River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-01-26

with ordinary screws. Ot my belong
| ings-w which had pro tenn. been eontis-
cated-my money, watch keA and pen
| knife had been returned 10 me. The
large blade the latter at once broke
short, and with II, in lieu of chisel l.
| in about five minutes, removed the slot
aforesaid, and found myself in the
gray light OF early morning, in the pas
sage outside. and, so far, free. Creep
| ing noiseiessly downstairs ! had little
difficulty in finding the kitchen my
| fair rescuer had indicated, at the door
of which had 10 step gingerly-yery
gingerly-over sleeping soldier, who
had evidently done full justice TO the
lager beer for which the hotel had been
| famous. Then on from one out building
to another, to yard, beyond which a
gate led into the open.
Clara was right; in this direction the
coast was clear. Once away from the
guardhouse, l made straight for the
railway station. There was an early
| train a about six o'clock, which might
catch before the hue and cry for the
missing prisoner took place. And thus,
{ obtaining a ticket from an unsuspect-
| ing Office boy before the place was prop
erly opened, | succeeded in doing, My
next difficulty was the examination of
tickets, which was done by the station
master, who, of course, knew me as the
victim of the night before. As. how
ever, | had now tied the union jack
/ round my hat, and, moreover, appeared
/ 4 -, 4
! newspaper as he came round, l so ar
ranged, as | handed him my ticket, to
I hide my face. And thus it was. after
a very critical five minutes, that the
| train started for Basic; and | found
myself before long over The border ard
in safety, being lionized by double file
! of Swiss troops, who, not knowing if
were duke or dustman, but inclining
/ TO the former, felt ii was wise at such
| political crisis TO salute, and do all
possible honor to the British flag, which
same union jack, by the way. has on
many occasions since then served me in
good stead, and which, among other
mementos of Aud Lang Syne," | still
preserve.
But how about Clara? you naturally
ask Did we, as story books relate,
get married and live happy ever
after?" Alas! no. Those whimsical
| fates had willie il otherwise. Indeed,
till nearly 20 years after the event
! Though | often pictured her in my
minds eye) ] did not again hear of
! her. When a letter, addressed ito be
forwarded" arrived for me at the Of
| flee of the London newspaper with
which | was connected and was sent
OF to my then address at Hampstead, it
was as follows:
! TempIemore, Boston. u. S. A.-Dear Sir:
! ] recently read in a London magazine
| which has reached me here an interview
| which much interested me. In il the inter-
| viewer refers. amongst other relics of cam
| paigning which hang on the walls of your
| sanctum, to mall union jack. | was 3
| romantic girl in those days, and-ah! well.
/ I'm a substantial matron now. Delighted
| to find by his reference to 1t that you still
preserve. may l hope, pleasant memories
of your earliest escapade on the warpath.
1 believe me 10 be, etc, etc,
! (MRS.) CLARA MIDDLETHORPE.
| Nee Clara Darlington.
Then | carefully closed that letter,
put il into my breast pocket (eft side),
| lii my pipe and fell into reverie, in
which, in all her youth and beauty,
Clara Darlington and myself, support
ed by Fritz the sergeant, still drinking
/ ;he health of his majesty the king"
played important parts; and if the
above, being the result of that reverie,
has been interesting, as an autobi-
ograhical sketch, its author will be
pleased indeed that ii was once his good
/ fortune TO have been-"Saved by a
Woman. '-London Queen.