Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-11-27

alarmed 10 nnO MS Slster gone upon his
return from the hotel.
"Why Rhodal How imprudent to be
out 80 late! Where In the world''-he
began, but Gilbert rushed into such an
enthusiastic description of the great FIRE
they had witnessed, that Ralph was
forced to laugh off the little bIotherly
scold he had been preparing.
sand it was Just awt'ul!' said Gilbert;
''and we would have had to walk all the
way back, TWO miles in the cold, if'-a
look from Rhoda, who did not care to be
reproved further, changed his finishing
the sentence, IF we had not rode.'
"That is an indisputable fact, surely"
laughed Aunt Garry; ''but l really think
it is about time we all had some rest now /;
you, Gilbert, are diss,pating too freely,
and Rhoda, want you to get some beauty
sleep, for Ralph tells me his friend, Cap
tain Hardy, will dine with us tomorrow
and you certainly will want to appear at
your best"
Thanksgiving morning dawned bright
and clear; and, directly after breakfast,
after little whispered consultation with
Rhoda, Gilbert started down town to find
the officer who had been so kind the night
before. BE did not return in time to
accompany his cousins to church, and
Rhoda felt certain qualms of anxiety ov-
er his delay.
II ought to have gone with him, n.she
kept saying over and over to herself.
"Oh, dear, what bother boys are! it
Is all his own fault for insisting upon
running to the fire; and now, perhaps, he
has got lost and I shall be blamed!''
Ralph Bruce wondered what made his
sister SO absent-minded and quiet all the
morning; but as he too was feeling an
noyed and anxious over the non-appear-
ance Of his friend Captain Hardy, he did
not question her curiously silent manner
Walking from church, as the two
turned the corner of the street on their
way home, what was their astonlshment
to behold both delinquents face to face
Gilbert merily ughing and talking
with a handsome young gentleman in
full uniform; the gentleman as interest,
eddy listening to his boyish chatter.
"Why, Harry, my dear fellow, what
who-where,' cried Ralph, looking from
the Captain to Gilbert. and from Gilbert
back to tho Captain, in the greatest sur.
prise.
"Here he is, Rhoda, and he isn't a
policeman at all; he's regular; but ]
found him there at the place, you know
and he wouldn't take the money, and be
knows Ralph aud l brought HIM right
along;;' and quite out of breath, Gilber,
paused at length in his explanation.
Ralph now included his sister in his
scrutiny.
"Why, really, Hardy" he began.
Rhoda blushed and looked confused
"Shall explain matters little more
lucidly?" asked the Captain, smiling
and looking at Rhoda, who NODDED affr-
matively. fittings do look complicated
don't they Bruce?' he said, turning to
Ralph; but the solution of the mystery
is that last evening l met your sister
and this lad In the crowd near the fire
down town; and they, supposing me a
public oficer-I wore a fatigue cap
asked me question concerning the cars
and
sand we only had ten CENTS" inter.
rupted Gilbert; and he loaned me quar-.
ter to ride home, and I went down
town to pay him back this morning
and"-
"Ah, begin to see light dawning al
last" said Ralph. sit is complicated
case, as you say but I thank you, Hardy
for your kindly personat:on of police
man. doubt if the genuine article
would have dealt so gentlemanly with
such pair of greenhorns. But now lei
me introduce you to the damsel toward
whom you have 81 CALAMITY played
knight. Rhoda, my friend Captain
Hardy, of the Seventy-ninth regiment
Hardy =, my sister, Miss Rhoda Bruce
and o, Gil! this is Captain Hardy, {
Regular, as you have discovered; Cap
tain, my cousin, Gilbert Gains; and nov
that We are at our gate"-the party hav
ing reached the door by this tlme-"le
us 90 in and eat our dinner With
"With thanksgiving and praise = brok'
in Gilbert, who had been giving Rhode
q series of pokes and lunches as h
wake d along beside her.
"That is just it, exactly" replied tn
captain. 1T is true Thanksgiving da,
for me; I don't know when have tel
such desire to return thanks" with
warm look at RHODES bright bloom1n,
face.
1t was some time before Rhoda coul'
summon sufficient confidence and, couz
age to address her brothers friend as Cap
tain Hardy. s
"Only think, Gilber,," she said, !"
called him number sseventy-nine' TIL,
night, and l shall always think of hir
as number 'seventy-nlne, and I am 8
afraid shall address him BY that name.
| But with the captains frequent call
at the house, during the rest Of the wiz
! ter, Rhoda gradually overcame her tim
idity, and before spring she had learne
net only to call him Captain but t
qualify that title in her mind andthought
with the tenlerest of adjechves; and i
due time it came to pass that she prom
ised to change her name Of Bruce to ths
/ Lee Hardy. ..:..
/ When she wrote little note to Gilbel
announcing their engagement, he. wrot
back, "ycu owe me one for him, anyhow
! lie it were not for me you would neve
haye met him 90 romanticaliy at least
lit was that pretty rcd hood Of yours th,
i flrst attracted him The is my Thankagi,
|, ling present to yog, and want to CON
to Seventy.nina. Wedding :S5 So
a year from the night RhoAa sat
81 the dim twilight waiting for lover, 81
was married to Captain Hardy 81 the 79l
! regiment: and GilteIt was there