Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-01-01
PRIVATE LANdFIELD.
~~~~~

i0AS7 HEN the men of the service
MN left Valdez to build the mill
tary lines through the Interior
of Alaska, Langfield went with them,
BE was undeniably plain, understood
and over sensitive, and that was why
Ihe felt certain that Dolly could never
dove him. To be sure. he had had no
intention Of loving her, but when six
feet two Of well-deyeloped manhood,
Az the person of Tom Perry, came down
from Circle City prospecting, Langtield
found Intentions and love had nothing
TO do with each other.
Tom and Dolly had known each other
IN the States, and Langfield watched
with hopeless pain the renewal Of their
friendship. She had grown shy with
him since Perry came, and there could
pc but oneSreason, he argued. Hc did
mot blame her; there was nothing in
him to inspife-a woman's love, and
Tom So he packed his flute and.
mis- knapsack and left with scarcely u
farewell.
The men We're not fond of Langfield.
He had a way OF shrinking into him
self that only Shivers, the camp mas
cot. a lank, mongrel Siwash with the
stump of a tail, understood.
Langfield seldom Joined the camp
fires. but when the fever broke out
Langfleld was the first to offer his SER
vices. He was not afraid Of contagion,
he told the sergeant, and anyway there
was no one at home who needed him.
After that he and Shivers took up their
quarters in the hospital tent.
The fever had Its run, but only one,
thanks to the nursing, was borne up
the trail and laid away under the snow.
Langfield planned piece of spruce
scantiing and drove 1t In by the mound.
but his hand was unsteady, and his
eyes were heavy and dull.
The top sergeant, on his rounds the
next morning, found him sitting up in
his blankets. His face was swollen
and discolored, and he was talking ex-
citedly to Shivers.
You mustn't let Dolly get the fever
he said, she's so little. Nor Tom
promise me you won't let Tom" Shiv-
ers whined and thrust his muzzle into
his masters palm. she couldn't help
loving him." Langfleld continued de-
fensiyely. You know She couldn't
yourself!" He fell back on the pillow
and tossed restlessly for moment.
"It'll be cool up there under the snow"
: he began again, land won't be heavy
! to pack. And say :" He sat up, pull
ing the dog close to him, maybe she'll
! forget that my hair was-red."
The men wer0 very tender to Lang
Geld after that, and Shivers seldom left
his bedside.
When, some weeks later, he became
conyalescent, he seemed smaller and
slighter than ever, and his hair shone
more wildly red against the plnched,
+, white face. They carried him out Into
the sunshine. but his eyes wandered
regretfully up to the snow.
In a month he was at his post again.
doing the work of two men. with
scarcely the strength of one.
He went down the mountain one
night an hour behind time. The trail
was slushy, and the early gray twi-
light lent soft indistinctness every
where. Suddenly he paused. From
somewhere there came faint cry,
weak and indistinct. but undeniably
human.
Langfeld made trumpet Of his
hands. "Hel-lo!" he shouted, and
strained his ears for the reply.
Some ten feet down the trail gla-
cier stream had quilted out the bank.
Its icy, slate olored waters fell almost
perpendIcularly over the rocks. Creep
Ing teSlile slippery edge, he peered over
land called again. A faint voice an
swered.
"A steep, shelving path was Just WIS.,
ible, and he clambered down to 1t.
scratched and torn by the brambles at
every step. A little further on roll
of blankets impeded his way, and he
knew that somewhere in the ravine be-
low he would find n prospector.
The man proved to be big fellow,
but the light was too dim to see his
face. The force Of his fall had wedged
one leg between the crevices Of rock,
and 1t took Langfield's entire strength
to extricate him. He pressed his can
teen to he strangers lips. and rubbed
him vigorously.
Its no USE" said the man at last,
II can't make it!' and he sank Imply
on the bank.
The night wore on. Slowly the gray
skirts Of dawn swept across the east-
ern sky. The prospector could not see
Langfield's face but the slight, droop-
ing shoulders seemed familiar. The
pain was growing unbearable, and he
groaned.
swered absently. "l'd forgotten" and
jumped to his feet.
The morning light was flooding ev-
erything, and 1t fell upon the two men.
{ as they looked into each others eyes.
i Langfleld drew In his breath with sud-
den sharpness. The other muttered
Z. an oath and leaned weakly back to-
ward him. "You!"
The man nodded.
The lines on Langfeld's face We're
tense and drawn. and he steadied him
self with an effort. "Well," he said at
( last, ..it's three miles to camp, and we'd
better be moving"
q There were few drops left in his
canteen. He offered them to his COM
zion, converted himself into prop
tho wounded side, and the slow,
-,ey down the trail began.
them talked much. The
" on the mountain.
'ged from 1t the
the ledge be-
as astir.
path paused,