The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-02-09

a wave Of his hand TO the ladies who APP
pearcd on the southernmost porch of
the infantry lines.
"Why. you look as though you'd had
worse tuss'e than l. captain" he
laughed painfully. as he held ont his
hand "Ilow is Florence? II hasn't
frightened her much, has it? hope
Mrs. Haynes been with her"
"She's been good deal troubled. of
course" answered Grafton, gravely,
"but-but Mrs. Hayre is-bruging her
round al right, think. How are you,
old man? You did have ridel"
But now Randy was peering ont along
the row-their own row. Women were
to be seen here and there along the
verandas, gazing sympathetically
toward the slowly moving party, but
no feminine form was visible on the
piazza of his little home.
"Better lie back, Mr. Merriam" urged
the doctor. "Try TO make him do so''
he murmured to Grafton. "NNe've got
to get him quiet in his room before we
let him know anything" Already the
anxious young physician had been told
that Mrs. Merriam was probably 50
miles away, and his soul was wrung a
the thought of what that would mean
to his patient.
Yes, lie down, Randy, till we get you
indoors" urged Grafton. "We've had
to put up game on Mrs. Randy-(God
forgive me the lie" he prayed. Know
ing how anxious you were and we were
IOrf I'll. IL, 4
her away. Mrs. Hayne and DR.. Gould
are looking out for her. She's not to be
allowed to come near you till we get
you safe and sound and bathed and all
fixed up in bed. Of course we know
now. Randy-we didn't before, Int Mrs.
Hayne had TO tell my wife how careful
we have TO be of her-now, and.really,
old boy, she oughtn't to see you till
you're washed and dressed. You look
tough. Randy"
And though the face he longed to see
as they bore him up the steps was miles
and miles away, Merriam stihed his own
disappointment and bravcly thanked
them. God bless you and Mrs. Graf
ton! That was indeed thoughtful of
you, old boy" he easpcd. for pain was
wrenching him, and he gave long. long
sigh of relief when at last he was lifted
from the stretcher TO bed in the spare
room.
But that sigh was faint whisper as
compared with The long, long breath
that Grafton drew, as he sat him down
in the adjoining room and mopped his
streaming forehead.
Col. Buxton and others-all the Off
GERS, almost-felt bound to come to the
house between stables and retreat, lust
to see how Eandy was getting on, but
the answer was the same to one and all.
No one was to be admitted. for the doc
tor was trying to get him to Sleep"
And surely enough, bathed, re-
1reshed, his arm set and dressed, Randy
soon found himself slowed away in a
soft, white bed, but oh, so weak and
drowsy after all the labor of the chase
and the long, long day of racking pain.
They were TO bring Florence to him
now, his wife, his darling, impatiently
waiting for the summons, as he thought
her, at Mrs. Haynes, and he was
stretching out his arms to hcr-his one
available arm, rather, and fondly muir
muring her name, when the weary eve
lids closed and, numb and impotent. he
drifted away into deep, deep slumber,
There" said the doctor, at last.
''he'll do now"
Aye" murmured Grafton, "but what
will the waking be if there's no Flor
ence here tomorrow"
That was an anxious night at Sedp-
wick. Merriam slept like the dead. and
twice the young doctor feared it might
be necessary TO rouse him, thinking
that perhaps he had sent that tinv shot,
OF his hypodermic syringe with too
heavy charge. But so long as Randy
was ignorant of his wife's mad esca-
pade he would have slept through sheer
exhaustion and WEAKNESS, and his ply
slclan need not have troubled himself
Twice Grafton tiptoed in, and the hos. ,,
pitai attendant arose at his coming and
reported that the patient had not
stirred.
over at Grafton's quarters, however.
'hey mad to deal with a less tractable
creature. Fanny McLane had roused
from her swoon and was nervouslv ex-
cltaoiy' irritably wide awake. de-
handing actually to be. allowed IN see
MI. Merriam. Even Annette was sent |
OUT OF the room and Mrs. Grafton had |
her friend and guest to herself. and her
tears and prayers, her reproaches and
imprecations fell on hardened ears
Mrs. Grafton was adamant.
1T is mad folly to talk of sucb n
'hing' Fanny" she replied to every as
sault- Mr.. Merriam is far too serious-
~ injured to see anybody, much less
you' who would importune him for vour
own selfish purposes. Capt. Grafton
says the doctor has forbidden him 10
everybody, and he knows. In the morn
ing Capt. Grafton will see him for YOU
II the doctor will permit"
Whereat the widow only stormed the
more and declared, with hysteric tears
mat they were keeping her away from
Randy Merriam out. of spite and hatred
Just at the most critical time. He'll
die' he'll die" she cried, "and carry INV
one safeguard with him to the gravel
Sorely puzzled, Mrs. Grafton had IN
leave her once in awhile for few min.