Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-18
A NIGHT IN A sNOWDRIFT.
From Once a Week. I

In the following narration have avoided
mentioning names, dates, or places. | need
not assign Il reason; the incidents of my stO-
~ will supply one.
Some years ago-never mind how many-I
was in America employed in surveying, prior
to the construction Of one of these vast lines
of railway which are now found of as great
utility for warlike, us they were then intend
ed for peaceful traffic.
l had gone out from England with very few
pounds in my pocket but with good educa-
ton, and | may say, with some ability. | en-
tered hartily into my work, and found it high
ly remmerative. Although [ thoroughly en-
oyed the occupation, and the many rough
and sometimes romantic incidents inseparable
from it, | could never really assimilate myself
with the American character; and, as | was
the only Englishman on that part Of the line,
ny loneliness was aforementioned, indeed,
occasionally by violent quarrels with men
who sneered at the " sulky Britisher"
one day, in the depth of as severe winter
as ] ever experienced, | had to take a long
journey the greater part by rail-then only
single line. At the wretched shed dignitcd
with the name Of station somewhat curl
Gus party attracted my attention.
They are four:
An old and apparently totally paralysed gen
tlcman, so swathcd in shawIs, comfortcrs, fur
cap, and buffalo robe, that only Il small strip
OF his face was visible, and that was of death
like hue.
A young lady, thcdy vailed, apparently
not the daughter Of the invalid; for she seem
cd to avoid looking at or approaching him, as
he halfsat, halliday, prOpped up by boxes and
bags in 4 corner of the one bench.
Two sallow, cvil-looking men completed the
number. They were dressed n = u,urh inf
rior manner to the others, but evidently had
charge of both invalid and lady.
l got into the same car with this strange
party; anything little out of the common
being acceptable to me. Whether [ should
have done 50 could have toreseen the tragic
termination Of our journey | cannot tell.
The snow was lying very deep on the
ground and occasionally, where drift had
formed across the line, we had much to do to
force our way through it.
| was the only occupant of the car besides
the party | have described, and amused my
self by specializing on the connecting links be-
tween such strange quartette.
The lady was lady evidently. Though |
had not caught glimpse of her tacc-as she
had not once lifted the heavy veil she wore
yet every fold of her dress, every movement
Of her figure, showed refinement
We had been plodding on at miserable
rate many hours, the snow becoming thicker
and thicker. To look out of the windows
was useless; for the ground was snow, and
The AR seemed to be snow, so thickly was it
falling. What could do but watch nv COM
panonS? had forgotten to say that III the
early part of the journey | had made some
casual remark to the two men about the en-
trcly hopeless state of their charge; but
received such a short answer, accompanied
by such an evil look; that | resolved to hold
my tongue for the remainder Of the Journey.
The young lady when | spoke to the men,
gave quick sort of half turn towards me- as
if she would have spoken; but was instantly
checked by one of the men desiring her, in a
rough and pcrcmptory manner, to change her
seat
snow!
The men, having refreshed themselves
several times from spirit flask, took Il bot
tie and spoon, and prepared to feed the
paralyzed gentleman. | could not see what
they gave him, or whether he ate for the
men carefully placed themselves and tn.
young lady between the sick man and me.
| should here say that the Young lady had
absolutely refused to take any food whatev-
er, though several times pressed by the
men.
They are bending over, the invalid; the
young lady, by their direction, also standing,
with her side face towards me.
With a quick and silent movement she
raises her veil, and looks for an instant with
questioning, agonizedt glance in nv face.
She must have seen honest pity there; for,
slightly leaning towards me, palid as death,
she formed a word with her lips-but with
out sounding it-pointing to the men then;
lowered her veil again.
Although the whole had taken place in a
second or two, the men had observed some
movement, aud turned fercely to her, look
ing like devils at both of us.
| however, was already sitting with folded
arms, and eyes half shut, as if sleepy; not so
sleepy though, but that | caught moments
view OF that strip of face l had seen at the
station
That second look satisfied me of what had
doubted-1he 0ord d,tnbly spoken by the
young lady. The word was g U1uder!!T
/ sat still and thought
Here L am with couple of murderers-
probably armed-their victim apparently the
father OF that lovely girl. Yes-this is the ex-
PLANTATION OF her stunning him at the station,
and in lifting him into the cars. | have nv
revolyer-not loaded; if it were | couldn't
shoot these men down without more proof
against them than ,cord-only seen, not
heard. 1t is of no use giving them up at the
end Of our journey; for, Of course, they will
say that, half dead when he started, he died
of the cold in the cars. Cold and our
stove does not seem to give the heat that it
should, and-there is no more fuel :"
Although | could not see through the young
lady's veil, she doubtless could see me through
it. l nodded slightly to her and fumbling in
the folds of my cloak, half exposed the bar
rel of my revolver. The answer was scarce
perceptible shake of the head.
For the twentieth time we are pushing and
battering at drift; this time it must be a
deep one, for we are come to dead stop.
4 guess we must get some wood from that
darned conductor, or we shall be friz," said
one of the men, the shorter and least evil
looking of the two.
"Do,a said 1, for it is awfully cold, even
for US who are strong; what must it be for
your invalid charge!"
"Oh he wont hurt" replied the man.
'You shut, up, and fetch the wood y said
the other.
He returned soon and said the engineer
would not let him have a stick; declaring it
was not his business to sup ly the cars-and