Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-02-17
A NIGHT IN A sNowDRIFT

From Once Wees
In the following narration l have avoided
mentioning names, dates, or places. ] need
not assign reason; the incidents of my stO-
nv viii supply one.
Some years agO-neYer mind how many
was in America employed in surveying, prior
to the construction OF one of these vast lines
of railway which are now found of ~ great
utility for warlikc, as they were then intend
ed for peaceful traffic.
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 hartiiy into my work, and found il high
liz remunerative. Although | thoroughly en-.
joyed the occupation, and the many rough
and sometimes romantic incidents lnseparable
from il, / could never really assimilate myself
with the American character; and, as / was
the only Englishman on that part Of the line
my loneliness was aforementioned, indeed
occasionally by violent quaIrcls with men
who snecrcI at the sulky Britisher"
one day, III the depth Of as severe a winter
AZ | ever experienced, | had TO take a long
journey the greater part 10y raiI-then only q
single line. At the aretched shed digaiheG
with the name of . station "a some what curl
Gus party attracted my attention
They are four
An old and apparently totally paraIysed Gen.
tlemau, SO swathed in shawls, comforters, fun
cap, and buffalo robe, that only a small strip
of his face was visible, and that was of a death
like hue.
\ young lady, thiciIy vailed, apparently
not the daughter OF the invalid; Tor she seem
ed to avoid looking at OF approaching him. a.
he haltsat, haltiay propped up by boxes anl
bags IN Il corner OF the our bench
Two sallow, eyii-looking men completed the
number. They were dressed In a much iute
riOr manner to the others, but evidently Ina,
charge OF both invalid and lady.
got into the same car with this strange
party; auythiuga little out of tile common
being acceptable % me. Whether I Shout,
have done So could have toresecn the tya-i,
termination of our journey cannot tell.
The snow was lying very deep on Ill,
ground and occasionally, where drift hat
formed across the line, we had much 20 do {,
force our way through it.
was the only occupant Of the car beside.
the party have described, and amused my
self by specializing on the connecting links be
tween SuCh strange quartcttc.
The lady was a lady evidently. Though
mad not caught a glimpse OF her iacc-as -hs
had not once lifted the heavy veil She wore
yet every told of her dress, every movement
OF her figure, showed refinement
We had been pIoddiug ON at miserable
and thicker. To look out OF the window.
was useless; for the ground was SNOW. anl
the air seemed to be snow, SO thickly was il
falling. What could 10 bat watch my com
pauiouS / had forgotten To say that III the
early part OF the journey | had made SOME
casual remark to the two men about the en-.
tirely hopeless state of their charge hut
received such short answer. accompanied
by such au cvI. look that l resolved to hoIl
my tongue for The remainder u the tourney
The young lady, when | spoke to tie men
gave "a quick sort Of half turn towards me, 4.
Il Ste would have spoken; but was instantly
checked 10y ono Of the men desiring her. in .
rough and pcremptory manner, 60 change hel
seat.
sun dragging aIong-and more snow, more
The men, having refreshed themseIye.
several times from "a spirit flask, took a bot
tie and a spoon, and prepared 10 feed the
paralyzed gentleman. I could not see what
they gave him, or whether he ate for the
men carefully placed themselves ana the
Young lady between the sick man and me
l should here say that the Young lady had
absolutely refused 10 take any food whatey-
er, though several times pressed by the
men.
They are bending over, the invalid the
young lady, 10y their direction, also standing.
with her side face towards ne
With quick and silent movement she
raises her veil, and looks for an instant with
questioning agonized glance in nav face.
She must have seen honest pity there. Tor.
slightly leaning towards me, paIlil Is death.
She formed word with her Iirs-bul with
out sounding it-po.utiu- to file men then .
lowered her veil again.
Although the whole had token place in d
second on two, the men had observed some
movement and turned EerceIv Go her, look
ing like devils ut both OF Us.
] however, was already sitting with folded
arms, and ewes half shut aS if sleepy: not SO
sleepy, though but that l caught 81 moments
view Of that strip of face had seen 1t the
station.
That second look satisfied me of what I had
doubted-Ibf uor3 dgasblg spoken bv the
young lady. The word was " Ii.szss' :"
| sat still and Thought
Here am with couple Of murGererS-
probably arned-their victim apparently the
father of that lovely girl. 1es-thIs is the ex-
PLANTATION OF her stunning him at the station.
and in lifting him into the cars I have NV
revolver-nut loaded: if II were I couldn't
shoot these men down without more proof
against them than a .~arG-aaIv seen. not
heard. Ii is Of NO use giving them up iii tile
end OF our Journey for, OF course they viii
say that half dead when he started, dc died
Of the cold in the ears. Cold and our
stove does not seem to give the heat that It
should, anj-there is no more fuel I"
Although could not see through the Young
lady veil, y doubtless could see me through
IT, nodded slightly to her and tumbIing in
the iolds OF my cloak, half exposed the bar
rel Of my revolver. The answer was =. scarce
percepti6le shake of the head
For tl,e twentieth time We are pushing and
gathering ut drift; this time Il mus ba a
deep one, for We are come - "a dead stop.
" 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 said I, for ii Is awfully cold. even
for Us who are strong; what must 1t be for
your invalid charge -
oh he wont hurt," replied the man
" You shut up, and fetch the wood :" said
the other.
He returned soon and said the engineer