Daily camera., 1901-08-05
regNIre1 the roadway.

gether only few days before Mrs.
Grafton became convinced that Fanny's
devotions were rapidly waning, that
with recovering health and bloom and
spirits the crying need for the one dear
friend to lean on had vanished Less
and less grew the hours Of confidential
chat. More and more was the late dis
conso!ate widow becoming interested,
not to say absorbed, in the details of
garrison life. Freeman, formerly Of
the -th, but now a squadron com
mander at Sedgwick, remarked that
the lady was beginning to take notice
uncommonly early" and Ninturn, with
whom she was quite ready to walk and
even to visit the tennis court, was heard
TO nsk II they never had such things as
half-mourning hops. Whitaker, who
was sulky about something ard pre-
ternaturally stately as consequence,
reminded him that Mrs. McLaEe was
still in deep mourning-ful mourning
TO which a cynic in shoulderStraps
who happened to be present replied
that he only wished that other fulls
could be as lightly worn. "She may
have been in the depths of woe before
she left Chicago. as Mrs. Grafton de.
clares she was" said Mrs. Buxton, a
lady with years OF experiences, but
she's bravely over ii soon enough. She'll
be dancing next" And this unchris.
tian, uncharitable remark was called
forth by the sight of the lady going 10
ride with Whittaker-Whittaker, who
at first could hardly be induced 10 call,
and who now could hardly be induced
TO believe il time to go.
And OF course, before she had been
at the post week everybody knew
that this was the woman to whom Mer-
riam was at least believed TO be en-
gagged two years before, and that add
ed to the thrilling interest of the situa-
ton. For little while ii had been
quite o problem how TO entertain her
She didn't go to dances or dinners.
She could. perhaps. ride and play ten
nis. but tennis she did not care for.
Riding was unpleasant, because there
were no winding wood roads, no elastic
turf. The mesa was pebbly or sandy
by turns, the canyon narrow, the roads
dusty Ladies' lunches, very, very
quiet and informal. she consented to at
tent. but she did not care for lunches.
The women presently declared she did
not care for women.
The men, especially Minturn and
Whitaker, had early become devoted
to her. and there could be no doubt Of
her powers of fascination. The gunner
and the trooper grew cold and con-
strained in their manner toward each
other. and Whitaker quit going, as go
he used to day and night, TO Haynes or
Merriam's. The colonel's wife, dying
TO be hospitable. had urged little,
quiet home dinner. Just yourself,
your friends, the Graftons and Merri-
ans, and. say, Mr.. Minturn." Mrs. Graf
ton assured the kind army woman that
Mrs. McIane would not think OF ac.
cepting. Mrs. McLane amazed her host
ess by eventually saying yes.
Since the Tuesday evening Of their
call, not once had the Merriams held
conversation with the widow. She
called. as has been seen, and Mrs. Mer-
riam had TO be excused. Mrs. Merriam
used to love tennis, but quit the game
as soon as Mrs. McLane began coming
10 the court. Mrs. Merriam. who used
10 love TO ride with Randy, had discon-
tinued II q day or two after that al
legged illness, as though 10 carry out
the illusion. but by the Thursday she
again appeared in the saddle and gal
loped out upon the mesa by her hus-
bands aide. Returning. they met Mrs,
McLane just starting out with her gun
ner friend, and the ice had to be broken.
The stylishly habited widow beamed
on both, begged Floy TO let her know
at what hour they would ride next day,
as she adored II Of all things, and next
day Floy's horse was reported dead
lame" and she would ride no other,
When Mrs. Colonels invitation came for
that utterly unlooked-for dinrer, the
Merriams were cornered, for Floy,
though looking sallow and henvy-eyed
now was not really i'll and could urge no
excuse. Garrison dinner bids" must be
answered as promptly us those in city
life. We've got 10 go dear" said Mer,
riam calmly. 80 send our acceptance.
II won't Co." said Floy to herself, as
she penned and signed the little note.
and when Saturday came she was too
i'll to leave her bed. Mrs. ITayne came
TO minister 10 and sit with her. The
Freemnns were hidden instead, and
Mrs. Freeman could have stamped
her pretty foot In vexation, for neither
she nor her lord thought it the proper
thing for Mrs. McLane TO be going to
dinners so carly in her widowhood; be-
sides, there were other reasons.
The dinner came off, however, and
was dismal feast with a dramatic con-
clusion.
AS has been shown, only twice had
Mrs. McLane had speech with Merriam
during the seven days, and both times
II was in presence OF his wife. The
Graftons, Haynes and Freemans w,re
delighted with him as a consequence,
and rejoiced in secret over her. But
not a whit did the widow show disap-
pointment or discontinue. She was
amply entertained, apparently, with
the increasing devotions of Minturn
and Whitaker, and the latter spent
two miserable hours this Saturday
evening in jealous contemplation of his
own outcnst lot and Minturn's presum-
able bliss. Yet the colonel could not
have both to dinner. SO Mrs. Colonel
was allowed to decide, and her pref
ercnce was for the artillerymnn. The
Graftons went with rather bad grace,
Mrs. Grafton warning her guest that
the whole garrison would be talking
Of her Inconsistency, but, as Ned Parry
remarked on previous occasion, Fan
had had her own way ever since she cut
her first tooth, and did not propose to
be ruled now.
Almost the last words Mr.. McLane
whispered" said she, Indignantly,
were to implore me not to waste my
youth in vain lamentation. Life is too
short to be spent in tears were his
very words" and evidently the widow
=. f,,n II