The Irish standard., 1898-03-12

SlouPS vi merry C1il-ufeu OF SeOOlely
trundled baby-carriages. Three OF four
of the bigger boys were galloping their
ponies along the roadway, fresh
sprlnkled by the huge water-cart. The
band that had been playing in its kiosk
in front of the line had picked up it's
music-books and gone trudging bar
backward for change of raiment before
parade, skirting on the way the circular
plat of withered grass maintained at
vast expenditure of labor and water at
the foot of the staff from whose SHIN
mering peak hung, well-nigh notion
less, the blue and scarlet and white of
the national flag. Northwestward the
distant line of the Mescalero stood blue
black against the cloudless sky. Away
to the east rolled the dun pillows of
the "Jornada," illimitable in monotony
the San Mateo some Indian boys and
girls were jabbering shrill expostula-
ton to the Mexican herder who was
swearing strange oaths at his usually
placid burros, because they had the
good manners to shrink at the edge
of the stream wherein these children Of
nature were disporting, the laughter
and screaming, even the splashing of
the water, rising distinctly on the air.
Out on the mesa to the north the quar-
termaster's herd was nodding slowly,
sleepily homeward, powdered by dust
cloud of its own raising, and over at tho
infantry barracks at the westward end
OF the long line scores of the men were
already out in full dress uniform,
awaiting the bugle call that should de.
mand the assembly. Mrs. Grafton had
been visiting up the row and was COM
ing smilingly back, nodding greeting
and salutation to the ladies' on the
verandas of the various quarters as she
passed, yet walking eagerly SO as to be
at the gate, as was her habit, when her
captain returned from stables; seeing
which, some of the younger officers
tried to detain her or impede her way.
The captain has stopped to take a
drink at Buxton's, Mrs. Grafton.
wouldn't hurry if were YOU" said one
mendacious, mischievous sub. "I'll
leave 1t to Merriam If he HASN'T" there
by OBTAINING Merriam, who was just as
eager, apparently, to reach his own
gate and receive the fond welcome in
Floy's deep, dark brown eyes. Others,
too, joined the laughing conspiracy, and
gazing beyond them and seeing moth
ing of her lord among the groups still
farther to the rear, she as laughingly
surrendered and entered into joyous
chat with her captors-the sight of ono
OF the youngest, brightest and fairest
OF their number surrounded by half
dozen gallants being naturally a COM
fort to the lookers-on along the quar-
ters-and when Randy, lifting his cap,
would have deserted them and gone his
way she was just coqnette enough to
care to hold the exhibition-and her at
tendants-a moment longer.
"Oh, Mr.. Merriam! Don't 90 vet,
I've really important news for you.
Who do you think is coming to visit
us?"
Randy had no iden. He smiled po-
litely. even pleasantly, and said he
couldn't imagine.
"Well, but guess" persisted Mrs.
Grafton, her very pretty face very full
of Importance.
''rhe Walkers, from Stoneman ?" sug-
gested Randy.
'No, indeedl Nobody from that way.
It's from the east"
"Mrs. and Miss Pollard, from Marcy?"
"Not bit of it. No army people at
all. but somebody you know very well
and like very much"
Then Randy began to look queer, but
still couldn't begin to guess. I'm sure
I'm at loss" he fnltered.
''Why, Fanny McLane, of course!
She's been in miserable health since her
husband died, and they've practically
ordered her to try this climate; so
she's coming to me. She'll be here Sat-
urdny, but of course you know she's in
deep mourning yet and can't go any
where"
For a moment Merriam was too
anluzed--too startlcd--to trust himself
to speak, and she saw it, and with the
quick intuition of her sex, saw, too,
that something must be done to relieve
the embarrassment that would fall
upon the party.
'She was one Of my bridesmaids
Fanny Hayward" she hurriedly ex-
pluined to the surrounding group-"and
tie loveliest girl you ever saw; and,
just think of it, Mr.. Minturn, now she's
q disconsolate widow with I don't know
how'nhch money all her own, and then
nnrvously she cast anxious glances at
Merriam, and again addressed him, ms
though in sclf-defense. "You know we
visited with her on our way west,
and she told me of her charming meet
irg with you and Mrs. Merriam on your
wedding journey, and the lovely times
you had before they had to go to San
Francisco" and now her voice had be-
come timid and appealing, for she saw
that something was very, very much
a,niss. Merriam's face had flushed,
even through it's coat of tan. but was
now n ycllow-brown. all its happy,
beautiful glow vanished, and Billy
Whitaker, looking uneasily Mt him,
had linked an arm in his and seemed
about to urge him to come away; yet
Merriam had to say something, and
this, in evident constraint, is what he
said:
"Yes-wc-did mect-Mrs. McLane-
Tn very sorry to hear she's been i'll.
and am much surprised to hear she's
coming here. Excuse me, Mrs. Grafton,
must hurry on"
That evening Floy and her husband
failed to attend the formal hop which
WAS held oach week and their nbsaOco