The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-01-05


shimmered about her white temples.
The smile with which she greeted him
was very wan and fitting.
'She said she would, after little. |
told her you'd be in right after pa
rade, but" and the but" had mourn
full tone to it.
Il had to stop moment on the way,
dear. matter I promised to attend
to-" and again he bent and laid his lips
upon her brow, then pressed them to
hers. Time was. and only a few days
gone by, when she used to meet that
fond caress with kiss as fond, as lin
gering rs his own. Now she lay there
patient, unrespousive. Something
prompted him to pass his arm under
meath her neck and to draw her head to
his breast, and she let herself 60, un-
resisting, but her cheek did not nestle
happily. confidently, as was its way.
Her big, pathetic eyes were down
cast. even averted.
II wish I knew some way to gladden.
you a bit, my Brownie" he mnrmured.
using for almost the first time her IA
theirs own fond Pet name for her. and
he was startled beyond measure at the
result. One instant her face light-
ed rs with sudden radiant joy, then
| qllivered all over with pcrt-up emo
ton. Then the pretty mouth began
to twitch and the lips to tremble. and
then, despite every effort. she turned
back to her pillow and burst into a pas
sion of tears, great sobs shaking her
slender. frame from head to foot.
Florence! Florerce!" he cried. in
utter display and trouble "What is it.
sweetheart? What is it, my ret, my
precious? All don't turn from me like
that. You are not well, my own, or you
would not break my heart by shrinking
from me. What can have said to so
distress you?" And now he wouldtake
no denial. but had clasped his arms
about her and drawn her to his breast
again. and began kissing away her tears
and striving TO check her sobbing. 1t
was useless.
"Oh, let me cry-let me cryl" she
pleaded--"it's what I need"
And so in pain and bewilder1nent he
yielded to her wish ard strove to con-
tent himself with murmurinr soft
soothing words and holding her close
to his heart, and at last the storm of
tears seemed drifting away and she
could speak in answer to his pleading,
and presently she looked one instant
into his eyes and began:
do you think-could we-go bacl,
to the--cantonment for-just a little
while?"
why, Floy, darling, we've only Just
como from there"
II know. And yet-and yet-oh II
seems months - years since - since
then!" And now the sobs again be-
came uncomfortable, and in dread and
distress he sprang up to call The serv-
ant and bid him go for Mrs. Hayne
and the doctor. Florence protested.
even impiored, but to no purpose. The
message was sent, and before MANY
minutes both were there.
The medico looked perturbed when he
came downstairs, talked about low erv-
Gus condition; said that air, sunshine.
cheerful companionship were what she
really needed, etc, etc. She'd been
housing herself too much of late. He
would send over some sedatives from
the hospital; and then he hustled out.
and was glad TO get away. Then came
an orderly with the colonel's compli-
ments, and would Mr.. Merriam stem
over to the Office minute; and, glanc- |
ing across the parade, Randy was sur
prlsed to see that bright lights were
shining from the windows at headouar
ters, and there were signs of unusual
life and stir about the infantry bnr-
racks. Quickly he mounted the stairs
and again knelt by the side of his young
wife. She was quieter now, but evil !
IDENTIFY weak from the violence of her
emotion, if from no other cause. Smil-
ing alphabetically, Mrs. Hayne
arose from her place near the head of
the sofa, that he might come closer and
fold Florence in his arms, as she felt
sure Florence wished to be fo,,ed. and
handy did come nearer, and took the
slender hand in his and spoke tenderlv
and fondly, and bent again and kissed
the pale forehead, lingeringlv. and all
Ihis Florence seemed to accept without
other notice than silence and submis-
'lon. Mrs. Hayne gazed with swiftly
,hangeful expression. This was some
.mng utterly new, utterly unlocked for.
nat could have occurred to turn Flor
'nce Merriam, fondest, happiest of
wives, into this limp, unresponsive
reature? Surely, it could not be that
here fingered one remaining doubt of
sandy now. He had ignored so utterly.
o successfully, the wiles of the CO.
uette to whom he owed allegiance n
ear gone by. She heard him murmur.
III be back very soon, dearest" saw
he sudden upward sweep of the white c
Yields. and the miserable, questioning
Sok in the dark brown ewes. "Tbe n
oionel had sent for RE TO attend him NJ
he Office, The explained. and the cvelids
rooped again. Then he pressed his
ps to hers, and they answered not NJ
IL Then he rose, and, with deem CON
ern in his manly face. turned 70 90 q
1t is so good of you to come 70 nc {"
said to Mrs. Hayne. 81 should he
loss without you. I'll hurry bacLn
But his last look as he left the room, 5
as for Florence vvbnea o,..- r,