Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-10-19
An Army Wife.
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyrighted. 1896, by F. Tennyson Nee;y.1
SYNOPSIS.

Chapter 1.-Fannie McLane, q young
widow, is invited to visit the Graftons
at Fort Sedgwick. Her sister tries to dis.
suade her, as Randolph Merriam (whon
she had Tilted for old McLane) and his bride
are stationed there.
Chapter I-Fannie McLane's wedding
causes family feeling. A few months later
she, while travelling with her husband.
meets Merriam, on his wedding trip.
Chapter III.-Some time previous to this
Merriam had gone on a government sur
vey. fallen i'll, and had been nursed by Mrs.
Tremaine and daughter Florence. A hasty
note from Mrs. McLane's stepson takes
him to the plains.
Chapter IV.-Young McLane dictates to
Merriam a dying MESA sc, which is sent
to Parry "a young Chicago lawyer and
brother-in-law of Mrs. McLane) Reply
causes Merriam to swoon. He Is taken to
the Trema1ne's; calls for Florence.
Chapter V. - Engagement of Florence
Tremaine ITO Merriam is announced: we'd
ding shortly follows.
Chapter VI.-Mr. McLane is mysterious
ly shot in San Francisco. Merriam is
greatly excited when he reads account in
papers, While still in mourning Mrs. Nc
Lane prepares to visit Fort Sedgwiclz.
Chapter VII-Mrs. McLane arrives at
the fort. Merriam is startled at the news,
and he and his wife absent themselves
from the formal hop that evening.
pay their respects to the widow on an
evening when she would be sure to have
many other callers. When the call is
returned Merriam is away, and his wife
pleads illness as excuse for not seeing
her. Mrs. McLane receives telegram: AR
rested. Chicago. Your uncle stricken-par-
alysis. You will be summoned Secure
papers. otherwise lose everything. C. M"
She faints and is revived with difficulty
Chapter 1X.-Mrs McLane desires to see
Merriam. Grafton persuades him to CO.
but the widow postpones the meeting till
next noon.
Chapter X.-Florence learns Merriam
has been to see Mrs. McLane, and in a
storm Of passion will not allow him to ex-
plain. Shortly after Merriam is intercepted
by Fannie McLane as he is passing through
Graftons yard. Florence witnesses the
meeting, which she supposes has been pre-
arranged.
for papers given him by her stepson, but
which he tells her were all forwarded to
Parry. Merriam is seriously wounded in
fight with greasers.
Chapter XII.-Florence, in her deep dis
appointment. leaves her home in the night
for her fathers house at the cantonment
Chapter xlll.-Three personal telegraph
messages come for Merriam from Parry.
Latter is notified Of Merriam's mishap
miles from posts. A dispatch from her law
yer, on his way to the fort, together with
account of serious injuries to Merriam
account Of serious injuries to Merriam,
causes Mrs. McLane to faint.
Chapter xIV.-Merriam is brought in in
the ambulance, inquiries for Florence, but
gets only an evasive answer, doctor fear
ing news Of her flight may prove fatal to
him.
Chapter XV.-Just about noon, when the
hospital attendant was away at dinner,
Mrs. McLane steals in on Merriam. What
follows is thus described:
CHAPTER XV.-CoNT1NUED,
He was half asleep, half awake, in
that helplessly lethargic state that
seems to possess most temperaments
after subsection to the influence of NOR
phine. He was conscious of no pain, no
soreness, conscious of nothing but that
longing for the coming of Florence and
wondering as to the time of night or
day. He remembered half opening his
eyes and seeing Hop blinking in an easy
chair by the bedside, and then noticed
that it was in the spare room-the guest
room-he was lying, and he thought it
must be near dawn, for the shutters and
shades were drawn, yet dim light was
shining through. He thought Florrie
must be in her room, the front room,
and he was just thinking of calling to
the servant and rousing him, when he
heard the swift pit-a-pat of light foot
steps in the hail. a swish of skirts, and,
stretching out his arm, he called aloud:
Florence, darling!" and the next min
ute woman's form was at his bedside
and he started up, rubbing his eyes,
amazed, startled, believing perhapsthat
he was still dreaming, for there, with
trembling, outstretched hands. stood
Fanny McLane. Il :. :, =. l .s>t= q. i.
!, what where is my wife?''' he
gasped. II thought why, surely this
cannot be you'll" j ,.= @=::. .:5, := /.
1T is ], Randy" she quavered. # was
in torment could not rest nor sleep.
I knew you were alone, with no one to
care for you" S :@@.@ ..s
"Alone!" he interrupted. what do
you mean Where is Florence. my
wife?" 81, HI.
~ on don't they haven't told
you she answered. She has gone