Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-10-20
CHAPTER II.

'T own 1 never thought of her marry
ing in the army" said Aunt Charlotte,
as do other aunts and mothers after
their girls have been campaigning at
the Point.
What income, if any, have you out
side your pay?" was Uncle Mellen's
more-to-the-point Interrogation.
Nothing, SIR"
''Well, neither has she. That is, what
she has is so small it wouldn't keep that
extravagant child in gloves. You two
had better be sensible and think it
over"
Randy Merriam did think it over, but
all to no purpose. The more he thought
the more he declared himself hopelessly
and irrevocably in love, and as Miss
Fan took kindly to his protestations
and Parry and Charlotte took kindly
to him and sympathized with the sol
dierly fellow, who was evidently much
of gentleman and so much in love,
it resulted in his being made welcome
at Parry's club, received quite as Parry
was at the Mellens-since not oftener
than once week could he get away
from his duties at the Point, and when
Ned and Charlotte were married, as
they were in state and style early in
the winter, Merriam had many "a good
reason for believing that, despite his
poverty, the next wedding reception
held at the MeIlen's beautiful home
would be one in which he would be
vitality interested.
Well, he was; but not in the way or
manner expected. In fact, he did not
attend the ceremony or the reception;
indeed, he was not hidden. A very dis
agreeable thing happened to him with
in a month after the Parry-Hayward
wedding, one that overwhelmed him
with modification and distress, and
caused no little indignation among his
comrades.
Every body knew Randy Merriam was
IN debt. He made no secret of it. He
was extravagant in his tastes, had in
Cured obligations before going on duty
at the Point, and found it impossible
to "catch up there. There were three
or four accounts he had been asked to
settle, as they had been running some
time, but he put them off from month
to month, hoping that he might soon
be able to obtain possession of small
sum of money left him by the will of a
relative two years before. 1t was only
a few thousand dollars, yet even that
had been contested, together with a
number of similar requests, and the
legal complications had been as ex-
asperating as the laws delay could
make them. One day. soon after Char
lotte's wedding. Merriam was sum-
moned to the presence of the super
intendent and was regretfully told that
four of his creditors had united in an
appeal to the war department, and the
matter had been referred to him as
post commander. Merriam was con-
founded. He had seen and talked with
one of them only a few weeks before
and no such action had even been limited
at Nor did he know that any one OF
their number was aware of his indebt
edness to the others. Frankly he had
told Miss Fan of these matters before
he told her of his love, but it made, ap.
parently, no impression on her. LET
them wait" she said. you'll soon be
able to pay them ten times over
Frankly he had talked of it to one OIL
two of his intimates, and later to Parry
who had grown to like him, and who
as a lawyer, thought his little inherit
ance could not be much longer with
held. It would free him; it would very
prettily furnish their quarters and still
leave a few hundreds to the fore. n,
remembered, too, that Uncle Mellen hai
made some inquiries of him, and tina
in perfect frankness he had replied
And now, just at the moment when b.
was full of hope and happiness. cam'
this cruel modification. Such action
- H. o0
eountable, but. as the superin tenden
said. it was solemn fact. Deeply cha
grined, he told the colonel the who'll
story. and the colonel was full of sym
pathy. but as full Of sense.
.srm sorry. Merriam" said he, "bu
there's only one thing for you to dc