Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-04-01
WAS a GEN AIS BRIDE


dust-a foot deep-hid all ruts and holes,
which were only discovered as the bump Of
. wheel jerked us up from our seats, or the
drivers quick oath followed sharp on q
horses stumble. The dust had caked all
over the poor brutes, clinging to their grow
ing winter coats and choking their nostrils-
The desolation of Old Man Plain stretched
round us. After the rains it is a great table,
Of vivid green, but now there was not q
blade of grass to break the monotony Of the
dreary landscape, and not tree to cast its
thin shadow on the burnt ground-a dreary
expanse stretching unbroken to the hoeis
ION. Z,
We were behind our time, and as We drew
near the shanty we could see the fresh team
of five horses waiting for us. As Ne pulled
up the groom slouched forward to unlock
our horses He watched me pretty Narrow
~ as got down from the dusty coach 70 lean
on the fence while cut up my tobacco
There was something in those furtive looks
that made me pause, with pipe half filed
and take good look at the man. Surely
there was something dimly familiar In tho
tall, loosely-knit figure, something that re-
called time when rheumatism had not bent
the shoulders. Behind the thickened fea-
lures I seemed to see clear-cut face that
olce was handsome, and beneath the beard
a small, boyish mustache. Then I started
forward and caught him by the arm. MY
God, Carlton!" said. els it you?"
When our old general came back to India
after his long leave in England and aston
ished us all by appearing with beautiful
young wife, of course there were not want
ing people at the hill station to prophesy
how it would end. He was not popular
man. He was cantankerous brute to us.
youngsters, and, though he was great
'*ladies' man." we at the station had BEEN
wont to laugh at his efforts to captivate the
fair sex. But now we felt that we could
laugh no longer She almost took my breath
away when l first saw her, with her warua
beauty, the full round curves of her, and
her red lips pitied her from the first
but with some indignation in my pity that
a woman, who could have won hot young
fervor of devotion, should join herself to q
wornout rake. feared the time when she
should find out her mistake-and that night
Carlton, my fellow-subaltern and chum-
burst into my quarter, shaking all over a.
with ague, and told me, his voice broken
with sobs, that this was the girl he had 50
often raved of to me; that it was she he had
worked and saved for; that it was her let
into rush of tempestuous spirits. When
heard his voice tremble as he told of the
tears in her eyes when she recognized him.
and grow wild as he cursed the man who
married her and swore to murder him or
put bullet in his own head, felt that the
scandal takers were more prophetic than
they imagined, and that coming tragedy
had already cast it's shadow over US. 1t
was worse still after the first dance. Carl
ton would go, in spite of my efforts to dis
suade him, and of course they had an int
terview and perilous explanations.
Jove! what night that was, that night Of
our regimental dance! On the darkness OF
the veranda, dimly lighted here and there
by colored paper lanterns, the night air
gently rustled the leaves of the great trume
pet flower that climbed the posts and
breathed the soft hum of insect life. There
was spangled, starry sky outside with the
tall palms waving against it. The music OF
the band, the softness of girls warm arm
and the fragrance Of her breath were I'M
toxicating to us young fellows who had
been stewing in purgatory, and little time
had I to think of Carlton, though l. once
caught glimpse of him as he went along
the veranda, and the CLEAN Of white satin
| Dress It was Cartons hour, for govt had
The great unrest of an Indian night was
around us. There was clash of monot-
! onous music from the village and the dirge-
like sound of tuneless singing. The music
| and clash of tom-toms grew nearer, ana
| lights flashed along the road. A procession
of natives came past dancing and waving
| their arms, some carrying torches ana
| others brightly colored lamps. The lights
| blazed on the small bumped bullocks and
on the wagon they drew, on which a high,
| eaudily painted throne was built, and there,
perched far above the surrounding crowd
sat two tiny children wrapped in gorgeous
| silk and embroideries and bedecked with
! shining tinsel ornaments that weighed
down their small shoulders. They clunqf
nervously to each other and to the gilde8
sides of their throne as it swayed from
side to side. This was their bridal process
! sion.
v"Marriages are made in Heaven, areu
they, old fellow" said Cartons voice ct
my elbow, with a note of cynicism IN it that
was new. We stood on the veranda stepf
to watch the procession out of sight. bale
| turned ais he spoke to make some reply
when saw the light from the open doot
shining on the girls face that looked N
| into bis, and my words died away as ! no;
| ticed its chastity pallor and trembling white
| Inns. She drew her cloak round her, but he1
hand shook and could not fasten the elasp4
Then she suddenly turned to me. 'Pleas9
| take me to my carriage" she said, Il am O.
tired" She spoke no word a. we threaded
! our way through the guests, only now ard
then her hand frightened involuntarily OF
my arm. Good night, said 40 closed
her carriage door; but the only sound tha&
Comeback to me was stihed sob. n