The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-02-28

| eiell0nls VI eva Ia cl1o CnaraC
ter naturally depraved.
Lieut. Prescott reported to the head.
quarters of his company, which was nea.
the eastern outskirts of the town. and SC
soon as he could get leave went toward
the Fenwicke mansion, the most pre-.
tentious residence in the place.
It was now near eight in the evening,
and fog. which the breeze had kept scat
tered. now fell, all silvered by the moon,
over everything as the wind ceased to
blow. Love was not laggard.
Tho lieutenant was walking very rap.
idly, absorbed in .,cntlc reflections and
impatient to reach / 80 gate of the man.
SION where, perhaps, Rose might meet
him and welcome him in, when, as he
turned corner, he collided with a man
coming quite as swiftly from the opposite
direction. They both fell heavily, Pres
colt on top. There was momentary
scramble and some unintelligible ejacu-
latlons before they arose and faced each
other, glaring through tho fog.
An imprecation OF no uncertain sort
row leaped from the strangers lips, and
at the Same time his arm flew out, his
clinched fist striking the lieutenant full
in tho chest with such force that he
reeled back and came near falling again.
The blow was SO sudden, heavy and alto
gether unexpected that the surprise was
greater than the injury. Before Pres
cort could recover himself his assailant
had passed on and was lost in the fog,
leaving behind him the sting of a very
cutting insult added to the indignity of
the fist stroke.
''Take that, you Internal rebel dog,
and keep out Of o gentleman's way!'
With these exasperating words ring
ing in his ears, and with the dull pain
of the. buffet on his breast, the young
lieutenant whipped out his sword and
blindly tried to pursue; but the man
was gone.
Turning about presently he resumed
his way, most thoroughly excited and
actually trembling from head to foot.
Never before had he felt such anger,
such uncomfortable and savage rage.
The mans face was as firmly fixed in.
his memory as il it had been painted
there. although he had seen it but dimly.
1t was strong, rather stolid English
face, with long mustache, firm, cruel
mouth and q peculiarly heavy though
straight and by no means i'll shaped nose.
I'm know the scoundrcl if 1 ever see
him again." the lieutenant CRASHED,
"and I'll break his neck if can, con-
found him! A British emissary, I'll
wsgcr my life"
There had been that in the fellows
voice which bespoke him gentleman in
one sense Of the word-that is, it was
the voice Of an educated man-and Pres
colt was somehow strangely impressed
(as no became aware when his fit of des-
perate rage had subsided) with certain
power in it, the power Of one gifted in
some extraordinary way.
Altogether the bit OF adventure had
left vivid reflection on tho young mans
mind, and it was with the sense of hay
ing passed crisis in his lifo that he
strobe on rather slowly, his pulse still
abnormally quick and his nerves tin
Cling strangely.
When he reached the gate of Mr.. Fen
wlcke's house 'he found it locked and
looking up no saw no light in tho win
dows. Flo rappod upon tho oa,;en bars,
hoping that Rose might hear him were
she near. All was quite silent and still.
savc that large 1nastif growled threat
eningly from some point inside the mar
row space between tho wall and tho house.
What could this mean? 1t was not
late. not latc enough for tho household
to DO asleep. Could they be gone away?
Some dark prcsentimcnt began to take
form In his brain as he stood with his !
hand on the top Of tho tall gate. Again
he raped loudly and listened as tho
sharp echoes ratified through tho recesses |
Of tho rambling and rather gloomy build.
ing, which seemed to stare vacantly Mt |
him. It was mostly his excited inagina-
lion, TOR presently tho negro porter came
and unlocked the gate, after inquiriny
who 1t was that desired to entcr. The
mastih was troublesome. Evidently it
wished to get at tho lieutenant, trying
o break away from tho negro even after
Prescott had mounted tho steps and was
Hanging noisily with the heavy brass
znockcr. A pleasant surprise awaited
no young man, however, for, instead of
servant, Rose came to open the door,
which she did with tho manner of ono
Who doubts the propricty of tho act.
ss'Oh!' she cried out, starting and near
y dropping tho lamp. rs it you, Lieut..
PRESCOTT? I was not expecting you and
and
why, how You tremble!" he c.
lai:lcd. stopping in and closin: the door
'ehind him, his hand outstretchcd for
.'What isit, Rose? What has
- -"