The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-02-20
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BY HELEN ELLSWORTH WRIGHT.
NXTHEN the men OF the service left
wv Valdez to build the military


he felt certain that Dolly could never
Ioye him. To be sure, he had had no
Fntention OF loving her, but when SIX
feet two of well-developed manhood,
In the person of Tom Perry, came
down from Circle City prospecting.
F-anofield found that intentions and
Eove had very little to do with each
4other. Nainly he stood erect, but not
one cubit could he add TO his stature
and every morning the square of look
5ng-glass impressed afresh the red
ness of his hair upon him.
Tom and Dolly had known each
other in the states, and Hangtield
watched with hopeless pain the re
uewal of their friendship. She had
grown shy with him since Perry came,
and there could be but one reason, he
argued. He did not blame her; there
was nothing in him to inspire a wom-
ans love. and Tom So he packed
mis- flute and his knapsack and left
with scarcely farewell.
The men were not fond of Langtield.
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.
Mornings, when the Top Sergeant"
gave his first call through the camp, it
was the warm tongue of Shivers that
brought Langfield into touch with the
ziay, and later, when the company
lined up around the mess tent for
9heir rations of coffee and beans, the
Enan would seek a secluded stump for
a. table, with the dog huddled by his
side
Langfeld seldom joined the camp
fires. But when the fever broke out,
Langfield was the first to offer his
services. He was not afraid of con-
tagion, he told the sergeant, and any
way, there was no one at home who
Eeeded him. After that he and Shivers
took up their quarters in the hospital
tent.
The fever had its run, but only one,
Shanks to the nursing, was borne up
abe trail and laid away under the snow.
A.sngfield planned a piece of spruce
-scantling and drove it in by the mound,
kout his hand was unsteady, and his
eyes were heavy and dull.
The "Top Sergeant on his rounds
t}le next morning, found him sitting
S3p in his blankets. His face was swol-
Zen and discolored. and he was talk
Eng eXcitedly to Shivers.
You mustn't let Dolly get the
fever" he said; 'she's so little. Ncr
IOm-promise me you won't let Tom. -
ale leaned over and looked into the
dogs pleading eyes. Shivers whined
asnd thrust his muzzle into his mas
EeT's palm. "She couldn't help loving
him." Langfield continued defensive
8y. ''You know she couldn't, your
self" He fell back on the pillow and
sossed restlessly for moment. eel
soe cool up there under the snow" he
Began again, land l won't be heavy
80 pack. And say" He sat up, pulling
-1he dog close to him, maybe she'll
forget-that my hair was-red''
The men were very tender to Lang
&ieid after that, and Shivers seldom
left his bedside.
When, some weeks later, he became
<convalescent, he seemed smaller and
as.ighter than ever, and his hair shone
more wildly red against the pinched,
white face. They carried him out into
che sunshine, but his eyes wandered
TegretfClly up to the snow.
In month he was at his post again,
doing the work of two men, with
scarcely the strength of one.
BE came down the mountain one
night an hour behind time. The trail
was slushy, and the early gray twilight
2eRt soft indistinctnes everywhere.
Suddenly he paused and stood looking
Intently at line of fresh tracks in the
path. His first thought was of Shivers.
He always met him. but seldom so far
from the camp. Lighting a match, the
~only one he had, he bent closer. The
prints were too clean-crt for dog: the
~7ppOsites almost over,apped each
other, and Shivers was broad-cheste
&autiously the man crept on, peering
a bout for another mark he knew. 1t
was there-a slight impression in the
Znud, like the fringe of feather. Only
Fhe edge of shaggy tail made that.
He stood up and looked around him.
He was not afraid of death, but he had
Il decided preference regarding its
medium, and she-wolf hunting for a
FAMILY dinner was hardly to his liking.
1be camp was three miles away. and
she underbrush made cross-cut i'm
possible; besides, the snow still lay in
rAe ravines. There was one thing to
Ssfa done, and drawing his hat securely
down, he started forward, then paused
again, with his head raised to listen.
From somewhere there came a faint
CCy, weak and indistinct, but undeni-
Gnly human.
Langfe,d made trumpet of his
bands. "Hel-lo!" he shouted, and
STRAINED his ears for the reply.
Some ten feet down the trail a
glacier stream had quilted out the
bank. Its icy, slate-colored waters fell
almost perpendicuiarly over the rocks
Creeping to the slippery edge, he
peered over and called again. A faint
voice answered.
A steep, shelving path was just
visible, and he ciambered down to il
scratched and torn by the brambles at