The Florence daily tribune., 1898-03-15

and Whitaker, and the latter spent
two miserable hours this Saturday
evening in iaalous contemplation of his
own outcast lot and Mlnturn's presum-
able bliss. Yet the colonel could not
have both TO dinner. SO Mrs. Colonel
was allowed to decide, and her pref
erence was for the artilleryman. The
Graftons went with rather bad grace.
Mrs. Grafton warning her guest thai
the whole garrison would be tall<in.
OF her Inconsistency, but, as Ned Parry
remarked on a previous occasion. Fan
had had her own way ever since she Gu,
her first tooth. and did not propose to
be ruled now.
Almost the last words Mr.. McLane
whispered" said she, Indignantly
were to implore me not 10 waste my
youth in vain lamentation. Life is toe
short to be spent in tears were his
very words" and evidently the widow
was here in full sympathy with the
expressed or reported views OF III,
dear departed. She went She looked
uneommonly pretty in gown Of dccp
, est, most somber and most expensive
Grape. She sat at the colonel's right
, and made eyes ut him all through din
/ ner, leaving Minturn on her right t.
sulk and scowl and seek comfort in tho.
commandments champagne. Fanny her
sclf rartook not too sparingly of thi
acductiVe iluid, and was sparkling Will
animation and good spirits when, jus
before coffee was served-iust as the
trumpets were sounding tattoo out oi
the moonlit parade, n servant came ana
whispered to the master of the house.
Tell him I'm at dinner and can't sec
him now"
The servant vanished then reap
pcared, bent and whispered again.
Tell him Jpn at dinner and won
see him now. said the colonel. not un
| willing to impress on his fair guest tn
idea OF his professional Importance and
| personal force. The servant bent ana
whispered again, whcrent the coiono
changed color and glanced up unce;
iainly In the troubled face OF the mes
senger. then as uncertainty around ib
table. his eyes only foran instant NEE,
ing those OF his guest.
will you excuse. me moment. my
denr?' he said toafis wife. and left the
| table and the room.
| Conversation went on somewhat con,
STRANGELY. Mrs. McI.ane. intent Or
fascinating the colonel. had rather ig
nored the rest Minturn was plainly in
the sulks, and Mrs. Colonel. with anx.
iety in her eyes, was plainly listening
| To the hurried talk in the outer room
Presently in came the servant. Would
Capt. Grafton please join the colonel
in the parlor, and, wondering, Grafton
went.
ITS that dreadful telegraph opera
tor" said Mrs. Colonel, in low,
troubled tone. ITS some bad news,
Indian outbreak, probably. or he'd
never be so insistent."
| Then a il conversation seemed to drag
and people only spoke in monosyllables
or hazarded some guess as to what
could be the matter
But il wasn't Indians. II wasn't war
fare. 1t was only the soldier teleg-
rapher at the post, who bore with hin
message which the operator at ih.
| junction had received positive instrnc
| tions from the eastern manager to dc
liver at once and report delivery arr
get an answer. 1t was for Mrs. Mel an,
So there was nothing for ii but to cal
her. and with sudden panic in her eye
she hurried into the parlor. sliran
for moment from the profTered dit
| patch-then, with an effort al seif-con
| troll, took II. tore it open. read with d,
| 'ated eyes. lifted her hand to her fa,
| though in bewi,derment ard 1isna,
| 'nring into vacancy as she did so. an
| hen suddenly. without a moan, with0u
sound from her lips went down in;
limp heapupen the bearsi;in rug wher,
on she slgod. aud the ladies rushed Il
but cou,d not revive her.
ftiil h;llff ~ hour tley labored owe
her. Tie messenger had das he'd fo
the doctor and brought him to tn
scene. Grafton Lad rescued the pape-
lust as il seemed about to flutier int,
The fireplace, folding and slowing
away in. ..his coat pocket, and not unit.
after ten did she seem to recover con-
sc:ousness, not until near the sound.
ing of taps could they bear her home.
and then the messenger came back.
| The operator at the junction said they
must have report of the receipt OF the
message, and some answer: his was
imperative. Grafton appealed TO the
| doctor. The doctor said Mrs. McLane
| was only semi-conscious. and could an
swer nothing. ''She is your guest, man
Read the dispatch and reply as best you
/ can. Whatever its contents. they have
shocked her seriously
And so finally Grafton read the mes.
sage and could fathom only portion OF
its meaning.
Arrested. Chicago. Your uncle stricl..
en-paralysis. You will be summoned
Secure papers, otherwise lose everything
C. NJ"