Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-09-12
KING OF NEuCES COUNTY.
Felix Gray in Texas Siftings.

DY appointment OF the almanac, Dub Dy
the more potent authority of the fierce
'norther," that raiding wind of the
Sierras, that sllrieked wildly through the
streets, battering in it's loud, hectoring
way, at shutters and doors, as If de-
n1nndlng admission upon penalty, bully
ing and tormenting the helpless trees
as if it would at once and forever make
an end Of them, catching the unresist-
ing rain in it's strong clutch, whipping
it against the windows and walls and
driving it through 1000 unsupported
crevices-a sort of Goliath Of Gath
wind, that roared up and down through
the camp, daring the whole host to come
out and battle with it.
OF the few unfortunates whom cir
cumstances compelled to meet this rude
challenger the omnibus Of the Island
City hotel held two, just arrived by the
train from some Indefinite region to the
northward. ard continuing in this peril
GUS manner their journey toward rest
and shelter. They were Of opposite sex,
the man hurley, black bearded person,
with black eyes that glowed beneath the
shadow Of his broad brimmed hat with
a fire scarcely inferior to that of the i'm
posing diamond upon his shirt front.
He SAT squarely in the middle Of the
seat, with one arm stretched along its
back, nursing heavily booted foot up
on one knee, and complacently thread
ing the fingers of his brown hairy hand
through his thick beard The woman,
whom even the uncertain light of the
Intellectual lamp showed to be young
and attractive, was buttoned from the
throat to ankle in an all enveloping
waterproof, but her hat was q stylish
affair of felt, trimmed with handsome
plume; and q muff Of rich dark fur,
which reposed upon her lap, united it's
testimony to that of the Russian leather
travelling satchel upon the favorable
side Of the question as to her fortune
ano social standing.
She sat with her back as nearly turn
ed upon her fellow traveller as the con-
struction of the vehicle would allow,
gazing fxedly out Of the front window,
where the Pickering rays Of the drivers
lamp showed her the wet backs and
dropping ears Of the horses Her posi-
ton afforded an admirable view of
the solidly coilad brails of hair, with a
fringe Of little unprecedented curls,
that fell from beneath them upon q
slender we'll moulded neck, which The
black bearded man seemed to lind pleas
ing.
The omnibus labored heavily for.
ward in the gale, which had laid it's
lash Of raindrops sharply across the
closed glasses. All at once, with
fearful lurch, it came to a momentary
stand, hesitating apparantly upon the
verge Of catastrophe; while the flicker
ing ray CLEANED brokonly upon the
agitated surface of body of water of
undetermined extent. The young lady
started up, grasping her satchel, and
looking about her for some means of
escape.
Don't be frightened, ma'am," said
her fellow traveller in deep bass
voice Just fordin' one Of the city
ponds; keep your seat"
lis there no danger? The driver
hasn't gone into the gulf by mistake,
you Think" painted she in sweet ire
mulous treble.
ooh, no; we're all right. I'll be dog
goned if the omnibus oughten to be a |
schooner rugged, tho, or tho city ought
er keep ferries on their lakes. They !
never know whether they're ahoat or
ashore in this town. I'll be logged eff |
I'd live in itef they'd give me tn hol' |
layout" |
The numbering vehicle resumed it's |
dark and painless way, !. the young wom-
an sank into her seat and the, burly |
man into silence, still combing his |
whiskers with his brown hand, and |
nursing the heavy foot on his knee.
Here we are" he said cheerfully, as
with final lureh, and a jolt, the ark
rested, and gathering his Talise in one
hand, and laying the other upon the
door, he seemed to dive headlong into
space. AS the young woman timidly
followed. however, she saw that he was
waiting for her, his figure indistinctly
outlined against a luminous doorway. |
opening into q huge. square shadow,
which she guessed rather than saw to |
be hotel. i ~. s:.;s -Fs.[,. D.. Il
It's mos too wet for them there shoes
OF yourn, he said by way ofexplanation,
and without further speech he cast an
arm about her waist, and crossing in
two strides the intervening strip of
water and sand, set her down upon the
gallery in front Of the open door.
A waiter spounced upon them, and
taking the satchel and valise INTO one
hand as if satisfied that they belonged
led the way to the ladies' par
Lor.
s@ Here's fire." said the burly man
come set BY it and warm you'sef. You
must be pretty nigh froze. .s
y She yielded quietly, though with
little air Of reserve, to his direction, and
accepted the chair he placed for her be-
tore the open fire, which was doing its
Inefficient best to warm the large empty
room. She looked like a woman az
,ustomed to being taken care OF, one
'ow8rd whom every man would natural
xperience the protective impulse,
md her present self-elected guardian
'egarded her with an expression at once |
4 and approving and abe leaned