Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-10-31

ner red lips. pitied her from the first,
hut with some Indignation in MY pity that
. woman, who could have won hot young
servor Of devotion, snould join herself to :
wornout rake. ;, feared the time when shs
should find out her mistake-and that night
Carlton, my fellow subaltern and chum,
burst into my quarter, shaking all over AZ
with ague, and told me, his voice broken
with sobs, that this was the girl he had 20
often raved of to me; that it was she he had
worked and saved for; that it was her let
tiers that every month or so had sent him
into rush Of tempestuous spirits. When I.
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, I felt that ths
scandal takers were more prophetic than
they imagined, and that coming tragedy
had already cast it's shadow over US. II
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 In
terview and perilous explanations. = S
( Jove! what a night that was, that night Of
our reg:mental dance! On the darkness Of
the veranda, dimly lighted here and thers'
by; coiored paper lanterns, the night air
gently rustled the leaves of the great trum-
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 in
toxicating to us young fellows who had
been stewing in purgatory, and little time
had I to think OF Carlton, though once
caught glimpse Of him a. he went along
the veranda, and the CLEAN of white satin
dress. 1t was Cartons hour, for govt had
kept the general a prisoner at home. ~.
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, and
lights flashed along the road. A procession
of natives came past dancing and waving
their arms, some carrying torches ana
others brightly colored Tampa. The lights
blazed on the small-humped bullocks and
ON the wagon they drew, ON which q high.
gaudily 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 chung
nervously to each other and to the gilded
sides Of their throne a. it swayed from
side to side. This was their bridal process
sion. TX 80 ID
Marriages are made in Heaven, aren't
thew. old fellow" said Cartons voice at
my elbow, with note Of cynicism IN It that
was new. We stood on the veranda steps
to watch the procession out Of sight. l halt
turned as he spoke to make some reply,
when I saw the light from the open door
shining on the girls face that looked up
into his, and my words died away - no
ticed it's chastity rsl}or and trembling white
Inns. She drew her cloak round her, but her
hand shook and could not fasten the clasp.
Then she suddenly turned to me. Please
take me to my carriage" she said, = am 80
tired" She spoke no word as we threaded
our way through the guests, only now and
then her hand frightened involuntarily on
mg arm. Good night" I said a. I closed
her carriage door; but the only sound thai
came back to me was stihed sob.
| Carlton came down to my quarters that
night. He laughed and talked 20 loudly
that I thought he had been drinking. You'd
better turn In, old fellow" aaid. but q hs
stood there with his flushed facs and heated
eyes another Idea came 70 mo. I caught
him BY the shoulder @ he was going Carl.
ton. old man" said, "for Qod's saks don't
10 ! FOOL" Hs laughed q he shook Of my
hand, and biz noisy song echoed with th1
banging Of my door. =
Next day even the most invstsrate gos'
DID had subject enough for talk, for twe
people were missing from the station, and
these two were the generals bride and Z
Junior subaltern. a,i
These scenes passed one BY one befors ny
mental sight, and then opened my syes T.
The dreary track, the broken fencs whsrsoI
i lsaned, and the shabby, woFn-out groom
g my side. turned, and glanced q III
Shanty with IT, iron roof rsddensd viii
dnst, and curved In ct one corner ovsr Z
broken veranda post. A woman crossed
4hs yard and went through the opsn door.
She had taken some clothes from the Hne
land they hung from her arm. She wore %
hat and the breeze caught and blew be-
rsy-streaked hair in wisps across her faeg
and loosened tie unbscomins knot n which
lt was twisted. 4 a loose, drasglsd gown
hune over her Shapslea figure. Cazltea
followed my gaxs and laughed shestly.
SYea.s 10 said, "shs q here With NJ
Hsshaps you don't recognise her -Kslaa
Oh Nllde NsWs, a -4.. i *: ,
Z