Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20
A HIDDEN HERO.

Lord Archie .Falconer was keeping
his hunters-to the tune of a modest
couple-out OF barracks, and was on
his way to see them, when he CHANGED
to meet with Marcus Oxford.
His way lay through poor and for
lorn-looking district. laid out in small
and narrow streets OF ugly little feat
uroless houses, built in rows to the
cultivation of nothing but certain
air OF crushed and melancholy meek
neatness, and situated about midway
between the barracks and the town Of
Warnec!iffe. It was peopled chiefly
by such Of the Benedicks among the
rank and file Of the Black Horse as
were not on the strength OF the regi-
ment.
Marcus Oxford was laughing as Lord
Archie approached him, and he felt
bis own face expanding into broad
smile instantly.
"What ore you laughing at?" he de-
manded.
II found yesterday" the other an
swered, "thut Arnitt was down with
IL severe attack OF congestion of the
lunss-a very serious case, his wife
told me the doctor had pronounced it.
| sent him basket OF things down
this morning-ice and grapes and Jelly
and so on, you know-for, poor devil,
it must be hard lines to be i'll in such q
hole as that -jerking his stick over
his shoulder to Indicate a row ofsqual-
id little houses behind him---'sand
Moore brought back word that he was
very oad-as bad as he could be. So l
thought I'd come round and hear how
he is to-day. Ills a. tidy little place,
but terribly bare and comfortless, and
l found half n dozen youngsters all
squatting about the doorstep, and evil
dntly expecting every minute to hear
that the end had come 'Hollo, nv
man said to the biggest boy, lad
OF 7 orS, ARE you one of Arnitt's
boys9" Yes, sir, we're all his'n,' he
piped out. oh, are your I said,
thinking Arnitt may we'll look as hun
cry as he generally does. And how is
your father this afternoon?' Very
bad, slr-mortal bad-as bad's he can
be- the youngster piped out in reply.
An the doctor says il father lives till
morning, there']l be some 'opes; but if
he don't live till morning, he won't
have no 'opes at ALL"
Lord Archie laughed outright, and
Marcus Oxford continues: But 1
don't believe Arnitt will live till morn
ing, poor chap; and if not. what his
wife will do with all those youngsters
is rather q hard question"
Eyes; decent fellow, Arnitt; l had
him with my horses for time. Pity
he married without waiting for leave;
IT'S such drag on man, unless the
wife happens to have some business OF
her own; and, Arnitt, poor beuar, is
so overridden with children, and his
wife's line OF business not of much use
to her" s. e. i, -
"What was it," I:.,'.~
ooh, she was a circus.rider, and a
ripping smart girl, too. I remember
seeing her the year joined. She had
a pretty little face, and a pretty little
figure too, and lot of light crinkling
talr hair that seemed to wave all over
her head in shining hecks of light; I
never saw such jolly hair"
"She's pretty little woman now,"
Marcus Oxford remarked. "Well?"
eve were all more or less gone on
her" Lord Archie continued. "The
little favorite, we used to call her. Her
circus name was Mademoiselle Favor
ita-her own, God knows! However,
none of the fellows could make any
impression upon her whatever, not
the very smallest, and one afternoon,
about 6 o'clock, Imet her going down
to the circus with Arnitt-and then L
knew why. And, sure enough, very
shortly after that she and Arnitt got
married. II he'd put in for leave, and
waited till he got it, which he would
have done, they might have got on
very we'll, but he married her straight
out OF hand, and there they have
stuck ever SINCE Arnitt ought to
have got on, for he's q gentleman--a
Varsity man, too; but he's been I'M
lucky, unlucky all round" Il
You don't mean it," Oxford cried,
IN huge surprise, that he's q gentle
man-and a Varsity MANI h
ooh, but / do, though--an Oxford
man. Remember his face distinctly
as a man Of Brazenos when was at
PauPs, but for the very life / couldn't
then, and have never been able since,
Co put name to it. And yet / al
most fancy and | think Of it every
time get fair look at him that
I've seen the face with g TUT above
it," B.
"a uft! you don't mean it?'' Or
ford cried. q sI.s s.
!" Yes, i do. j get back to q certain
point, and then / seem to come to. q
dead-wall, which blocks me complete
y. ~
oh, You must be mistaken, OF Be
mixing him up with soIneb BODY else,
3Orford declared. = couldn't be, you
know; somebody would be sure torec-
3oghize him 3, .s3E
well, Il may ord Archie adj
nitted Il my be, but still I've had
the isamA ipapr non ever since I have