Daily camera., 1901-08-06

tied hands and feet"
And Randy went angering back te
Floy's mutely inquiring eyes. "Wha
can l do to cheer you tonight, my dar
ling?' he whispered, as he bent ove1
to kiss her. rs Mrs. Hayne coming
back?"
Florence was lying on the sofa in he1
pretty room nloft, and Merriam knel
AZ her side, taking her passive hand il
his and stroking gently the curls tha
shimmered about her white temples
The smile with which she greeted hin
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.
II had to stop moment on the way
dear. A matter ] promised to attent
to-" and again he bent and laid his lip'
upon her brow, then pressed them t.
hers. Time was, ard only few day:
gone by, when she used to meet tha
fond caress with kiss as fond, as lin
gering as his own. Now she lay then
patient, unresponsive. Something
prompted him to pass his arm under
meath her neck and to draw her head Il
his breast, and she let herself go, un
resisting, but her check did not nestle
happily, confidently, as was its way
Her big, pathetic eyes were down
cast, even avcrted.
| II ,,.;,h 7 ls,n,,, Gonna n fyloIipT
you q bit, my Brownie" he murmured
using for almost the first time her IA
ther's own fond pet name for her, ant
he was startled beyond measure at the
result One instant her face light
ed as with sudden radiant joy, ther
Quivered all over with pent-up emo
ton. Then the pretty mouth began
to twitch and the lips to tremble, ant
then, despite every effort, she turned
back to her pillow and burst into pas
sion of tears, great sobs shaking hcl
slender frame from head to foot
Florence, Florenec." he cried, in
utter dispay and trouble. What is it
sweetheart? What is it, my pet, 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 cnn l have said TO sc
distress yon?" Ard now he would take
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. Il
was useless.
"Oh. let me cry-let me cry!" she
pleaded ."it's what need"
And so In pain and bewilderment hs
Yielded to her wish and strove 10 con
tent himself with murmuring soft
soothing words and holding her closC
to his heart, and at last the storm OF
tears seemed drifting away and sh,
could speak in answer to his pleading
and presently she looked one instant
into his eyes and began:
DO you think-could .we-go bach
to the-cantonment for-just littl,
Ewhile?"
"Why, Floy. darling, we've only JUS
come from there"
Il know. And yet-and yet,-oh, il
seems months years since - since
them" And now the sobs again be
came uncon.rollabie, and in dread an
distress he sprang up To call the serN
an, and bid him go for Mrs. Hayu
and the doctor. Florence protested
even implorci, but to no purpose. HI
message was sent. and before man.
minutes both were there.
The medico looked pcrturbed when h
came downstairs, talked about low nery
Gus condition; snid that air, sunshine
cheerful companionship were what sh
really needed, etc, etc. Shed bee
housing herself too much OF late. II
would send over some sedntiyes froI
the hospital; and then he hustled out
and was glad to get away. Then cam
an orderly with the colonels compii
ments, and would Mr. Merriam ste)
over to the Office q minute; and, glanc
ing across the parade, Randy was sur
prised 10 see that bright lights wen
shining from the windows at headguar
tiers, and there were signs of unusua
life and stir about the infantry bar
racks. Quickly he mounted the stair
and again knelt by the side of his younl
wife. She was quieter now, but evi
IDENTIFY weak from the violence of he
emotion, IL from no other cause. Smil
ing sympathetically, Mrs. Hayn
arose from her place near the head o
the sofa, that he might come closer ant
fold Florence in his arms. as she fel
sure florence wished to be folGed. an
Randy did come nearcr, and took tn
slender hand in his and spoke tendcrl.
and fondly. and bent again ard kisset
the pale forehead, lingeringly. and al
this Florence seemed TO accept withou
other notice than silence and submis
sion. Mrs. Hayne gnzed with swift.
changeful expression. This was some
thing utterly new, utterly unlocked for
What could have occurred to turn Flor
ence Merriam, fondest, happiest o
wives, into this limp, unresponsiv
creature? Surely, 1t could not be tha
there fingered one remaining doubt o
Randy now. He had ignored so utterly
so successfully, the wiles of the co
1uette TO whom he owed allegiance
year gone by. She heard him murmur
"I'll be back very soon, dearest sav
the sudden upward sweep Of the whit
eyelids, and the miserable, questioning
look in the dark brown eyes. "Th
colonel had sent for me to attend him a
the office" "he explained, and the eyelid
drooped again Then he pressed hi
lips to hers, and they answered not n
all. Then he rose, and, with deep con
Germ in his manly face, turned to &c
ut is so good of you to come to us,
he said to Mrs. Hayne. II should b
at loss without you. I'll hurry back
But his last look as he left the room
was for Florence, whose eyes followe'
him only until his turned again to hel
Then they drooped again.
"Floy, dear" said Mrs. Hayne, after
moment Of thought, I'm going to asl
you something"
The girl held up her white hand, and
as though listening. said: wait"
They heard Randy in the hall below
as he threw his cape over his shoulder
and fastened out, heard him go bound