he knew Among officers of his own grade
 were nors whoSe opinion WIS Vaca having who roa.!y dis,i. ed E.-- Yaas but verv faw who felt -heDseE r-sntfr intimate with r m te active
 ,se. They lad rothi-r aoairst b.--
 q certain indifference t-f 11-'----~
 rafhiag that called for o~-i-l-e e-as.
 c. lis conduct in retrrrius- O lis
 rcnt fro- a- C,zT,er -iye eastern sta-
 md putting himself el r7traite J-r- il l's debts slould he lifted and bis 6u arpeasel met with general cer-- 7n ation. His course in taking he 1sseaIero detail off q bro1her aflcerS lr7s was he'd to te characteristica'Iy Y generous He had !ote Of good points had Merriam, they aI conceded, Iut there were not four people. officers or ladies. in either the cavalry or the J,iders who thought him good enoueA for Florence Tremaine.
 Nsh her joy? Are, with all ry lear," said the old colonel. when t-lt ne,ss of the engagement was broueai to hin> but can We hope it?' Even Capt. Hayre was not sure. though he tried to be- and found comfort and in spiration in the enthusiasm of his e. voted wife and in the stanch opintons of lilly Whitaker. These two ver the two at Sedgwici1 to whom that gagement brought g,adness without loy- and since there were not feur p5 - pie in the combined comu1E6s vl,- could thorourhlv approve fhe ma-r IT. Ii follows that at most. therefore. the touid be only one more, but that e vas the most confident, the most e0- thus stie, fhe happiest. the e-aG6e
 t5a 1reu,lest the fondcst c:rI that ere- lfrel'-F.orenee, her own sweet self. If. ion Of tears. ore exquisite. rloo1- ii e.eninr late in Jucc she had thrown l. self upon her knees l-y ker lnot,.c- ; ~ sobhc3 oHt 1lle news that Mo r> t her ha .5ys her Cear.,- an +s7i askc] her to te his wife ar7 whe- he mother drew her to her boec-r an V her there and t'1r-e3 ! tca h those z her -'o- 7 o',f-7 he rn rt7 Tea-c-. fer H v1h Tre-a eou ot ref so deep fo-e 50 al-rosst>s .ns the love wl which lorence ,0t ! love nrcn ab, 1 love. that ta-f could be ro iists" to reason. S had pjnne he n on Tandolph Merriam and it co rof 5e she ken.
 EH neither wife TOT dauohter 15uew tha night that earlier in the evening MeH-7n had sought the hrsha19 ard father and opened his heart to h'r1. tod him his whole story. and be~re9 of him his consent and b'ess'ne ~I did love Miss Hayward" he said; T was fasci9ated beyond expression a17 '-a stun ed by the abrupt end Of cur o..- eacs nent, but all that Hazsia1 killed by Ire Is that have reeet ne, and ia is r -t have grova u-. ....