Arizona republican., 1898-03-12
Continued From Yesterday)


 ment, and some officers were seated on the veranda without. There were not chairs enough. so the men gossiped about the piano. while the women grouped about the guest, and Mrs. Me Lane had no opportunity of singing out and renewing her advance upon Mrs Merriam. Presently those who had been there longest arose to 20. and their place was speedily taken by other arrivals; that soon let the Haynes and Merriams out, and as they tripped away homeward each seemed to draw a long breath.
 Won't you come and sit a little while?" begged Mrs. Hayne, as they neared the captains gate.
 Not tonight. thanks" was Mer- riam's reply, as he felt Floy's prompt twitch al his sleeve. She was still nerv- ous. She wished to get away and to bear him with her.
 Merriam" said Hayne, "I admire your nerve, perhaps I should say your check
 "Well, it was rather trying mo- ment," said Merriam, gravely. "Flor- ence would rather be struck than kissed by her, and feared she could not avoid showing it.
 ''Well. you created a diversion, cer- tainly," said Hayne. Goodnight, if you must go.'' But Mrs. Hayne did not speak until they were out of sight. She was anxiously watching Florence, who, beyond barely audible Good night" had not uttered a word.
 Lawrence" said she, finally, "that may have been a stroke of finesse on MT. Merriam's part, and may have creat- ed a diversion, as you say, and distract ed attention from Floy, but-she didn't like it.''
 Some of the fair widows calls were returned almost immediately, the Mer- riams' among the first, although the Merriams were not among the first to welcome her arrival. As luck would have it, Merriam was out on some troop duty. Mrs. Merriam saw her coming, accompanied by Mrs. Grafton, and fair ly flew upstairs to her room instead of first giving instructions to her servant, as an older soldier of society would have done. In consequence the China T ty parlor, and went in search of the lady of the house. Mrs. Grafton seated her self in an easy-chair, but Fanny fitted rapidly from point to point, scanning Fictures, books and bric-a-brac. John presently reappeared, smiling vacu- ously.
 "No can see. She sick, velly," he sturGily reported
 Mrs. Grafton looked concerned; Mrs. McLare annoyed.
 I'm sure I saw her on the tennis court not an hour since.'' she muttered to her hostess, as, after proper ex- pressions of sympathy and regret, they regained the roadway.
 ''Wel,, she hasn't been looking we'll for some days" said Mrs Grafton, "and it's quite possible she is ill.,
 The schoolmates had been housed to- gether only a few days before Mrs. Grafton became convinced that Fanny's devotions were rapidly waning, that with recovering health and bloom and spirits the crying need for the one dear friend to lean on had vanished Less and less grew the hours of confidential chat. More and more was the late dis consolate widow becoming interested not to say absorbed, in the details Of garrison life. Freeman, formerly Of the -th, but now a squadron com mander at Sedgwick, remarked that the lady was beginning to take notice uncommonly early" and NIinturn, with whom she was quite ready to walk and even to visit the tennis court. was heard to ask if they never had such things as half-mournirg hops Whitaker. who was sulky about something and pre- ternaturally stately as consequence, reminded him that Mrs. McLane was still in deep mourning-fuu mourning ito which a cynic in shoulder-straps \ who happened to be present replied that he only wished that other ful,s fould be as lightly worn. "She may lAaave been in the depths of woe before she left Chicago, as Mrs. Grafton de- elares she was" said Mrs. Buxton. a lady with years of experiences, ''bur she's bravely over it soon enough. She'll be dancing next" And this unchris- tan. uncharitahle remark was called forth by the sight of the lady going to ride with Whittaker-Whittake who at first could hardly be induced to call and who now could hardly be induced to believe it time to go.
 And of course, before she had been at the post week everybody knew that this was the woman to whom Mer riam was at least believed to be en gagged two years before, and that add ed to the thrilling interest of the situa tion. For a little while it had beer quite problem how to entertain her She didn't go to dances or dinners She could, perhaps, ride and play ten his, but tennis she did not care for Riding was unpleasant, because ther' were no winding wood roads, no elastic turf. The mesa was pebbly or sandy by turns, the canyon narrow, the road dusty Ladies' lunches yerV yery