Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-09-05
A FRIEND IN NEED.


"it is Franks opportunity, and no
young soldiers opportunity ever came
without risk"
They were only forty miles frolt the
front-the vague front of Hill warfare.
But the station had been garrisoned
for years, and those years had accu-
inkscent moods We're rare.
There were ladies at the dinner
table, and one civilian, DIR. Mark
Ruthine, of the steamship Manhan-
addy.
The silence that followed the gen
erals remark was polite and expect
ant. For this grizzled little man was
a prophet in the land and his rem
niscent moods were rare.
During the pause Mark Ruthine
leaned forward to remove spider
which was gravely descending upon
the plate of his neighbor, Lillian Mem
land, the generals daughter.
In doing so he accidentally touched
her hand, which struck chill through
his, for it was icy.
"A moment later he turned and
glanced at her lips. They were white
and wore smile.
Miss Memland was not looking at
her father. Her eyes were lowered
to her plate Beneath the long lasnes
they were cleaning. She was collect
ing crumbs with deep CONSERVATION.
Ruthine turned, and catching the
quick, beady eye of a servant looked
meaningly at Miss Memland's empty
champagne glass. The silvery hiss Of
the frothing wine seemed to recall the
senses which had almost left her.
Before lifting the glass to her lips
the girl glanced almost suSpiciouSly at
Ruthine, who was looking stolidly in
front of him.
Franks the general was saying,
lis a first-class soldier. With luck he
should make a name"
fought to have been back by now"
muttered an aide-de-camp, looking at
the clock upon the mantelpiece. He
wondered a minute later why Ruthine
was staring at him.
"Where is Mr.. FrankS?" chimed in
an indiscreet lady. Has he gone to
the front?" She gave a little shiver
and smiled on the general as on one
holding life and death in the hollow of
his palm.
''He has gone beyond the front on
special service" replied the general
surly.
"Oh, then, is he in danger? asked
the lady, eXcitedly. She was person
who kept diary and sent it home in
volumes to adoring maiden aunts.
Mrs. Wayn," interrupted Ruthine's
quiet voice across the table, ''be care
full. There is spider swinging from
the punkah. l have tried to catch
him twice. He is contemplating sui
eide in your wine"
He took a warm bath in my soup,
said Lillian Memland, suddenly, with
a laugh which made her mother
look up.
The spider was removed by Il dark
slim hand from the tablecloth and the
irrepressible Mrs. Wayn went on.
How interesting" she exclaimed
Dear Mr.. Franks. He was so nice
quite charming. And he may be deaG
by this time. How terrible war is
DO you know Mrs. Wayn," BROKE
in Ruthine, again, that some of theSt
Indian spiders are very dangerous"
He went on to explain with the AL
thoritative voice of one who intends t.
be heard and to drown other CONVEX
Sation.
All the men and half the women a
the table knew that George Calmal
Franks, of the Guides, was man,
hours overdue. He was expected t
return early that morning from a spe
cial mission in disguise across the hills
and it was NJ Y nine o'clock at night
Some who knew the details of hi
journey had already given him up.
The moral atmosphere had bee
tense all day.
Mark Ruthine had come into it a
suddenly as a guest at tiffin time. II
had just discovered something whic
made him assume the task of repres
ing Mrs. Wayn. But the task was
hard one. The lady listened to h
dsquisition on spiders with a chafin
patience, which he deliberatel
strained to its utmost
Then the lady turned away fro
him to somebody who would listen il
stead of speaking. She loved
listener.
what with spiders and snakes an
war;" she exclaimed with a little shu
der, Il really hate India"
"And to think that we are so near
danger, and cannon balls. and thing
1t makes one feel like those people
the ball before Waterloo. Soft ey
looked love, you know, or whatever
was. Perhaps poor Mr.. Franks h:
some one like that at home, or ev
here"
The conversation was general, 10
Mrs. Wayn's voice-a characters
organ-was distinctly audible aero
the table as she asked her neighbor
there was no hope for Mr.. Franks
Lillian Memland was dIummi
nervously on the table with her tinge
Lillian" said Mark Ruthine, curt
''drink some champagne
He said it in that low male vo
which carries short Of a whisper a
he leaned sideways toward the g