The record-union., 1895-01-19
TWO OFFICERS.
[ Written for the RECoRD-UNIoN by William
Z

Wr1tten Tor the RECORD-UNION by William
c. Russell
1t was bitter winter night following
the last day of long, furious war. A
few thousand soldiers, the remnants of a
vanquished army, rested lazily on their
arms in the edge Of dense forest near a
great frozen river on the Russian from
tier. Alter wild flight across the frozen
steppes they had sought safety in the
shelter OF the forest the day before.
Il am of the opinion that we are no
match for those black devils in the open
country" one of the officers had been
frank enough to say, "but tomorrow we
will meet them on different ground and
give them a reception they will not be
likely to forget"
But the next day there was no battle,
Tor the news came that peace reigned
once more over all the land of the great
White Gar, and the black devils that
moved like the wind and fought like
demons went back into the steppes, while
the tired soldiers OF the ill-starred army
retired to their tents to doZe in safety.
But this is not the story of that war, and
1t IS not to the purpose to follow the for
tunes of the victors or the misfortunes of
the vanquished-it is merely the story of
two officers of the latter.
AT O'Clock but two men were visible
outside the canvas tents. One of them,
small, spare-built man OF, perhaps, 40,
was dressed in the uniform of a Captain,
while the other, big, broad -shouldered
man of 30, wore that OF Lieutenant.
They were leaving the quarters together
to attend a ball at the station q few miles
distant. Before they were out OF sight of
the tents the two officers began discussing
the fortunes and tates of war. When
they had gone, perhaps two-thirds of the
distance, and were IN sight OF the lights
at the station, the Captain suddenly
stopped in the middle OF one of the most
Interesting OF his ineXhaustible fund of
war tales.
Did you see that?" he whispered,
clutching his companions arm and
pointing through the darkness in front
of them.
''See what?" asked the Lieutenant, peer
ing through the gloom.
why, there-there it is again. Don't
you see 1t there? 1t is crossing the road
now just in front of u.s."
Yes, yes, l see it now; little to the
left. It looks like a man moving along
in the dusk OF the trees.''
"a deserter likely" said the Captain.
hurrying on.
"Deserter?" repeated the Lieutenant,
apparently endeavoring to suppress
laugh. why, Captain, you certainly
have not forgotten that the war is over.
A man could hardly have any reason for
deserting now."
quite true" assented the Captain, at
the same time increasing his pace; lit is
a prisoner, perhaps, endeavoring TO make
his escape"
Quite unlikely" replied the Lieuten-
ant. 1T is not at all probable thata pris-
oner would run the risk OF getting him
self shot IN order to gain few days free
dom. 1t is civilian, no doubt, on his
way 10 the ball"
1he captain soon made it appear gu ite
evident that he had his own individual
opinion in the matter, and that that opin-
ion was that the man in front of them
was either deserter or an escaping pris-
oner, 1or ne sang out to the receding tig
ure to halt IN Il voice SO loud and clear
that 1t might have sufficed for a COM
mand in the midst of raging battle.
Contrary TO the expectations of the
Lieutenant, and, to his great surprise, the
man IN front OF them started to run To
his greater surprise the Captain did like
wise.
In the exciting race that followed the
Captain would have been easily dis
tanced, and the fleeing figure made good
his escape, had he not STUN bled and ieIl
headlong in the snow, giving his pur-
Suer Tune to OYertake him,
Come and see what you think of this
chap for civilian" roared the Captain,
as he caught his victim by the collar and
roughly lifted him to his feet.
The Lieutenant went close enough to
see that one OF the Captains seemingly
improbable cOnjectures had proved cor
rect, for the frightened man he held by
the collar was dressed in ragged uni
| form of the enemy's army, The intense
ar huf oF
! the trees, rendered 1t impossible to dis
Germ anything regarding his appearance,
except that he was very young man
so young, in fact, that he could hardly be
called a man at all-he was little more
! than boy.
After long pause the prisoner spoke:
''lt seems, gentlemen, that in endeav-
oring to escape tonight [ have been pur-
sued with my usual bad luck"
''lt seems to me-" said the CAPTAIN.
that you have been pursued by man
that can run faster than YOU"
NO one can run, sir, who is weak
and benumbed with cold,' the prisoner
answered sadly.
''What madness tempted you to ATTEMPT
to escape tonight" asked the Lieuten-
! ant.
''Do you see that light yonder?n he
said, pointing across the river.
The two otncers looked across the frozen
and against the background of the black
forest in the distance they saw a dim.
| tlickering light.
NV ell" he went on, "that is my home
over there, and l have been watching
that light tor hours. The longer l watched
II the greater was my desire to cross the
river ana be at nome with my dear old
mother again"
Yes, understand" said the Lieuten-
ant, but IN endeavoring to do so at this
| particular time you have put the CAPTAIN
and myself to the Inconvenience of hav-
ing prisoner on our hands at the very
| moment we expected to be enjoying our
selves at the ball"
"Pve been away two years now, and
every time looked across at the light it
was great temptation, sir" lie said yerv
! slowly, addressing the Lieutenant. s.'This
| evening heard one OF the guards say the
war was over and / didn't think 1t would
matter much if l left to- might
Matter much? 1t is very serious
onense, SIT, SAD the Captain, straight
ening up 10 his extreme hight, "Do
you think we are in the habit of captur-
ing prisoners in order to make it con-
venlent Tor them to visit homer"
The prisoner gave him no answer. but
turned appeailngly to the Lieutenant and
said:
will have to go back to the quarters
again?"
We'll, my boy. as far as I am con-
cerned in the matter, il 1 thought you
could cross the river safely to-night-0
20, there is no danger, SIR" he an
swered hurriedly, leaving the Lieuten-
ants sentence unfinished,
linen the moon suddenly broke through
the black clouds and sent its pale LIGHT
down through the branches OF the trees
revealing the prisoners sorry figure!
And, indeed, it was sorry figure! But