Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-01-28

I11z1IUl1
Understanding MexicanL Q few
stblid, silent Indians, and then-was
II possible2 - styllshls, fashiohably-
dressed women, ind 6fiicers In riding
gatb, and there at the platform st6od
waiting ambulances and orderlies with
led horses, and the sound Of merry chat
and laughter came floating In at the
open window, and people occupying sec.
tions on the left side Of the Pullman
crossed over to her side and gazed with
all their eyes. "What's the name Of this
station?" some one asked the porter.
''Santa Fe junction." was the answer.
"Yawnduh's Font Sedgwick, three miles
out there on the mesa"
Fanny McLane's heart gave sudden
jump The train, which had stopped
IN instant before crossing the other
track, moved slowly on, and then under
the grip Of the air brakes came to a
stand beside the platform, and. con.
scious that she was looking her worst
looking yellow, In fact-she drew
back from the window and hastily
lowered the shade. Then merry voices
and laughter. and light, bounding foot.
steps were heard at the head Of the
car, and In came a joyous party, officers
and ladies. A tall, slender girl seemed
the object Of general interest, and her
bundles and wraps were deposited In
the opposite section by one officer; an
other bore brand-new bag, another n
bunch Of beautiful roses, and ten wom
en- hung about the girl and kissed her
and cooed over her; and, with the ex.
perienced eye OF her sex, Mrs. McLane
needed only one glance ut the pretty.
stylish travelling suit, ut the jaunty
little hat, at the slender, tapering boot.
nll so new and glossy, to realize ut once
that here was bride-an army bride
and one beloved OF her kind, for one
woman after another chung to her rs
they kissed, and many eyes were wet,
and all were filed with love and trust
and tenderness. God bless you, Floy.
darling!" cried one enthusiastic girl.
"I'm SO, SO glad we've got you in our reg
iment. was SO afraid the Riflers would
never let you CO." And this, too, seemed
an all-pervading sentiment among the
men whose caps were decorated with
crossed sabers, while others, who wore
the badge OF the infantry, and their
wives and daughters seemed to have an
other song TO sing. "Florence. you
broke our hearts by marrying out OF the
regiment. but mt least we'll soon have
you back at Sedgwick," was the pur'
port OF what was said by more than cae
of their number.
Then came warnings to leave the
train. The conductor was shouting
"All aboard" and, bearing her with
them, they rushed tumultuously to the
rear platform. Then, very slowly at
first, the car began to move. and the
other occupants Of the Pullman poked
their heads out of the windows and
looked back along the platform, as &c.
CARNATIONS followed them. But Mrs.
McLane still shrank behind the lowered
shade, her heart beating strangely, and
her ears straining us though to catch
the tones Of voice long unheard, last
heard only with sweet emotions. Man.
ly tones were shouting Godspeeds and
good-byes. Womanly voices were add.
ing their inconsiderate pleas for let
tiers, and then us the speed increased
and the voices died away the passen-
gers slipped back to their sections and
strove not to seem to be on the watch
for the return OF the bride. It was
quite n little while before she reap
peared. Mrs. McLnne was conscious
she was coming because Of the back
ward glances Of her fellow-trayelers,
and, under their long lashes, her own
eyes took their eager, sidelong peep.
She came slowly, tall, soldierly form
in gray travelling garb close at her side,
one arm half encircling, half support
ing her. She had evidently been weep
ing n little. for us she seated herself and
looked fondly up in his face the great
lustrous, deep-brown eyes were wet
with tears, but the face was glorifed
by the love and trust that shone in them.
A broad-shouldered back, bending de.
votedly over the girl, was about all
Fanny McLane could see of the escort,
but II was enough to cause her heart to
stand suddenly still. She felt as though
she were choking, as though she must
have dir. Then she heard his voice.
deep-toned, manly, tender, the very
tones her ears had been straining TO
hear n few minutes before, and then,
springing from her seat, her handker-
chief raised 20 and shrouding her face.
she too buried to the rear door Of the
car and stood there clinging to the rail
for support. The man in gray. the de-
voted bridegroom, was Randolph Mer-
RAM.
And there at the rear door she how
sred until the clouds Of choking dust
drove her within. II was the mems end
Of the car, and fragrant cigar smoke
was drifting from the room in which
her husband and his cronies were play
ing whist. II only the long car were
turned end for end! II only she could
get her bag and reach the women's toll.
et-room unobserved. Let him, and his
and that girl-see her looking as she
was now?-not for worldsi Get to that
toilet-room and wash away the CRIME
and dust and cinders, get out her alco-
hol lamp and curl that rebellious,
stringy "front," and prink and powder
and retouch those faded lashes and
brows-all this she must do before fac.
ing him and her. But how to get there
without being seen. She must pass
them so close as almost to touch his
shoulder. No! A furtive peep from
behind the brown curtain into the dim
interior revealed the broad gray shout