Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-11-14
UP THE FLUE.

persuasive Lieutenant Russell, while we
waited for the mail-stage. "You have
been at this frontier post ever since
Captain Boswell was stationed herep
ayes; we have been here eight
years." she replied, with the rare smile
that glorifed her face. u have passed
through many ordeals here, but really
think that / had an adventure in .ne
! East, before 1 married the Captain,
equal to anything that / have expe-
rienced."
Twill YOU relate it, and oblige usP "
urged Russell.
Mrs. Boswell" said Dan, the ire
pressible youngster of our party,
"Jim," jerking his thumb toward the
Lieutenant, "is out West here on pur-
pose to spill ink for the NewYork pa
pers. You can become heroine of ro-
nance, il you will"
THANK you,n said our little hostess.
81 don't mind accepting the honor"
Three of us were sitting in I'm inner
apartment of the small frontier hostel
nv. The bar-room was packed With
miners, and we had chosen to have our
supper served by ourselves, as we had
appointed to go on to Custer City in
company.
Mrs. Boswell was much below the
medium size, quick of speech, light of
movement as bird, and graceful as a
fawn.
Just made the acquaintance of Captain
Boswell, he having some business mat
tiers to arrange with father, had called at
our place several times. Finally there
came n rare day in autumn, and he and
father were closeted the greater part OF
the day, overhauliDg papers, memoran-
da deeds and receipts. My father at
that time was doing II great deal OF
business as an attorney.
AT tea-time father said to me: Bless,
you won't mind an evening alone, 50
long as Thomas is about, will youP' -
% said no, for although there were
many robberies being committed in the
neighboring cities, private families in
the suburbs felt no fear. Our house was
mile from the city proper, and hall
mile from neighbors either way.
We find, he continued, that the
Captain has got to hunt up some more
papers concerning the estate before he
ClH SlNt bullOu IL SullSluClOll llllc. W.
shall 60 to Judge Whitcomb's Office,
and our search may be SO successful
that eleven o'clock will find us home
again. Still we may be detained longer.
Shan't 1 call and tell your cousin Milly
to come down and spend the night with
youp'
"'No-yes, | contradictorily an.
swcrcd. DO as you please; / am not
timid in the least, with Thomas about.
But Captain Boswell is going to
leave five thousand dollars here until Inc
returns
docs any one know about the
money!"
"'Only ourselves
"'Then / am not afraid Besides,
you are likely to be back before grave
yards yawn and thieves do walk
abroad
Thomas brought the horse round
and while father spoke to him, touched
the Captains sleeve:
"Where is your money leftp
"' In your fathers desk in the libra.
ry.' Then he looked with n tender, in
curing glance into my face chow tn,
little woman's cheeks flushed at the
memory. and said; Little girl, if you
are in the least afraid, we will not &C
tonight, although it is absolutely nee
essary.'
Il told him, honestly, that | was no
afraid. i never had that strata of tim
idity in my makeup peculiar to WON
ankind; and so they rode away.
% sang about my work, as | pu
things in shape around the room anC
viewed the brilliant sunset without feal
or care.
Thomas, our new man-of-all-work
was very busy puttering about tn,
! grounds, tying up grapc-vines ant
mulching cvergreens. L knew ther,
was coarse aftermath upon the hill, tina
father was anxious to have put on tn,
strawberry beds, and seeing Thomas Q,
up there with his basket, tied scar
over my head, took another basket, an,
went up to help him.
"As passed up the hill / saw mar
in the highway speaking to him. / hes
itated about going on, but the MAJ
made only moments pause, and ther
went down the hill, and was soon con
cealed by turn in the highway.
"'Who was that, ThomasP' / in
quired.
"'Oh, miss, it was q man from tn
mills, saying that my brother has had
bad fall on the dam, and is believing
for me to come and see him. His leg
he broke entirely
"''What will you dop' -
"'1 told the man could not come 3,
see him to-day-but if went, miss,
would be sure TO be back by eleven O
the clock, if not earlier
You may go, Thomas, if you
brother is hurt SO bad. Papa will not b.
away long.
g But, my young lady
GO Never mind me in such case u
this always was very tender-hearted
You may go, and l will run right bacl
to the house, o.errf -r4
"He talked few moments more, wa
profusc in his thanks for my kindness
and then started down for the city.
took up the two baskets, and went sing
ing to the house. FI
al sat an hour by the open window
enjoying intensely this being alone, an
the quiet beauty of the cool, autumn
evening.
Perhaps you will wonder at this,
and the dimples played about erprett
mouth, "but little birds were singin!
n now song in my heart, and the quie
let me hear the sweet echoes.
But directly chidcd myself 70
being rather careless, as the road was
thoroughfare, and u chance struggle
might surprise me. / arose, closed m
window, and, obeying some strange
impressive power, | walked through tn
hall into the library took my father
key from its accustomed place, unlocke
his desk, found the package of fiv
thousand dollars, and, placing il in m
bosom, re-lockcd the door, and returne
| TO the sitting-room. 1 did not light
,, lamp; / had no need of u fire, as tina
from the kitchen stove warmed the sit
ting room sufficiently in this mil
weather.
"The house was old-fashioned, very
with N fro plooa In fhC oittino 400,