The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-12-20

previous history. This was bad. Neither
sheriff nor jailer succeeded in ferreting out OF Il
them anything that possibly could tend to dis
cover their friends or relations, and as the days
passed by they became less laxative and more
suspicious. The county attorney had hoped
that they would plead guilty to the petit charge;
in fact the sheriff had limited to them as much,
when he took them before the court to plead.
that if they would plead guilty, considering their
already long Imprisonment, 1.-The old man"
would let them down easy. However, they did
not seem to take the advice for both pleaded
mot guilty." and persisteEtly maintained their
innocence SO it happened they were brought
up for trial the last day of court, and just when
the case was called. the county attorney arose
and asked the court to dismiss the action for
want of evidence Accordingly the case was dis
missed and the prisoners discharged.
On, liberty, sweetest boon on earth. For
moment they felt extremity happy; but for
moment only. AS they walked out OF the court
house down towards the business portion OF the
| town, they were called back to the reality by a
| fate more relentless than iron bars and prison
discipline. The chilling breeze crept through
their thin and threadbare clothing and reminded
them forcibly of the fact that they were in
strange locality, without friends or money.
stigmatized as "croOks,'' confronted by the
mercess winter of the Red River Valley. When
they left their homes in Illinois on the 9TH OF
July they had both promised to be back before
the cold season set in; but here they were, destl
tute Of everything except their scant and ragged
clothing. Their plans had been frustrated. their
promises broken, why, they could not under
stand not by any error committed or evil inten- |
ton harbored on their part; they were at peace
with the creator and all the world, and never
knew the effects of tOrturing conscience. Was
it a freak fortune had played them, and would
she make amends? They had read somewhere
that every man the architect of his own
fortune but if that was true they were at loss
to explain their own situation. Was it really
: fact? 1t seemed like a horrid dream. Alas, it
was no illusion: it was no mystery, it was
plain, stern reality it was the sheriff had told
: them-law. What were they to do? To whom
p should they venture for aid? Was there nobody
. in this good town who would believe them; no
body who would see the injustice they had
;. suffered? While musing over questions like
these they had gained the main street and were
T saunterng along the crowded thoroughfare look
= ing wistfully into the face of every person they
u CHANGED to meet, trying to discover good
II samaritan and on the opposite side of the street
e a vigant policeman kept pace They had not
Is passed very many blocks however, before they
" we're suddenly accOsted by the formidable chief
in person rObed in his tremendous authority.
D. He gave them to understand that they had no
III business to annoy people by their lnqulsltlve
'e staring as this was no place for crooks, and he
Is would give them an hour to leave town; the
county had fed them long enough. and if they
% did not leave in the specified time he would be
IT, compelled to drive them away. 1t was prompt
at advice, and the two young men understood it
1t thoroughly and hence they followed it immedi-
III ately by switching off the main street and to the
he first road they thought led into the country
They hoped that some kind of work might be
III obtained during the winter months, if they cOulC
reach the older settlement on the river; If moth
lo ing else they might get chance to do chores fol
dill their board. Hope and courage inspired then
hs with vigOr and strength. The road led over
w. broad treeess point. dotted here and there will
u, hay stacks and occasionally dilipadated SHAFT.
III or a fallen sod house. The sharp breeze hat
ceased aud it was calm afternoon. Inc SUI
'"' was shining bright, and the air seemed Dam
10 and spring like. Our two unfortunate youth
'ur had been walking fast for several miles AM
were in prOfuse state of PRECIPITATION, Whel
Frank called halt and proposed to rest for
he .+ pur Soarcalv had they been seate
OF five minutes when they were startled by a whiz
re- inc whining sound followed by sensation a
if they had taken a plunge into an arctic OceaI
..Jm il is the BLIZZARD BLIZZARD. come lie
us rum" and Off they were as fast as pair c
hts steeed legs could carry them. but the ollzzard
all well. the race seems unfair. Man Is but
le' pigmy when he enters the contest for prH
cry with the elements AS usual in such cases the
soon discovered their own insignlflcance 81
cry fore they knew, they were lost graphing abol
in a fearful snowstorm. drifting hither an
thither and always thinking they were WAIKIKI
ls' in the same direction. Hand In hand ana size l
" side they continued their frenzied wandering
fl,nr nr,tr
earliest childhood gded past their weary vlslo
Finally the biting wind subsidized SomeWha
F. but it kept up its terrific hoWlng; men men phys
down and were received by friendly. symp
thiZing snow drift.
llar It was beautiful day in early March; Il
the roads we're nice and sleighing excellent. Farm
,rn Thompson made up his mlnd that IL was Ju
urge praire. And so the boys were despatched wit
yelv out notice with two Teams and lmmensly .
,sod hay-rack and the instruction that they haG
'>eu he back in time to do the evening chores. b
airy; the sun set and the moon and stars had lo1
hort since come out; but neither boys nor nay loa
OIL had yet made their appearance. Someth
was Wien the BOYS arrived at their destination, til
mild found a large snow bank that had to be remov
dest task they set about at ance Having shovel
the hustily for about half hour. they had alrea
'he made very unexpected discovery-the de
last bodies of two young men; For a moment Tn
lion were horror struck but on Iegain,ng ,;t I'M
I'd in equilibrium one OF tnenl aue loi tumii MItl
Ben, poSsdI0 rFhe coroner was notified and he %
e up coded with the business in the usual mann
the The bodies were identified as those of the tv
his youls ,.on on the last dav of court T
neys verdict said that they had come to their dea
itOrs by the lnclemency ol we VI ot t
clVe Bile fate to be caught in the merciless blZZa
set and expire in snowdrift Poor fellows! too b
erSuS that nobody KNOWS WHERE tey Td'I tf
Dung l vi thir nad event Yes too bad indeed:
,eny. would be a Joyful message for the aged mott
,prO- and the loving sweetheart.