The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-15
THREE MIRACULOUS SOLDIERS.
BY STEPHEN CRANE.
copyright, 1896, by S. 5. Mcclure. Ltd.)

L
The girl was in the trout room on The
second floor. peering through the
BLINDS. From between the Stats she
had a view of the road as it wended
across the meadow to the woods and
again when it re-appeared crossing the
hill, half a mile away. 1t lay yellow
ana warm in the summer sunshine
From the long grasses of the meadow
came the rhythmic click of the insects
Occasionally frogs in the hidden brook
made a peculiar chug-chug sound as
if somebody throttled them. The leaves
of the wood swung in gentle winds
Through the dark green branches OF
the pines that grew in the front YARD
could be seen the mountains, far to the
southeast and inexpressibly blue
Mary'S eyes were fastened upon the
little streak of road that appeared OF
the distant hill. Her face was flushed
with excitement and the hand which
stretched in a strained pose on the SILL
trembled because of the nervous shak-
ing of the wrist. The pines whlskeo
their green needles with d soft Missing
sound against the house.
Al last the girl turned from the WIN
dow and went to the head of the stairs
well. 1 Just know they're coming
anyhow she cried argUmentatively &c
the depths.
A voice retorted with the shrillness
and mechanical violence of occasional
housewives. The girl swished hel
skirts defiantly and returned to the
window.
Upon the yellow stream of road that
lay across the hillside there now was
q handful of black dots-horsemen. A
cloud of dust floated away. The gir
few to the head of the stairs and
4Yhiried down to the kitchen.
They're comingl They're coming!
1t was as if she had cried ''F'ire"'
Her mother had been pealing potatoes
while seated comfortably at the table
She sprang 10 her feet. Not can't
below you know it's them-where? %
The stubby knife fell from her hand
and two or three curls of potato skin
dropped from her apron to the floor.
The girl turned and dashed up stairs
Her mother followed, gasping fol
breath and yet continuing to fill the
air with questions, reproach and re-
monstrance. The girl was already al
the winaow, eagerly pointing.
"Therel There! See EN-! See emf
Rushing TO the window. the mother
scanned for an instant the road on the
hill. She crouched back with a groan
It's them" She waved Ser hands
in despairing gestures.
The black dots vanished into the
woods. The girl at the window was
quivering and her eyes were shining
like water when the sun flashes.
Hush, They are in the woods
They'll be here directly" She Blended
down and intently watched the greer
archway from whence the road
emerged. Hush, ] hear them com
ing she swiftly whispered to hen
mother, for the elder woman had drop.
ped dolefully upon the mattress ano
T-aS soboing. And indeed the girl could
hear the quick, dull trample of horses
She stepped aside with sudden appre
hension, but she Bonded her head for
ward in order to scan the road.
Here they arer'
There was something very theatrica
in the sudden appearance of these mer
TO the eyes Of the girl Ii was as il
a scene had been shifted. The forest
suddenly disclosed them. a dozer
brown-faced troopers in blue, gallop
ing.
oh, look breathed the girl. He
mouth was puckered into an expression
Of strange fascination
The little troop rode in silence. A
Its head was youthful fellow witt
some dim yellow stripes upon his arm
In his right hand he held his carbine
slanting upward with the stock resting
upon his knee. He was absorbed in :
scrutiny of the country before him A
the head of the sergeant the rest of the
squad rode in thin column with creal
of leather and tinkle Of steel and lin
The troopers glanced for momen
like casual tourists and then returned
TO their study of the region in front
The heavy thudding of ihe hOofs be
came a small noise. The dust hanging
in sheets. slowly sank
The sobs of the woman on the bee
took form in words, which, Will,
strong in their note of calamity, We
express a querulous mental reaching
for some near thing 20 blame "AnC
it'll be lucky for US if we amt boil
butchered in our -plundering
and running off horses-old Danto'.
gone--you see if he 't-plunder
ing"
But, ma" said the girl, perplexec
and terrified in the same moment
They've gone"
"Oh, but they'll come back CRIED
the mother. without pausing her wall
They'll come back-trust them fol
that--running off horses" She sud
denly lifted herself and sat rigid. star
ing at her daughter. Mary" she sale
In tragic whisper, the kitchen dool
isn't locked" Already she was Blended
forward to listen, her mouth agape, hel
eyes fixed upon her daughter.
Mother" faltered the girl.
Her mother again whispered: "Tht
kitchen door isn't locked Motionles.
and mute they stared into each other.
eyes.
At last the girl quavered: I've bet
ter-we better go and lock it." The
mother nodded. Hanging arm in arm
they stole across the floor toward thu
head Of the stairs. A board of TIL,
floor creaked- They halted and ex
changed q look of dumb agony.
At last they reached the head of tn,
stairs. From the kitchen came tht
bass humming of the kettle and ire
quent sputterings and cracklings from
The fire. These sounds were sinister
The mother and the girl stood incapa
bile of movement. There's somebody
down there" whispered the older wo
man.
Finally. the girl made a gesture O
resolution. She twisted her arm from
her mothers hand and went two step,
downward She addressed the Kitchen
Who's there?' Her tone was intended
to be dauntless. 1t rang so dramatic
ally in the silence that a sudden nev
panic seized them. as if the suspected
presence in the kitchen had cried on
TO them. But the girl ventured again
rs there anybody there?" No repl,
was made save by the kettle and tn,
fire.
With a stealthy tread the girl con
tinUed her Journey As she neared tn,
last step the fire cracked explosivel,
and the girl screamed. But the mysti,
presence had not swept around tn,
corner to grab her. so she dropped to