The Irish standard., 1898-03-26

was 4OiHGlN OH inc piiOL OF lEe en-
CINE. If the trestlc work were sawed
away or bridges burned at inconvcnient
points, llaync would not be apt to let
the train stumble into the pitrall. 1t
was nearly dawn before the special
reached Santa l'e Junction, but the
riflers marched thithcr soon after mid
night, leaving many weeping wives at
home. They had not the stoicism of
those women long schoolcd in such
cula1nities--1hc ladies of the cavalry.
Buxton succeeded to the command of
the post and its garrison, now made up
o. one big squadron Of the til, four
troops, and Capt. Blinkcr's battery OF
mounted artillery, and what fairly pes
tered Buxton was why the colonel
should have sent for Mr.. Merriam with
in ten minutes after the dispatches be-
gan coming in just after retreat. and
Merriam, wouldn't tell.
The first dispatch was from depart
ment headquarters, and lade the
colonel hold his entire regiment ready
for instant duty and Il journey by rail.
BuX was with him when it came, and
together they had gone to the Office.
Then was handed in another, which the
colonel read but did not pass over to
his second in command. On the con-
trary he thought bit and sent for
Mr.. Merriam, and took him to one side
and had a conversation with him of
five minutes duration that was inaudi-
BILE to everybody else. BuX did catch
q word or two. but could make Of it
nothing that did not stimulate his Curl
osity. "KilIed." "Mescalcro noun
tains," written Observation-Disclosures
only 49," were some of them. and
when he took the commanding officers
desk the next day he ransackcd it to
find that dispatch, surprising it to be
official, said the operator. 1t came
from department headquarters, but
was addressed TO the colonel personal
ly, not in his capacity Us post COM
1nnnder, consequently it was not filed,
and Bux couldn't find it.
The guard had to be reduced, and
buxton gave orders according1y-a SER
geant, three corpornls, 12 scntries for
four posts, and the inevitable and ill.,
dispensnbIc orderly for the command
ing officer Icing nll now authorized,
since both battcry and troop command
crs had to keep up their stable guards.
But Buxton insisted on n lieutenant rs
officer OF tho guard, and, rs luck would
have It, tho man directed to relieve tho
infantry sub starting off with his regi-
ment wns Randolph Merriam.
lie had FASTENED home to let Florence
know it was the rincrs, not the cav
airy, that were summoned this time,
and instead Of finding her somewhat
tranquillizcd was distressed to sec
traces of continued, if not grcnter.
agitation. Mrs. lIuyne, of course. had
been hurried home. Florence had left
the sofa and was ncrvously pacing tho
little room. He heard her rapid foot
steps as he let himself in ut the door
below, but as he bounded up the stairs
she hurried to the window and stood
leaning against the sash. her back to-
ward him as he entered.
Closing the door and fastening to
her, Merriam took her in his arms and
turned her face to his. IT was hot and
flushed. The eyes were still red with
weeping, the lids swollen and distig-
urcd.
"Why, Florence, dear" he began, in
tones of mingled reproof and distress.
"what can have happened to SO dis
trrb you? We do not go. 1t is only
the rihers this time"
For one moment there was silence.
then Il sudden outburst:
"l wisl, ~e did! so. wish to heaven
had never again seen this hateful.
hateful post-or else that she had not"
''Ske! Florence? Who?"
THE women you went to see when I
was out OF the way after parade this
cvcning-arl dare not tell me-
"Elorenee! Florence!" he cried. In
utter amaze and distress. "L:stcn to
me, lear," he pleaded. for she was
struggling to relense kcrse)f-"listen
to me, chi;d."
"Chi:d?--I am no child! was one,
perhaps, when you can!e into my life
when mnr:ied you. But not now--not
now. Randy i'm woman with burn
ing. bleeding hr.:t. Why should you
go there? Why should you hide it from
1nef''
"You were i'll and w-etclscd. knew
you could ret !car her. Grm;ton asked
INC to come OK 4 matter entirely OF
business"
"Oh: w',a: !,':sineas have ycu to have
business OF ANY Kind with hcr---now?"
g! do 10: yst know, Florence" he
answered, slowly releasing her. and his
tone changing To one l., which pain Il ind
rcpronc! wars rningling now. II have
no. seen her: indcc,; she refused to
Ece,inc."
"ycn said Capt. Grafton urged you
to cora:. What RICH. hid he if she
didn't .:;r"n to So. you?"
'l'iE,. remains 10 he explained, Flor.
encc. I have ::%;l no time to inquire.
Indeed. have ret felt sufficient inter
est. Mrs. Grafton said Ike lady had
declined to s:Se anybody, ard hHe! goue
back to bird, r->str"tcd a2ai:, possibly.
was most nn*io!H 10 come to GOV,
my vic, LITTLE dreaming what welcome
was In store for MIC. Florence. dear, ia
81 possible l., ii credible !l;Ht sou have
let thu: ro:i woman cclnc as :: to:liisn.
into your ZEE md make w.! 50, unjust
to rae" .. my ::t-!c soldier girl Is inis
Just to ci:.,er Of Gag
Tell ne .:.s." she demanded, SUD
denly facing. hin ana !cosirg :,,:, his
troubled eyes. rs ti,c-c s.y business
t,o