The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-12-01

The moment anlnatlOuS WIZ W.
Mt school her mother started with her
for the far west. and Trcmaine met
them MT Santa Fee Junction. Then, after
one brief week at Sedgwick, they hau
started for the cantonment, and there
had led their uneventful life until the
coming of Randy Merriam, PROSTATE,
with the days of another June Ana
now, while Florence was in tears ana
hiding in her pretty room above stairs
this Grant, erring, invalid warrior,
with no word or sign of being himself
sorely heart-smitten, was determinedly
talking of going back forthwith to the
mountain trails. Tremaine would not
let his beloved helpmeet speak, either
to Florence or to Merriam, but he fully
meant to say more words than one to
Merriam himself, and then he be-
thought him of Dalrymple, and THE
famous frock that doughty major
donned whenever he sailed forth to ask
the intentions of O'Malley's dashing
Light Dragons, and this reflection gave
him pause. II, either by accident or de-
sign, the heart of his precious child had
become wrapped up in Merriam, then
Merriam should not leave the post with
out an explanation. But there was yet
time. It might be that the. poor fellow
was really sore smitten himself, and
that the tender but unconquered heart
of his daughter was touched with pity
for his suffering.
Meantime the culprit officer himself
had been carefully lifted into the doc
tors buggy, and with that excellent
practitioner was enjoying drive. The
one thing Wells could not understand
was that, while his patient rapidly gained
in health, flesh and appetite, he seemed
so to droop in spirits. Not one word had
he been told of Merriam's broken en-
gagement, beyond what Mrs. Tremaine
had impaired. and she could give but
scanty information. Merriam was
grateful for all the care and attention
lavished upon him, grateful for return
ing strength, for sunshine, fresh air,
and the brisk drive along the shores Of
the winding Catamount, but Merriam
was silent, smiled but seldom, and
laughed not at all. Merriam was plain
ly troubled, and that night, when Mrs.
Tremaine asked her friend, the doctor,
how his patient enjoyed the drive, that
gentleman replied that if it did him
good he gave no sign. 81 believe" said
he, that Merriam's in love, and that's
why l cannot understand his eager
ness to get back to his troop" And the
! mother leaped with hope. She, too, had
| had other plans for Florence than that
she should marry subaltern officer;
but il by chance Floy had chosen fol
herself and fallen in love with one, il
could not have been without some per.
suasion, some pleading on his part. II
must be that he was the first to love
and to plainly show it.
That night Florence was very quiet
She read aloud to her father, as was he,
custom, and chung to him as he kissed
her goodnight. Merriam had gon,
early to his room, as though fatigueC
by the drive or rendered drowsy by tn,
unaccustomed motion in the air. Some
where about three in the morning ther,
was an unusual sound of voices in ex
cited talk near the guardhouse, an,
Tremaine awoke and was dressing hur
riedly, when rapid steps came up tn
walk, and the sergeant of the guard
with dust-covered courier. stood a
his door. They bore a note from Whit
taker. A serious row had occurred be
tween some of the troop and party O
miners and prospectors who had bee
camping near them for three day,
Pistols were drawn, with the resul
that one miner was killed, two troor
ers and one prospector were seriously
perhaps mortally, wounded, and sci
eral others were injured. Could d,
wells come out to them at once for|
Few hours. at least, and was Merria}
able to ride? The young prospect
who was so seriously wounded hi
begged to see him, as he had immortal
information for him, and bade TIL
tell Mr.. Merriam that his name w
McLane, son of the man who Vii
ABOUT to marry Miss Hayward. A III.
ciled note in closed envelope accda
panied the verbal message for Merri}-
Florence, listening at her halted
ooor as the captain read Whitta1".
dispatch aloud to her mother. shH
back to her bedside, covered hcrl
win her hands and sank to her XII d
1t wns thus she was found a fewI
ments later. Merriam, aroused bIa /,
unaccustomed sounds, had Ephtee 4,
candle and, partially dressed. lsh,
forth into the broad hallway o1 N,
commanding officers quartersl nc
Iremaine met and gave him th{r,es
sage and the note. which latter Id,
tore open and read with starin tsyes
For moment he stood confcInded
tnen turned sharply to TreIaihe
NOW, sir. I've got to go, and go h one.
-"hen wells does" then tur4d ant
hurried to his room.
The captain himself aroused lis DOS
surgeon, told him the news. AID bad,
MIN see and quiet Merriam Assoc al
possible. The dawn was brealkg IN,
The rosy light was in the eastrn SIX,
"hen the doctor reached Inpatient
finding him fully dressed AM rapid,
slowing in his saddle-bags tHhmnI
articles OF soldiers toilet.
This won't do, Randy. w. e no
I'll to STIR" said he. But his drt nina
ton oozed when Merriam, v ] whit,
face, turned and said:
More than my life's at a here
doctor-it's a woman's hon.aT nd In
going, live or die"
.- CQptippsd Rs21. SSs61l