The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-03-19

you the whole story, but cannoti !
must notl and must not do that which
might incrcuse her suspicion" But
here Grafton began TO frown angfiIy.
He rend no further. though there were
half Il dozen lines on the following
page, but tossed the whole thing into
the open fireplace. tranped right up
stairs and tapped at the guest room
door.
Can you come to the door u mo-
ment, Mrs. McIanc:" he asked.
There was the sound of sudden rush
nd rustic within. then her light foot
fall. the clacll of the doorknob, and
her voice, low and sweet.
you startled me So" she said,
through the inch-wide aperture that
appeared. but lcf, her invisible. II
dreaded that it was another telegram.
Oh, I'm not fit to be seen. but"
Il don't WI don't need to see you,
Mrs. McI.anc," said he. s,outIy. 1--WE
can converse perfectly we'll, us An
nette is below stairs. All wish to say
is this: If can he of scrvirc--in send
ing OIL any letters or dispatches to your
friends, command me. Hut realty, Mrs.
McI.anc, there is E,> need of telling me
anything about the matter"
but ! have to. Capt. Grafton" and
the door opened II bit wider. II must
have your advice. ! mast do something
right away, and you're HE only one
who can help me"
"Thcn I'll ask Harriet to come here
Mt once" said he, and. smi';ng action to
words, started for tn" stairway.
She rushed out after him. t!iahcvclled,
pallid. "Oh. canno, tell Harriet" She
cried.
Then. Mrs. McLune. you cannot tell
me-"
For moment she looked at him in
amaze.
~ will wire for your lawyer, Mr..
Parry" he went on calmly. "lIc can adj
wise what l probably could not"
''lIe cannot advise as you can, cap
tain. It's u matter he knows nothing
about. I've got to see MIR. Merriam,
and he avoids me even worse han you
do. thanh fact, cverybotly does now
that I'm in deep trouble" she walled.
~ am sure Mr.. Merriam will come to
you if there is anything of Importance"
said Grafton, gravcly. II will see him
at the stables. and the call is sounding
now"
"Oh, not to-dny-not to-day. To-
morrow, perhaps, but nat to-day. real
ly cannot see him just yet, I'm so un-
strung-nnd he mustn't let her--his
wife, know. She'll never res, till she's
worried it all out of him"
lie will let his wife know" said
Grafton, calmly, "nn;l iswsci in sotloing.
but she will not be apt to make iuGuir-
les" Then he turned and EFT her.
There were Two restless and unhappy
men at Scdgwick now-Sunncr aud
troopcr-Minturn and Whi,tnkrr, and,
each at his appropriate stable, man
aged to intercept the troop commander
on the way to his own, each i'm
Fortunate for tidings of the fair in
valid, each resentful of his Indifference
and Implying response. Grafton was
q warm friend where lie liked, hut an
unbeliever and cynic where he did not,
and Grafton believed that he had
fathomed Fanny McI<lnc's shallow
nature and secret purpose, and WAS in
tolerant of her 10 the verge of r,itlcness.
lie loved his wife. lie 1nuurned THE
scmi-tlecepton in which she had in
obliged in having, against his wishes.
brought her former friend within her
gates. But now lie looked upon lIar-
ret as being quite sufficiently punished
and equally willing that Mrs. MclMne
should take herself elsewhere. If,
therefore, Merriam should see her and
door refuse to do--.'at which she de-
mandctl of him, Grafton felt that he
might speed his parting g,,rst and re-
leve not only his own hut his fair wife's
shoulders of a heavy load lie WAS
late reaching stables fact buriy old
Buxton would he quick to notice and as
quick to rcbmke. lie had delayed only
= minute or two after the sounding Of