Daily camera., 1901-08-03
u
Nerrism y - ~ something, and
this, In evident constraint, is what he

Ierriana n y 11y something, and
this, In evident constraint, is what he
said:
"Yes-we-iid meet-Mrs. McLane-
I'm very sorry to hear she's been i'll,
and am much surprised to hear she's
coming here. Excuse me, Mrs. Grafton,
I must hurry on"
That evening Floy and her husband
failed to attend the formal hop which
was held each week, and their absence
was noted, for she loved to dance, and
had promised waltzes and two steps
without number to her old friends of
the Riflers and the cavalry both. Some
one proposed going after them. Mrs.
Hayne did call on her way home, for
she left early, and inquired anxiously
for Florence. "She has severe head
ache" said Randy, who came to the
door with gloom in his eyes, "and she
felt too good-for-nothing to attempt it,
so persuaded her to go to her room"
He asked them in, but did not invite.
Both IIayne and his wife noted that,
and both felt they knew the cause Of all
the trouble when they met Whitaker
| ten minutes later and learned from him
that the Graftons expected n guest
from the east on Saturday-Mrs. Nc
Lane.
And Saturday evening she came, al
most at the same hour at which she
first set eyes on that dreary landscape,
and wondered what was the name of
those far, blue hills, and who those Off
GERS and ladies could be. But this time
| it was the train from the northeast
that bore her in, and itscompanion from
the Sunset Route" was not there;
neither was there n swarm of officers
and ladies. There was only one of each
"A grave, dignifed, soldierly man in
undress uniform-a young, pretty, sty-
lishly attired dame at his side. The
Pullman came to n stop at the platform.
the porter spranR out laden with bags
and bundles; the conductor stepped off
and raised his cap and offered his hand
| to a vision of female charms, fair,
sweet smiling face framed in dainty
little cap. The heavy Grape veil was
| thrown back, and the slender, rounded
form was decked in somber weeds, yet
how gracefully, effectively was it
draped Even Grafton could not fail to
note It, No sign OF dust and CRIME Of
travel was there. The shrouding, pro-
| tecting veil and duster had been dis
carded only just before they reached
the station; Annette had slowed them
| f.,1 H. -, = L.
| her bereaved mistress carefully and
| skillfully arrayed herself in veil and
| bonnet that had been boxed through
out the journey. She stepped forth
into iIarriet's welcoming arms as trim
as though she herself had just issued
from a bandbox, her JOY at being once
more with such fond friends decorously
| tempered by the sense of her cver-pres-
ent, all-pervading sorrow, and the con
sciousness of her delicate and uncertain
| health. Only moment did she allow
| herself in Harrict's embrace. No time
must be lost in preciptating herself
upon the massive and not too eloquently
welcoming captain, who held out a hand
| in his untutored army way, as hands
| had been extended for the score of years
he had been in service, and not at the
height of the shoulder, as hers, after
the alien mode of the 9O's. Into his
arms she did not throw herself, yet
| looked she as she meant to look and have
him see her look, and be impressed ac-
| cordinely. as though such was her sense
| of his lofty character and her own needs
| of some strong arm on which TO lean,
she might even be glad to find shelter
there.
There was always something so ap-.
pealing about Fan" said Mrs. Grafton
sometimes, and indeed there was
And then the train moved on, and
Grafton looked grimly at the stack of
Saratogas up the platform, while the
orderly was loading bags, baskets and
| bundles into the roomy Concord wagon,
and the quartermaster's team came rat
tling alongside to load up with heavy
luggage.
Il won't have TO see-anybody to-
| night, will l, dearest?" pleaded the
widow of her devoted friend, as they
bowled away TO the post. Il look like
hag after this dreadful journey, and
I'm so tired. Oh! do you get soft wa
ter here, or is it all this wrctched
alkali?" and she studied her friends
already suffering complexion and read
her answer there. No matter; she had
borax and-other correctiyes-in abun-
dance.
Inspection was all over. The cavalry
were all at stables down under the
bluff as they whirled into the great,
spreading garrison and went spinning
up the roadway in front of officers
quarters. The captain lifted both la
dies out at the gate and assisted An
nette to alight; then, giving brief di-
rCction to the servant, he raised his
cap: And now you are at home, Mrs.
McLanc, and will leave you to Harriet
while l go down TO my horses awhile"
and Fan followed him with swimming
eyes.
How blessed you are, Harriet" she
murmured. $50 strong, so noble
man. All, have so needed you-both.
I'm so thankful to be here"
And as they led her beneath the
shaded porch. and bright eyes on other
porches looked eagerly on, and her own
bright, brimming eyes took in the
many. odd, unfamiliar yet attractive
surroundings in this cozy army home,
Fan was wondering how she could ever
have thought of such lifc-how it was
possible for Harriet to be happy in it,
while her hostess was already Won
dering if, after all, she was quite as
content and happy as she was before
Fanny came.
HIT\DTER VIII