The Irish standard., 1898-02-12
CHAPTER /.

Fanny Mci.ane should not have accepted
the Graflons' invitation TO visit them
at Fort Sedgwick. Perhaps that was
why She never mentioned the matter
to her sister, Mrs. Parry. until that Indy
surprised her in the midst of the pack-
ing.
"Where are you going, Fnn?" was
the query, half-aggrieved, half-aggres-
sive--the tone in which an elder often
addresses a younger sister who has evi-
IDENTIFY presumed to contemplate some
journey without previous consultation
and consent.
81? Why thought you knew. Go
ing TO spend week or two with the
Graftons."
"The Grnftons! Fanny McIanc! You
don't mean you're going to Fort Se,lg-
wick?"
''Thut's their station" answered Mrs.
McLane. with slight access of color.
Mrs. Parry had not yet seated herself.
She was still standing at the open door
way, CHANGING quickly from trunk to
trunk in the snnshiny but Uttered room.
Now she took a step forward, hesitated
one moment as she looked at the maid
Saratoga. and in dumb show intimuted
to her sister that she wished that open
eyed. open-eared domestic elsewhere.
But Mrs. McLane was blind to any
signals. Indeed she seemed at the mo-
ment TO fluid it necessary to supervise
some of Annettc's work. noting which
symptom Mrs. Parry's scruples van-
ished.
Fanny, you know perfectly we'll
that's the last place on earth you should
go to now, and Mr. McI.ane not year
in his gravel"
redder spot burns in each fair
check. as the young widow turns quick
ly and faces her accuscr.
"And why not, pray? The Graftons
are the oldest, dearest friends have
at least she is"
'And Randy Merrinm--isn't there. I
suppose-nor his plain wifc?"
-"Mr. Mcrrinm's whereabouts is mat
ter of entire Indifference to me, as you
ought TO have the dcccncy to know,
Charlotte"
Ought to he matters of Indifference.
concede, but I have grave doubts as
to whether they are. as you say" -
"Then keep your doubts and suspf-
cions to yourself, Charlotte" said Mrs.
McLane. with brimmirg eyes and burn
ing checks. "This is no place to speak
Of such matters" and the trimming
eyes-yhieh their owner tried hard
TO induce to blaze instead of brim-
turn significantly toward Annette,
busily. packing and assidnously feign-
ing Inconsistencies. and then almost
defian tly furn back to her sister.
81 know perfectly we'll what you
mean. Frances" responds the elder, aud
when "Chnrlotte" and Frances" we're
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
thought that and here Mrs. Parry in
dicates the lsneeling Annette with a
nod of her very stylishly coifed head
chat would keep Inc from speaking.
But this is n case where duty cannot be
neglected, Fanny, are you in your right
senses?"
Sin every one of the seven, Charlotte,
and don't mean to listen to abuse.
You know perfectly well DR.. Mellon
said l needed change"
"Well, then, go to New Orleans. 30 to
Bermuda, go to ST. Augustinc--go to
ST.. Petersburg, Fan---nnywherc on
earth rather than Fort Sedgwck-any-
where under heaven except where Ran
dolph Merriam happens TO be-uness
you would have me believe you lost
to-"
But here, with solemn nien, enters
the male hipcd who of1iriates as butler,
hall boy and major domo at the CLAIR
endon iats-a card upon the salver in
his pud2y hand, and Mrs. Parry nearly
chokcs in the necessity for sudden stop.
ASK Mr. Swinburne up" says Mrs.
McLane, promptly, barely CHANGING at
the black -bortercd card and evidently
glad Of the interruption. Now, Char
lotte, not another word, unless you wish
me to show how indignant am to every
visitor who comes in" and Mrs. McLane
is busy bathing her flushed checks al
ready. 'lIow does my hair locke" she
adds. turning inquiringy 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 rs
marked n sense of bnflled purpose. II
wish the rest of your head were as we'll
balanced. You don't expect me to see
Mr.. Swinburne, suppose?"
"Mr. Swinburne certainly doesn't cx-
pect to see you. He is coming mainly
on business"
"You might far better listen to his
business. as you call it, even this soon,
than go near Randy Merriam"
charlotte, will not listen TO You. II
you cannot stay here without insulting
me with every other word you would
much better go home and stay home UNI
til you can speak-sensibly." And with
this Mrs. McLanc darts past her sister
into the pnssageway, and so on to the
parlor front of her suite Of apartments,
just as the little electric indicator tells
that the elevator has stopped and that
some one is at the entran nee door. 1t IL
IplyOYnuEc r1us E;.uv-,r surnN