Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-23
THE TWO OFFICERS.

On board the afternoon express, almost
alone by himself in the palace car, a
young man in a military cap, and with
an unmistakable military air, was doing
his best to accomplish what as a matter
Of fact, was impossible, viz. to keep Lin
self from going to sleep. He was aware
that at Steepbrook, twenty miles farther
on, he was to change to another train
which would take him to Boston. A nice
joke it would be if he would fall asleer
and get carried beyond the junction. -es.
Pecially nice, considering the fact that
ne had just five cents, and no more, in
his pocket.
Twenty miles farther on: we'll that
would take something less than half an
hour. He certainly could keep awake
that long.
How foolish he had been not to Dor.
row some money of Edwards, when he
left him in New York. Dear old Ed
wards! But for him he might have got
something worse than broken arm in
that last tussle with the Sioux.
And, thinking of this, as he gazed
dreamily out of the window, pre sent!y
quite determined all the while to keen
awake-the Lieutenant was back in good
earnest IN his old life on the plains
marching and countermarching once
more, fighting and bleeding and often
well.njgh dying for his country, till at
length he found himself the sole survivor
OF little band, that, penned in and sur
rounded beyond hope Of escape, had sold
their lives as dearly as soldiers lives ere
ever sold. He thought now that he was
lying on the ground beside his dead steed
pretending death IN the hope of escaping
muti]ation. when suddenly terrible saw
eye came along, and, bending over him,
with weapon appraised, shouted distinctly
in his cal.
"Steepbrook Steepbrookp'
The young man awoke with a start.
Yes: there was brakeman, holding the
door open, and with the name still on
his lips. He leaped up, seized his hat
and overcoat, and hurried from the car,
still only half awake. Then the train
started on again, and left him standing
there on the platform in the rain It was
small country station, with no signs of
junction anywhere about.
He went into the waiting room, and in
CURED of the man there when the other
train would be along.
"What oher train?' was the eruff re-
spouse.
"Why, the train from Boston. Ism t
this Steepb1Ook Junction?''
mo, sir: it's Deepbrook. Steepbrook' 3
fifteen miles up the sroad."
"Then I've got off the wrong place. "
''Then you have"
"When does the next ira 10 60 through2"
"Seventwenty tomorrow morning."
The young man all at cnce looked more
provoked and bewidered than ever. No
train until morning, and 4ere be was,
dropped down in a barren spot, in tue
midst of rain-storm, and only five cents
in his pocket! He had know difficulty
and danger before now; but this was the
most appalling situation ever e1coun-
tered.
He looked around as if he expected an
angel of deliverance to appear; then he
rubbed his eyes again. Whether he ex.
pected one or not, there she was,-a
young lady. with black eyes, and saucy
red lips, envelopcd FROM head to foot in 8
blue waterproof.
lib ~ beg your you RI pardon sir; is this Lieu
He bowed, being unable to answer in
words. Who the deuce was this that
knew his name wav out in the wilder
ness.
will you come out at once?' she con
tlnued, turning toward the door, and pre-
pairing to raise an umbrella. "The car
rage Is here. You'll excuse US being 6
little late: We only got Fred's telegram
fifteen minutes ago"
Lieutenant Smith followed her mechan.
ically. He made up his mind now thai
he had not awakened from his dream
There was carriage outside, with s
tmall boy and coachman in livery, or
he front seat.
"You had best take the back seat" hi:
conductor directed.
Still without word, he obeyed. Their
the driver took up the reins and they
drove off rapidly.
The Lieutenant 81 like one conscious
yet unseeing. He did not attempt to &C
count for anythi g,-the whole thing
was too unaccount bl He did marve
much even when the young lady present
ly remarked
"Your arm has gotten along finely, MI
Smith. l thought from what Fred sait
that you still wore it in sling"
Who the deuce was Fred2 and bow dit
he know about the broken arm? Was b.
really in dream sril2 or had he beef
mistaken for somebody else2 If the lat
ter was true, it was all very strange in
deed; and he could not regard it az moth
ing less than a special providence ar
ranged for his miraculous deliveranc
from rain and starvation. 1t was not 70
him, mere lieutenant of infantry, to in
terfere with the wise desi gns of Omnis
cience. If there was any mistake b
made up his mind that he would not i'm
mediately correct it. Nay: it was no
his duty to lend himself to the fraud2 H
would carry it out If possible, for a fe,
hours, at least; then he would tax
French leave, and sneak off early. H
must have supper, and nights lodging
somewhere.
So he finally mustered courage to loo]
at his companion. The hood of tn
waterproof was thrown back now, reveal
AAS u VI AShI FA4uaAI AdSo uAueI q OcCOu
ing turban hat. She was not looking q
him. He had hardly spoken word sine
they met; and she was a good des
puzzled, and not little disguised. Wa
this tho friend Fred had gone into ecsts
cies over9 and who had been such lilo
atthe the West Point balls last season
She took heart, however, when at last b
began to talk little, although his cor
versation amounted to nothing more tina
question now and then in reference I
some passing object. When, presentl,
she asked him something about Fred, h
froze up again, and replied in the blin6
est kind of way.
The young lady's tongue was loosene
however; and, since the lieutenant woul
not talk, she kept ur a lively ccnversatio
with the boy on the trent, seat,-cviden
~ her brother. From what was j,
Lieutenant Smith concluded that thes
two were children of wealthy mill
er named Mortimer, whom he himse
knew by reputation; that Fred was q
older brother; that lie himself was a r.
cent graduate of West Point, and a Pa
4;or)or f~o1 ~ Fro1,, or1 fhat F.oS h.,