Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-07-06
CHAPTER I.
copyright. 1896. by F. Tennyson Neely.l

There was more than one reason why
Fanny McLane should not have accepted
the Graftons' invitation to visit them
at Fort Sedgwick. Perhaps that was
why she never mentioned the matter
to her sister, Mrs. Parry, until that lady
surprised her in the midst of the pack
ing.
"Where are you going, FAM" was
the query, half-aggrieved, half-aggres-
sivc-the tone in which an elder often
addresses younger sister who has evil
IDENTIFY presumed to contemplate some
journey without previous consultation
and consent.
81? Why I thought you knew. Co.
ing to spend week or two with the
Graftons"
''The Graftons! Fanny McLane! You
don't mean you're going to Fort Sedg-
wick?''
''That'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, glancing quickly from trunk to
trunk in the sunshiny but Uttered room.
Now she took a step forward, hesitated
one moment as she looked at the maid
servant bending busily over a great
Saratoga, and in dumb show intimated
to her sister that she wished that open
But Mrs. McLane was blind to any
signals. Indeed she seemed at the mo-
ment to find it necessary to supervise
some of Annette'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.. McLane not year
in his gravel"
\ redder spot burns in each fair
cheek. as the young widow turns quick
ly and faces her accuser.
"And why not, pray? The Graftons
are the oldest, dearest friends I have
at least she isl
"And Randy Merriam-isn't there, I
suppose-nor his plain wife?''
'Mr. Merriam's whereabouts is a mat
ter of entire Indifference to me, as you
ought to have the decency to know,
Charlotte"
Ought to be matters of Indifference,
/ concede, but I have grave doubts as
to whether they are, as you say"
Then keep your doubts and suspi-
cions to yourself. Charlotte" said Mrs.
McLane, with trimming eyes ard burn
ing cheeks. "This is no place to speak
of such matters.' and the trimming
eyes-which their owner tried hard
TO induce to blaze instead of brim-
turn significantly toward Annette,
busily packing and assiduously feign-
ing unconsciousIess, and then almost
defiantly turn back to her sister.
II know perfectly we'll what you
mean, Frances" responds the elder, and
when "Charlotte' and Frances were
adopted instead of "Lot" and Fan" it
meant that the sororal relations were
more than strained.
II 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 kneeling Annette with a
nod of her very stylishly coifed head
shat would keep me from speaking.
But this is case where duty cannot be
neglected. Fanny, are you in your right
senses 2"
I'm every one of the seven, Charlotte,
and I don't mean to listen to abuse.
You know perfectly well DR.. Mellon
said needed change"
'Well, then, go to New Orleans, go to
Bermuda, go to St. Augustine-go to
St. Petersburg, Fan-anywhere on
earth rather than Fort dgwick-any-
where under heaven except where Ran
dolph Merriam happens to be<-unless
you would have me believe you lost
to-
But here, with solemn mien, enters
the male biped who officiates as butler,
hall boy and major domo at the Clar-
endon flats-a card upon the salver in
his pudgy hand, and Mrs. Parry nearly
chokes in the necessity for sudden stop.
ASK Mr.. Swinburne up says Mrs.
McLane, promptly, barely glancing at
the black-bordered card and evidently
glad of the interruption. snow, 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 cheeks al
ready. Elbow does my hair look?" she
adds, turning inquiringly toward the
defeated elder, sure that whatever cause
of quarrel there may be, that, ct les>st, is
subject for truce. !
''Your hair is all right" responds her.
sister, with marked emphasis and as
marked sense of baffled purpose. Il
wish the rest Of your head were Us well
balanced You don't expect me to see;
Mr.: Swinburne, suppose % -s. =
@'Mr. Swinburne certainly doesn't ex-
pect to see you. He is coming mainly
on business" =, .I.% !
"You might far better listen to his
business, as you call it, even this soon,
than 60 near Randy Merriam" s .# 4
"Charlotte, Twill not listen to you. If
you cannot stay here without insulting
me with every other word you would
much better go home and stay home un-
til you can speak sensibly.'''' And with
this Mrs. McLane darts past her sister
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