Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-02-20
A NIGHT IN A sNowDRIFT.
From Once a Week. ]

From Once Week
In the following narration have avoided
mentioning names. dates, or places. l need
not assign a reason; the incidents of my sto-
~ will supply one.
Some years ago-never 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 warlike, as they were then intend
ed for peaceful traffic.
| had gone out from England with very few
pounds in my pocket, but with a good educa-
ton, and, may say with some ability. | en-
tered hartily into my work, and found it high
IL remunerative. Although l thoroughly en-
ioyed 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,
my loneliness was extreme-Telieyed,i indeed,
occasionally by violent quaIrels with men
who sneered at the "sulky Britisher."
One day, in the depth of as severe a winter
as | ever experienced, | had to take a long
journey the greater part by rail-then only
single line. At the wretehed shed dignited
with the name of station" i Jmewhat curl
Gus party attracted my attention.
They are four:
All Olu pdIGlltA loLdllf DaA dll Stu zen
tleman, so sWathed in shawls, comfOrters, fur
cap, and buffalo robe, that only a small strip
of his face was visible, and that was of a death
like hue.
A young lady, thiekly vailed, apparently
not life daughter of the invalid; for she seem
ed to avoid looking at or approaching him, as
be halfsat, halliday, prOpped up by boxes and
bags in corner of the one bench.
Two sallow, evil-lOOking men completed the
number They were dressed in a much infe-
rior manner to the others, but evidently had
charge of both invalid and lady.
/ got into the same car witt this strange
party; anything little out of the common
being acceptable to me- Whether should
have done so could have foreseen the tragic
termination Of our journey / cannot tell.
The snow was lying very deep on the
ground and occasionally, where a drift had
formed across the line, ne 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 a strange quartette.
The lady was lady evidently. Though
had not caught a glimpse OF her face-as she
had not once lifted the heavy veil She wore
vet every fold of her dress, every movement
of her figure, showed refinement.
We had been plOdding on at a 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 air seemed to be snow, so thickly was it
falling. What could l do but wasch INV com
paniOns: had forgotten to say that in the
early part of the journey l had made some
casual remark to the two men about the en-
tirely hopeless state of their charge but
received such 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 IF the men desiring her, in IA
rough and peremptOry manner, to change her
seat.
snow
The men, having refreshed themselves
several times from spirit flask, took a bot
tie and spoon, and prepared to feed the
paralyzed gentleman. 1 could not see what
they gave him, or whether he ate; for the
men carefully placed themselves and the
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, agOnized glance in my face
She must have seen honest pity there; for,
slightly leaning towards me, pallid as death,
she formed 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, and turned fieFcely 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 a moments
view of that strip of face had seen ut the
station.
That second look satisfied me of what had
dOubted-The ,cord dim,Jly spoken by the
young lady. The word was" Murder ~
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
revOlver-nOt loaded; if it were | couldn't
--shsot these men down without more proof
against. them thar. seOrd-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. Coldi. 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 younp
ladys veil, she doubtless could see me through
ii. l nodded slightly 10 her and fumbling in
the folds of my cloak, half exposed the bar
rel of my revolver. The answer was a scarce
perceptible shake of the head.
For the twentieth time weare pushing and
battering at drift; this time il must be a
deep one, for we are come TO a dead stop;
= II 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 /, :" for it is awfully cold, even
for US who sare STRONG; what must it be for
your invalid. charged"
j. "Oh he wont. ayrt," replied the man.
''YOu shut UP. .aHs .fetch the wood !" said i
the other. ..st
He returned soon and said the engineer
would not let him have stick; declaring it
was not his business TO sup " the caPs-and