Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-02-18
CHAPTER v.

mountains and Merriam and his men
were recalled to Sedgwick. Late in
July Billy Whitaker had been relieved
by his restored comrade and returned
to headquarters; he lost no time In cali
Ing on the Haynes, and between him
and that charming little army matron,
Mrs. Hayne, there were exchanged sig
nificant smiles and knowing looks, and
not few confidential words, to all OF
which the blond, Norse-looking captain
and husband seemed to give hearty ap-
proval. And letters from the canton
ment - long letters - came to Mrs.
Hayne from her friend, Mrs. Tremaine.
and long. loving, blissful missives from
Florence, and when the Haynes, father
and mother, boys and girls, all present
" went in to Chicago for q month at
the fair II leaked out in some way that
Mrs. Hayne left freighted with mysteri-
Gus commissions from her friends at the
Catamount, Tremaine's reverses permit
ting no such extravaganza ms journey
especially in view Of the many new
and lovely items that women decreed as
Indispensable now. And presently 1t
was known Mt Sedgwick that, despite
his complete recovery. Mr.. Merriam
seemed to find II necessary TO leave the
detachment in the mountains and make
frequent. even hazardous rides. with
only a single orderly. down deep into
the canyon OF the Catamount, and so on
back to Wells and the environment.
Long before the Haynes returned from
Chicago. therefore, the sweet secret was
out. and all Fort Sedgwick was talking
of Merriam's engagement to Floy IRE
maine. She was but IS; he 90. She was
shy, sensitive, an idoliZed daughter.
There were times when she was actual
IL lovely, so deep and tender were her
eyes. so winning her smile, soft and
carcssing her voice. He was sialwart,
soldierly, fine-looking certainly, but
man few heartily liked, while few thor
oughly knew him. He had been wild,
extrayagant, and, some said. dissipated
the first two or three years after his
graduation. He was known TO be frank
l'nnd truthful. and us giver and lender
lad been decidedly too generous. lie
was n conscientious officer In many
ways, except when he was serving I'M
der Buxton. He couldn't bear "Bux,"
and Bux not infrequently spoke dis
paragingly OF Merriam's ability. thing
that might have hurt him In the eyes
Of his superiors but for the fact that
they knew Bux far better than he knew
them. Among officers Of his own grade
there were none whose opinion was
worth having who really disliked Mer-
ram. but very few who felt themselves
sufficiently intimate with him to active
Is like. They had nothing against him
except certain indifference OF manner,
and nothing that called for enthusiastic
praise. His conduct in returning to Ills
regiment from an expensive eastern sta
ton and putting himself en- retraite I'M
III his debts should be lifted and his
duns appeased met with general COM
mendaiion. His course in taking the
Mescalero detail Oft brother officers
hands was held TO he Enthusiastically
generous. lie had lots Of good points.
had Merriam. they all conceded, but
there were not four people. officers or
ladies', In either the cavalry or the
Eiflcrs who thought him good enough
for Florence Trcmninc.
wish her Joy? Aye, with all my
heart" said the Old colonel. when the
news Of the engagement was brought
| 10 him. "but can we hope it?" Even
Capt. Haync was not sure. though he
tried 10 he. and found comfort and in
spirniion in the enthusiasm Of his de-
voted wife and in the sianch opinions
Of Billy Whitaker. These two were
the two ut Sedgwick to whom that en-
gagemeni brought g.adness without al
lny. and since there were not four peo-
| ME In the combined commands who
could thoroughly approve the match
| i follows that ut most. therefore. there
.ou.d be only one more. but that one
was the most confident. the most en-
'husinsiic. the happicst, the gladdest.
he proudest, the fondest girl that ever
| .iyrd--F,orence her own sweet self. In
! passion OF tears. one exquisite. NOON
III evening late in June. she had thrown
herself upon her knees by her mothers
SHE and sobbed out the news that Mer-
Ram had told her he loved her dearly
md had asked her TO be his wife, and
when the mother drew her to her bosom
md held her there. and mingled her
ears with those of her beloved child.
her heart went up In prayer TO Heaven.
for she knew that which Trcmaine
.nu.d not understand. that so deep. so
'ond. so nl.-possessing was the love
with which Florence would love. prob
bly, did love. that there could be no
listening 10 reason. She had pinned
her faith on Randolph Merriam and II
.ou.d not he shaken.
But neither wife nor daughter knew
hai night that. earlier in the evening.
Merriam had sought the husband and
iaiher and opened his heart 10 him,
in,d him his whole story. and begged
" him his consent and blessing. IL
lid love Miss Hayward" he said: Il was
fascinated beyond expression and was
stun I'd by the abrupt end Of our en-.
gagemeni. but all that passion was
killed by the details that have reached
me. and In its place have grown up an
admiration and love for your daughter
thar Gar exceed anything f-have known
II a n Il