Arizona republican., 1898-03-13
(Continued From Yesterday.)


 during the seven days and both times if was in presence of his wife. The Graftons. Haynes and Freemans were delighted with him as a consequence, and rejoiced in secret over her. But not a whit did the widow show disap- pointment or discontinue. She was amply entertained, apparently, with the increasing devotions of Minturn and Whitaker, and the latter spent two miserable hours this Saturday evening in jealous contemplation of his own outcast lot and Minturn's presun1- 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 that the whole garrison would be talking of her inconsistency, but, as Ned Parry remarked on a previous occasion, Fan had had her own way ever since she cut her first tooth, and did not propose to be ruled now.
 Almost the last words MT. McLane whispered" said she, indignantly,
 J youth in vain lamentation. Life is too 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 the dear departed. She went. She looked uncommonly pretty in a gown of deep est, most somber and most expensive crape. She sat at the colonel's right, and made eyes at him all through din her, leaving Minturn on her right to sulk and scowl and seek comfort in the self partook not too sparingly of this seductive fluid, and was sparkling with animation and good spirits when, just before coffee was served-just as the trumpets were sounding tattoo out on the moonlit parade, servant came and whispered to the master of the house.
 "Tell him I'm at dinner and can't see him now"
 The servant vanished, then reap peared. bent and whispered again.
 Tell him I'm at dinner and won't see him now," said the colonel, not un- willing to impress on his fair guest the idea of his professional importance and personal force. The servant bent and whispered again, whereat the colone changed color and glanced up uncer- = tainly in the troubled face of the mes senger, then as uncertainty around the table, his eyes only for an instant meet ing those of his guest.
 "Will you excuse me a moment, my | l., F fa 1af+ ( table and the room.
 Conversation went on somewhat con strainedIy. Mrs. McLane, intent or fascinating the colonel, had rather ig nored the rest. Minturn was plainly il the sulks, and Mrs. Colonel. with anx iety in her eyes, was plainly istenin. to the hurried talk in the outer room Presently in came the servant. Woul, Capt. Grafton please join the colone' in the parlor, and, wondering, Grafton went.
 ''It's<hat dreadful telegraph opera tor," said Mrs. Colonel. in a low, troubled tone. ''It's some bad news. Indian outbreak, probably, or he'd never be so insistent."
 Then all conversation seemed to drag. and people only spoke in monosyllables or hazarded some guess as to what could be the matter.
 But it wasn't Indians. It wasn't war fare. It was only the soldier teleg- rapher at the post, who bore with him 8 message which the operator at the Junction had received positive instruc- tions from the eastern manager to de liver at once and report delivery and get an answer. It was for Mrs. Me! .ane So there was nothing for it but to cal her, and with sudden panic isl her eve. she hurried into the parlor. shran:, for moment from the proffered dis patch-then, with an effort at self-con- trol. took it, tore it open, read with di- lated eyes, lifted her hand to her face as though in bewiIderment and 5ismay staring into vacancy as she did so. ant! then suddenly. without moan, without sound from her lips, went down iii .limp heap upon the bearskin rug where on she stood, and the ladies rushed to | but could not-revive her.
 Full half an hour they labored over her. The messenger had dashed for the doctor and brought him to the scene Grafton had rescued the paper just as it seemed about to flutter into the fireplace, folding and slowing ii away in his coat pocket, and not unti. after ten did she seem to recover con- sciousness, 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 mus nave report of the receipt of the message, and some answer; this was imperative. Grafton appealed to the doetor. The doctor said Mrs. McLane Wa only semi-conscious. and could an swer nothing. ''She is your guest, man Read the dispatch and reply as best you can Whatever it's contents, they have eboos-a1 bar