The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-11-05
AN OFFICERS STORY.

Charley. tell us a story"
do. Charley, dor chimed in the
others.
These remarks proceeded from a
group of American soldiers who were
surrounding campfire in Indian ter
ritory, endeavoring to keep warm.
"Well, then" said the one addressed
as Charley, 81 will tell you a true one,
which happened to me once, although
it almost makes my blood run cold to
think of it.
Five years ago as I was on my
way to join my regiment, which was
stationed at the own Of -, the stage
took in an old gentleman and his
daughter. His whole air bore the stamp
of excellent birth and education.
could say nothing in regard to the
looks of the young lady. on account of
her veil and bonnet but a fine form.
with occasional glimpses of sparkling
black eyes, and a lovely complexion
were enough.
when we arrived at the hotel in
the town, / procured a room and then
called for supper but on account of
the fatigue of the journey 1 felt no
inclination to eat and shortly after
went to my room and threw myself on
my bed, but could get no rest
While in this state l was startled
by rich, mellow voice, quite near
me, which 1 Immediately knew to be
that of my fair fellow traveller, warb-
| ling, in a sweet tone, Silver Lake.
On examination / found that there
was door between my room and hers,
apparently long nailed up and dis
used. AS I was impatiently ruminat-
| ing, she commenced in the same soto
voice and sang the song from Tribly
Lutrin, 'Ecoute.' Then, taking up the
song, [ sang the second verse. Her
voice Immediately ceased, and L heard
no more.
1T was growing very late. and
wearied more in mind than body
once more threw myself on the bed
to sleep, though I had no expectation
of slumber L did sleep, however,
sleep 1 shall never forget. 1 was fear
fully aroused from it by what seemed
to be tumultuous voices, the roaring
of cannons and drums, and occasion
ally peals like thunder. 1 felt OPP
pressed by the glare of light A noise
| like thunder startled me from my I'M
easy couch, and l sprang upon the
floor. The room glared red with
| bursting of a volcano.
Accustomed to danger, 1 soon col
lected my thoughts. 1 approached the
window and saw that the town was
on fire. It was the blowing up of a
house in the vicinity that had sud-
denly aroused me. From the shouts
I heard, my hotel was evidently burn
! ing. I rushed toward my door, but
at that very time 1 recollected the
lady near me. knocked violently at
her door-tfis was no time for cere-
to force an entry, but in vain. l
sprang to my door, but found it lock-
ed 1 remembered locking it before
going to bed and taking the key out,
but had utterly forgotten where / had
put it. After attempting to burst it
open with my foot I essayed a chair,
and then a table. until both were shiv-
cred into fragments.
LAS 1 could see by the light that the
crowd was large one, | determined
| to call for assistance. In my impa-
tience to open the window l dashed
my hands through the panes of glass,
severely cutting them, and called
LOUDLY for aid But amid the clamOr
of voices and the caring of the flames,
a cannon could scarcely have been
heard.
1.-The room began to be oppressively
hot and the floor parched my feet.
had faced death on many battlefields
and feared it not, but to die thus! l
Gushes of dark, red flame. mingled
with a black, musty cloud, filled my
room.
Good heavensr L exclaimed, sit is
all over, 1 have nothing to do but to
die like man.
cat this moment loud splash rat
tied through the shivered panes, and L
was deluged with a shower of water
The fire engines were playing on the
building.
"Once more 1 arose, resolved to
make another effort. 1 seized the tongs
and poker and tried to force back the
lock. NY strength seemed to increase
with my desperation. l toiled till the
skin was rubbed from my before lac
Grated hands. Almost fainting, Z
staggered back against the wall,
where I saw my reflection in a large
psyche. My eyes we're blood shot and
haggared, my hair hung in thick
lank spikes, while my face was COW
cred with SCOT and blood.
What [ have related occurred in a
few minutes A wooden portico COW
cred with tin just under my window
had long resisted the furious element,
bnt at last it gave way. The sudden
heat that rushed into the room was
too. much for me. My knees tottered,
and my head swan round. | threw
myself on my face, remembering that
there is said to be a pure layer of air
near the floor. While thus extended
my eye caught the door key near me
that had fallen from a nail over my
head. I seized the key and gained the
door, bnt the dense cloud into which
/ arose overpowered my exhausted
frame. I reeled around and fell to the
floor, and as 1 fell loud crash rang
IN my ears.
How long 1 lay insensible I know
not When 1 was out of danger, 1
learned from the physician that the
young girl, who had been awakened
by her father, followed me, and when
the door between the rooms was shiv-
cred to pieces with one of their axes
one of the firemen caught up my
Afeless body, while his companion
carried off the heroic girl, who had
tainted on seeing my PROSTATE form.
MY first inquiry was about the
young lady who had saved my life.
AS it was, found her an angel. And
that awful night, which still makes
my blood run cold, made me what I
still ana happy husband. "-Ex-
change.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON MARGATE.