Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-01-21
CHAPTER L

the Graftons' invitation to visit them
at Fort Sedgwick. Perhaps that was
why she never mentioned the matter
to her sister, Mrs. Parry, until that lady
surprised her in the midst Of the pack
ing.
"Where are you going, FAM" was
the query, half-aggrieved, half-aggres-
Bive-the tone in which IN elder often
addresses younger sister who has evi.
IDENTIFY presumed to contemplate some
journey without previous consultation
and consent.
81? Why thought you knew. Co
ing to spend week or two with the
Graftons."
"The Graftons! Fanny McLane! You
don't mean you're going to Fort Sedg-
wick?"
"That's their station" answered Mrs.
McLane, with slight access of color.
Mrs. Parry had not yet seated herself.
She was still standing at the open door
way, glancing quickly from trunk to
trunk In the sunshiny but Uttered room.
Now she took step forward, hesitated
one moment rs she looked at the maid
servant bending busily over great
Saratoga, and in dumb show intimated
to her sister that she wished that open
eyed, open-eared domestic elsewhere.
But Mrs. McLane was blind to any
signals. Indeed she seemed at the mo-
ment to find II necessary to supervise
some Of Annette's work, noting which
symptom Mrs. Parry's scruples van
ished.
"Fanny, you know perfectly we'll
that's the last place on earth You should
70 to now, and Mr.. McLane not a year
In his gravel"
A redder spot burns in each fair
cheek, rs the young widow turns quick
ly and faces her accuser.
"And why not, pray? The Graftons
are the oldest, dearest friends have
ut least she Is"
"And Randy Merriam-isn't there,
suppose-nor his plain wife?"
"Mr. Merriam's whereabouts is q mat
ter of entire indifference to me, rs you
ought to have the decency TO know,
Charlotte"
sought TO be matters Of indifference,
I concede, but have grave doubts rs
to whether they are, as you say"
"Then keep your doubts and suspi-
cions to yourself, Charlotte" said Mrs.
McLane, with trimming eyes and burn
ing cheeks. ."This Is no place to speak
Of such matters" and the trimming
.eyes-which their owner tried hard
70 induce to blaze instead Of brim-
turn significantly toward Annette,
busily packing and assiduously feign-
ing unconsciousness, and then almost
defiantly turn back to her sister.
II know perfectly well what You
mean, Frances" responds the elder, and
when "Charlotte" and "Frances" were
adopted instead OF "Lot" and "Fan" 1t
meant that the sororal relations were
more than strained.
II gave you every signal ingenuity
could suggest, but you wouldn't see.
You didn't want to see, because you
thought that and here Mrs. Parry in
dicates the kneeling Annette with a
nod of her very stylishly coifed head
'4that would keep me from speaking.
But this Is case where duty cannot be
neglected. Fanny, are you in your right
senses?"
an every one OF the seven, Charlotte,
and don't mean to listen to abuse.
You know perfectly well DIR. Mellon
said needed change"
swell, then, go to New Orleans, 60 to
Bermuda. 60 to ST. Augustine-go to
St. Petersburg, Fan-anywhere on
earth rather than Fort Sedgwick-any-
where under heaven except where RAN
dolph Merriam happens to be-unless
you would have me believe you lost
to-"
But here, with solemn mien, enters
the male biped who ofiiciates as butler,
hall boy and major domo at the Clar-
endon fats-a card upon the salver in
his pudgy hand, and Mrs. Parry nearly
chokes in the necessity for sudden stop.
"Ask Mr.. Swinburne up" says Mrs.
McLane, promptly, barely glancing at
the black-bordered card and evidently
glad of the interruption. snow, Char
iotte, not another word, unless you wish
me to show how indignant ! am to every
visitor who comes in" and Mrs. McLane
10 busy bathing her flushed cheeks al
ready. slow does my hair loek?" she
adds, turning inquiringly toward the
defeated elder, sure that whatever cause
Of quarrel there may be, that, at least, is
subject for truce.
aYour hair is all right" responds her
sister, with marked emphasis and as
marked a sense of bafiled purpose. u
wish the rest Of your head were as well
balanced. You don't expect me to see
Mr.. swinburne, ! supposeY"
s.Mr. swinburne certainly doesn't ex-
pect to see you. He is coming mainly
on business"
~You might far better listen to his
business. as You call II, even this soon,
than go near Randy Merriam"
aCharlotte, will not listen to you. II
you cannot stay here without insulting
me with every other word you would
much better go home and stay home un-
III you can speak-sensibly." And with
this Mrs. McLanc darts past her sister
into the passageway, and so on to the
parlor front OF her suite Of apartments,
inst as the little electric indicator tells
that the elevator has stopped and that
some one Is at the entrance door. It Is
BWinburne. a well-preserved. mutton
chop wblskered. carefully-groomed fel-
low Of 80. and Swinburne bows delight
edIy over the slender white hand of the
pretty and youthful widow and disap-
ptars with her within the coy parlor.