Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-03-25
CHAPTER X.-CoNTINuEp.

CHAPTER X.-CoNTISuED.
"why, Florence, dear" Randy began,
In tones Of mingled reproof and dis
tress, "what can have happened to SO
disturb you? We did not 60. 1t is only
the rifers this time"
For one moment there was silence,
then sudden outburst:
~ wish we did 60. wish to heaven
had never again seen this hateful,
hateful post-or else that she had not"
"She! Florence? Who?"
"The woman you went to see when
WINS out of the way after parade this
evening-and dare not tell me-"
FLORENCE! Florence!" he cried, in
utter amaze and distress. "Listen to
me, DEAR" he pleaded, for she was
struggling to release herself-"listen
to me, child"
"Child?-I nm no child! was one,
perhaps, when you came into my life
when married you. But not now-not
now, Randy--l'm woman with burn
ing, bleeding heart. Why should you
60 there? Why should you hide II from
mew
"You were iii and wretched. knew
you could not bear her. Grafton asked
me to come ON O matter entirely Of
business"
"0h! what business have you to have
business of any kind with her--now?'
II do not yet know, Florence" he
answered, slowly releasing her, and his
tone changing to one in which pain and
rcproach were mingling now. u have
not seen her; indeed she refused to
see me-"
'You said Capt. Grafton urged you
to come. What right had he II abe
didn't mean to see your"
"That remains to be explained, Flor
ence. I have had no time to inquire.
Indeed, I have not felt sufficient inter-
est. Mrs. Grafton said the lady had
declined to see anybody. and had gone
back to bed, FRUSTRATED again, possibly.
! was most anxious to come to you,
my wife, little dreaming what welcome
was In store for me. Florence, dear, Is
II possible-is It credible that you have
let that poor woman come as torment
into your life and make you 30 unjust
to me? o, my little soldier girl, Is this
just to either Of us?"
"Tell me this!" she demanded, sud-
denly facing him and looking into his
troubled eyes. SIS there any business
can there be any reason why she
should wish to see you-alone?"
Merriam hesitated. Florence" he
began, "there are matters sometimes
made known to q man that he must
dlvulge to no one. I do not know what
abe desires Of me, but / believe II Is
her wish to learn oil I know about that
poor fellow who was killed up the
Mescalero last June-nothing else"
"And needs private interview with
her rejected lover for that purposc!"
she interrupted, her eyes flashing anew.
The child was indeed woman. "Oh,
hate her! / hate her!" she cried,
throwing herself passionately upon the
sofa, and then Merriam cried: "Hushl"
for some one was knocking at the door,
It was the servant, their oblique-eyed
Chinaman, with note. my knockee
tlee times" he grinned. "All time
telkee-talkee; no listen"
It was brief summons to relieve
Lieut.. Henry In command Of the guard
ct once. Henry had to 60 with his regi-
ment.
''Mrs. Hayne Is coming back, is she
notr he queried Of Florence, but had
To repeat the query twice. She only
shook her head.
He waited @ moment. Listen, Flor
ence. DEAR" he presently said, o. he
bent compassionately over her. II am
ordered on guard at once, and ] must
60 to relieve Henry. Even Il :"
cannot tell you what Mrs. be
wishes to see me about, this ] u
you, dear. II must see her. yoq
know Il first-from me, and not b -
It through some meddllng gossipa &
He was wondering as he walked away
who could have told his wife he had
called at Grafton's and asked for Mrs.
McLAne. He was too proud to inquire.
He had kissed her gently, forgivingly,
~ he said to himself, before coming
away, and promised that he would be
with her again II only for few min
ufes before the signal for lights out.
He found Henry swearing with impa-
thence, N the youngster had raft"
Of preparations to make, and II was
very. late. nearly II o'clock, before he
had reestablished the sentry posts as
ordered BY the new officer Of the day.
The trumpets sounded "taps" to heed
less ears and the lights burned bright
" In ell the barracks, and the troopers
who we're not to 90 were chafiug tina
'dough-boys" who were. and 80 mix
ing ND not a little In the work Of prep
nratIon. Ne had seen Hnyne moment
1nd had bss1 told that Mrs. Hsyns
rpuld nm bseE 70 FloFsncs again -