The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-11-17

Fort Sedgwick. Perhaps that was
by she never mentioned the matter
her sister, Mrs. Parry. until that lady
urprised her in the midst of the pack
ng.
where are you going, FAM" was
he query, half-aggrieved, haif-aggres-
'ive-the tone in which an elder often
addresses a younger sister who has evil
lently presumed to contemplate some
Journey without previous consultation
md consent.
81? Why I thought you knew. Co
ng TO spend week or two with the
lraftons."
"The Graftonsl Fanny McLanel You
on't mean you're going to Fort Sedg-
vlck?"
That's their station" answered Mrs.
McLane. with slight access of color.
Mrs. Parry had not yet seated herself
She was still standing at the opendoor-
way. CHANGING quickly from trunk to
trunk in the sunshiny but Uttered room.
Vow she took q step forward. hesiiated
one moment as she looked at the maid
servant beuding busily over a great
Saratoga. aud in dumb show intimate ed
TO her sister that she wished that open
eyed, open-eared domestic elseW here.
But Mrs. McLane was blind to any
signals. Indeed she seemed mt the mo-
ment to find it necessary to supervise
some of Annette's work, noting which
symptom Mrs. Parry's scruples van
shed.
Fanny, you know perfectly well
hats the last place on earth you should
90 to now, and Mr. McLane not year
in his gravel"
A redder spot burns in each fair
check, as the young widow turns quick
Iy and faces her accuser.
"And why not, pray? The Graftons
are the oldest. dearest friends have
at least She is"
aud Randy Merriam-isn't there,
suppose-nor his plain wife?"
"Mr. Merlialn's whereabouts is mat
ter Of entire indifference to me, as you
ought to have the decency to knew,
Charlotte"
Ought TO he matters of Indifference,
| oorcede, but have grave doubts as
20 whether they are. rs you say"
"Then keep your doubts and suspi-
lions to yourself, Charlotte" said Mrs.
NIeLare. with brin mng eyes and burn
z cheeks. This i no plnce to speak
such matters" ard the brimming
yes-which their owner tired hard
o induce TO b.aae nstead of brim-
urn significantly toward Anrctte.
usily packing and assiduous.y feign-
ing urcorsc iousEess. aud thor almost
leAarNy turn back to her sister.
81 know perfectly well what you
mean, Frances" responds the elder, and
when Charlotte" ard Frances" were
adopted instead of Lot" and Fan" it
meant that the sororal relations were
more than strained.
81 gave you every signal ingenuity
could suggest, but you wouldn't see
You didn't want to see, because you
bought that and here Mrs. Parry in
dicates the kneeling Annette with a
I'd Of her very sty.ishly coifed head
that would keep me from speaking
Eut this is a case where duty cannot be
neglected. Fanny, are you in your right
sensesY'
"ln every one of the seven, Charlotte,
and | don't mean to listen to abuse.
You know perfectly well DR.. Mellon
said | needed change"
"Well, then, go to New Orleans, go to
bermuda, go to st. Augustine-go to
ST. Petersburg, Fan-anYwhere on
earth rather than Fort Scdgwick-any-
where under heaven except where Ran
dolph Merriam happens to be-unless
you would have me believe you lost
TO-"
But here, with solemn mien, enters
he male biped who oilciates as butler,
hall boy and major domo ut the Clar-
endon fats-a card upon the salver in
lis pudgy hand, and Mrs. Parry nearly
chokes in the necessity fer sudden stop.
ASK Mr.. Swinhurne up says Mrs.
Mclane, promptly barely CHANGING at
the blacl<bordered card and evidently
glad of the Interruption. NOW, Char
lotte, not another word, unless you wish
me to show how indignant | am 10 every
visitor who comes in" and Mrs. MeLane
is busy bathing her flushed cheeks al
ready. "llow does my hair lcols?" she
adds, turning inquiringly toward the
defeated elder, sure that whatever cause
Of quarrel there may be, that, at least, is
subject for truce.
"Your hair is all right" responds her
sister, with marked emphasis and us
marked a sense Of haflod purpose. 81
wish the rest of your head were MS well
balanced. You don't expect me 10 see
Mr., Swinburne, l suprcse?"
---"Mr. Swiaburne certainly doesn't cX-
pect to see you. He is coming mainly
on business"
"You might far better listen to his
business, MS you call it, even this soon,
than 20 near Randy Merriam"
Charlotte, l will not listen to you. If
you cannot stay here without insulting
me with every other word ycu would
much better so home aud s;ey hcnc un-
til you can sneak-sensihly." Nod with
this Mrs. McTaue darts Tast her sister
into the passagewar. and so en- 10 the
parlor front OF her suite Of apartments.
lust MS the little electric Indicator tells
that the elevator has stopped and that
some one is at the entrance door. 1t is
Swinburne, a well-preserved, mutton
chop whiskered, carefully -groomed fell
low OF -, and SwiEGuTre bows delight
eddy over The slender white hand of the
pretty AID youthful widow AID disan-
pears with her within the CO.'S rarlCr.
AsIlANs. inpar