The midland journal., 1902-12-26


"And, oh, there's poor Lieutenant
vaughan-I beg his pardon, the rich
Mr.. Vaughan! She's as gracious as a
duchess, and he-I did think, for all his
gray hair and plain looks, that he was
a man. But now-it is simply disgust
ing"
The thing was so ridiculously evident
that every dweller in Officers row was
amused, but none dared speak his mind
before Mrs. Murnane, the G. O.'s wife.
In the management of Mary Murnane's
love affairs remonstrance by even the
major himself would have resulted dis
astrously for the major.
That meek old campaigner rather
yearned for retirement, but Mrs. Muir
name objected. To leave the army
would have meant quick death, for her
soul was soldered to the U. S. A. With
such danger threatening she must take
means to be an officers mother-in-law
and thus retain considerable amount
Of influence and authority.
Lieutenant Vaughan had proposed for
Mary, and, however things had been in
the past, he was now very eligible,
with money and influence. He had
been extremely poor when he first ven
tured to love Mary, and Mrs. Murnane
had been worse than plain spoken to
him. Mary had been very gentle with
the hardworking, ignored, middle aged
lieutenant, and her mother had been
angry at her forbearance. Now, how
ever, his elder brother, wealthy man
and much in evidence in Washington,
had died without a family and without
will. The lieutenant was wealthy
and could command influence, could
rise in the army list. Oh, meek old
major, die as soon as you have got your
retiring pension! Mother Murnane has
arranged for her future amid the de-
lights of Washington.
Mary" said the grim Mrs. Murnane,
MARY. my dear, l have misjudged
Lieutenant Vaughan. Accept him. He
is in every way what I should desire
your husband to be-"
"But-oh, mammal"
Mrs. Murnane put her gloved finger
to her lips and smiled condescending-
ly.
"Mary," she said, ct know all about
that young man Graves. Chut! When
a girl is your age, she always has a
young man Graves. l have told Lieu
tenant Vaughan that have been mis-
taken and that he is now welcome at
headquarters. He seemed, confess,
surprised, but he laughed and-er-
blushed. MY child, marry him and for
get the young man Graves"
Butch, mammaw
"Mary Murnane," her mother cried,
with the CLEAN in her eyes which had
for years overawed the poor subalterns
you, and have told you what to do
accept Lieutenant Vaughan! Why, you
used to like him."
And she marched away.
But, although Mary, like a well dis
positioned young lady, should have
been quite willing to marry him Off
hand at her mothers order-Mary sat
down and wept. She was helpless.
Consider that she knew nothing of
the world outside strictly regimental
laws. The fort was 125 miles from a
railway, and nothing stretched be-
tween railroad and post but a few
scattered ranches and the reservation
of an Indian tribe. Her friends chang
ed from month to month. Her father,
for all his scars, was no help to her.
Her mother was the ruler of her ways.
What on earth could the lonely girl do
but bow acquiescence?
When the elderly and SCARED Lieu
tenant Vaughan left Mrs. Murnane, he
passed on to the adjutant's Office. In
the room sat a young man who bore on
his sleeves the sergeant's chevrons of
the signal corps. He rose as befitted
his rank and received Vaughan with a
smile of hope.
"Sit down, sergeant" said the lieu
tenant He sat down himself and sigh
ed. The two were silent for moment,
and then Vaughan spoke, twirling a
pen in his hands.
"Have you," said he, "all your sig
mailing apparatus ready for the expert
ment?'
"Quite ready" the sergeant answer.
ed, with culver Of excitement.
'Then," said Vaughan slowly, ''the
experiment will take place tomorrow
afternoon. How's your weather report
for tomorrow"
The signal officer picked up a paper
on which he had been making calcula
tions and read from 1t:
Slightly higher temperature; light
winds from southwest"
Vaughan rose slowly and sighed
again.
II have bit of news for you from
Washington, Sergeant Graves. Yor
don't need to mention it, but your name
is first for promotion. / think you car
count on commission il your corps
within a month"
"Good heaven, sir! If you only real
lied what you have done for me-
"For-for you? Well, you're a goot
fellow. Graves" the lieutenant said
"but don't fiatter yourself that did i
for you"
81 know. I know" said the sergean
and flushed and looked down. 81 an
hardly worthy
"Oh, don't slop over| said Vaughan
roughly. "Have your instruments
cameras evervthinv roadv for. fomnr