Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-01-27
GOING AS A sUBsTsTUTE.

SDtNG -AS n 81 hSAhkAlE.
"Just my luck !" roared the Captain,
dashing into the room like a young tornado,
and banging the door behind him with
spiterul emphasis Every officer absent on
leave, and the Colonel don't see how he can
possibly dispense with my valuable services
even fos day Confound his politeucss y
" Now then! !" quoth |, soothingly,
"steady, old fellow il isn't worth while 10
excite yourself in such warm weather. BE
calm !"
The Captain stamped his foot with de
spaiTing energy.
Calm! It's very well for you bachelors
to talk about being calm, but suppose you'd
! jus, got telegraph from your wife that she
was coming to join you. and requesting you
to meet her at Philadelpha-an suppose
you couldn't get leave of absence for 50 much
as an hour? Then would you see where the
calmncss come in. Poor dear Mary ! she
has the little ones with her, and she knows
no more about travelling than kittenl But
| say Harry !"
! We'll"
Do be oJligirg for oncc-,it would be
such favor -"
What would y
"Why, to so on and meet Mary and the
little chicks for me'
Kentwood Dale put his hand on my shoul
der and looked imploringly at me. | opened
my eyes deprecatinsIy.
Nonsense, Kent
| Do, Harry you can't imagine the relief
it will be to me. I'd do as much for you-l
would indeed. Just consider what tight
place it is for q follow 10 be in y
| During all the !wenty.three years Of my
life, never had acquired the useful art ef
saying no. aud this Captain Dale knew rull
well. IL was rather an embarrassing affair,
this going to meet another mans wife and
| babies, but what was to do? EGntwood
| begged SO hard, and the case did seem pc.
culiar one.
"You'l go, Harry ?"
| And | answered with an inward groan:
"rll 60, Kent, TO oblige YOU
Dale's face brghtencdhc he claspvd both
my hands warmly.
depend upon il, Harry, | won't forget
your Kindness very soon. I'll go and see
about the leave Of absence Immediately, while
you gel ready. The six o'clock train will be
IN timc--ali you've got 10 do is TO ask the
conductor Of the Philadelphia train for Ia.
! dy snd children who came through from
Boston alone. Poor Mary, she'll be half
| frightened out Of her senses in strange
! place by herself"
And Captain Dale hurried away, leaving
me to cogitate on the approaching pleasures
Of night journey on the railroad.
had comfortably established myself on
snugly cushioned sat, where the swinging
lamp would afford sufficient light to read The
evening paper, and kentwood Dalt's beam.
! mo in ti-a,yDb he
window, by way Of good by
I'm so much obliged to you, old fellow"
he reiterated. you'll tell Mary just how
it happcned?'
"Ah right!' responded. The whistle
gave its unoarthIy yell-the cars tgsmbicd rs
# the pulse of life were thrilling through
;h21 iron links, and We began to move.
was preparing to unfold my ncwspabcr when
| oil Of sudden it dropped to the iloor.
The l'Tetticst creature ever saw. Blue
eyed, with sunny hair full OF hceting bronze
lights, and q mouth Ike little red plum.
genuine blonde, in a trim travelling drc2s,
whose color suppose tie mlIiners have
some namc or other for it---but should cali
| it the tint Of purple smoke wreath | took
| all these particulars in at one glance, while
she stood in the aisle, apparently awaiting
the motions Of n stout young man who was
accommodating lttle in advance.
"All full. Eyy," he said dcspondirg'y.-
Then, pcrceying the vacant spot by my side,
his face lighted.
lf this seat isn't engaged, sir, my sis
ter"
His sister! What lucky thing sh, was
not his wife Spraag up Hith instantane.
Gus pol tcness.
"Cer'ainly, sir, by all meansn'
The stout young man wiped his forehead
and rersstcd to the smoking car, much re
isyed Actually the heartless wretch seem
ed delighted to get rid Of his pretty compan.
ion and her travelling bags. but then brothers
never appreciate the pcrfcctons Of sister
How wished had devoted little more
time to my toilet before starting. | was
painfully conscious OF my cravat being care.
lcssly tied, aud the top button being off my
shrt bosom, every time the bue eyes were
turned tmidly toward me Hang that wash
erwoman at the camp did she pave her
garden walks with mother Of pearl buttons
And besides, | was by no means certain that
my moustachc had been properly waxed, OF
my hair parted straight behind 1
But | forget these terrible misgiyings after
a while, and engaged gradually into convcr.
sation with my blue eyed ncighhor.
What did -c talk about? Why, Byron
and the war, crochet work and the Sanitary
Commission, of course. What else do young
people converse on in these days? And she
told me Of the flannel wrappers she had
made for the soldiers, and related the par.
ticu!ars Of ore battle had been concerned
in; and we laughed and sighed, and jokcd,
and scntimentalized together, and, in short,
became excellent friends.
"Phil.a del. ply !" bawed the conductor,
breaking ruthlessly into the midst of quo.
taton was musically murraurng, and
started up MS if had been shot.
my destinations" I said rcgretfuly.
Mine, too" sad the young lady,
+" Where can that careless brother Tom be ~
ALLOW me- quoth /. burdenag myself
with Miss EYy's multituliuCus bags. ~
will just take yon % the waiting room where
your brother will doubtless JON you"
Didn't feel proud just then, with the
soft l!lde band OF my arm, aud the slight
figure cIingng up close to ms? should
think so.
left her unwilliue'y enough in the door.
way Of the cheerIuly lighted Ladies'
Room, and sought the officials.
Is the New York train in?"
Yes, sir; just this moment arrived
Where's the conductor"
Well, sir, if youth wait here a moment
he'll be along"
| stood back few seconds watching the
tired looking travellers pour from the cars IN
sleepy confusion. At length caught sight
OF the conductor carrying cfumpied baby
IN one hand, and huge calico covered band
box in the other, wlnlc close behind him
came a ponderoas female with frecke
countcnance, and a bonnet crushed aut Of all
semblance to shape.
Husb npi Charles Augustus" cried the
lady, percinptoriy. 10 a wailing child Of three
years old, whose face was hardly discernatle
through the marks Of tears and melssses
candy. T" II sc don't quiet that hollerin, III
skin ye. Mary Jane, come along. or III
leave ye IN the cars, sure's I'm alive"
/" Conductor ycntured, boldly stem
ming This swarm Of dry children.
"Sir!"
. am here to meet lady and children
who Travelled alone from Boston ON This train