Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-01-18
PRIVATE LANGFIELD.


dez 70 build the military lines through
the interior OF Alaska, Langfeld wen,
with then.
He was unlcniably plain, understood
and oyer-sens.tive, and that was why he
felt certain that Dolly could never love
him. To be sure, he had had DO inten-
ton Of loving her, but when six feet tvs
ST well developed manhood in the person
of TOm Perry came down from Gree
City prospecting, Langfeld found tina;
intentions and love mad very little to 30
with each other.
Tom and Dolly had known each other
in the States, and Laughed watched
with hope4eSS pain the renewal OF their
friendship. she had grown shy with
him since Perry came, and there could
b. but one reason. he argued. He did
not blame her; there VAS nothing in him
10 INSPIRE WOnan's love, and Tom.
SO be packed his ilute ana his knapsacl
and lett with scarcely a farewell.
The men were not fond Of Langfe!d
He had 4 way Of shrinking into himself
that only >hlrers, the camp mascot. Il
laRk mongrel SiwaSh with The stump OF
4 tan, understood.
Langfeid seldom joined the campfres.
Bat when the fever broke ont laughed
was the first to offer his services. Ii"
sergeant, and anyway there was no one
At home who needed him. After that h.
and SAverS took up their quarters in the
hospital tent.
The fever had its run, but on.y one.
thanks TO the nursing, was borne up the
trail and laid away under the snow.
I<angheId pIaned 4 piece OF spruce Scaut-
ling and drove it in by the mound bnt
hS 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 eXeitedly
''Yoq mustn't let Dolly get the fever"
Ae said; shes so little Nor Tom
promise me You won't let Tom" He
leaned over and looked into the dogs
pleading, eyes. ShiYers whined and
thrust his muzzle into his masters
palm. She couldn't help loving him.
Langtield continued dcfensivoly. You
Know she couldn't, yourself" He fell
hack on the pillow and tossed restlessly
for, moment 'It'n be cool up there
under the snow" he began again, land
| won't be heavy to pack. And say"
he sat up, pulling the dog close TO him,
maybe she'l forget-that my hair was
red
The men we're very tender to Lang
field after that, and Shivers seldom left
his bedside.
When, some weeks later. he became
convalescent, he seemed smaller and
slighter than ever, and his hair shone
more wildly red against the pinched,
white face. They carried him out into
the sunshine, but his eyes wandered re-
gretfully up to the snow.
In month he was at his post again,
doing the work of two men, with scarce
iy the strength Of one
He went down the mountain one night
an hour behind time. The trail was
sushy, and the early gray twilight lent
o soft indistinctnesS everywhere. Sud
denly he paused. From somewhere there
came a faint cry, weak and indistinct,
but undeniably human.
hands. ''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. It's
icy, slate-colored waters fell almost per
pendicularly over Inc rocks. Creeping to
the slippery edge, he peered over and
called again. A faint voice answered.
A STEEP. shelving path was just visible,
and ne clambered down to it, scratched
and torn by the brambles at every step.
A little further on a roll OF blankets i'm
peded his way, and he knew that some
where In the ravine below he would find
a prospector.
The man proved to be big fellow,
The force of his fall had wedged one
leg between the crevices of rock, and 1t |
took Langfield's entire strength to cxtri- |
cate him. He pressed his canteen to tie |
strangers lips and rubbed him vigor i
onsly.
tits no USE said the man at last;
Il can't make it"' and he sank Imply |
On the bank.
The night wore on Slowly the gray
skirts of dawn swept across the eastern
sky. The prospector could not see Lang |
fields face, but the slight. dropping
shoulders seemed familiar. The pain was
growing unhearable, and he groaned
Langteld started. Yes, yes" he an |
swered absent!y, I'D forgotten" and he
jumped to his feet.
The morning light was flooding every |
thing, and it fell full upon the two men |
az they looked into each others eyes |
Langfeld drew in his breath with sud
den sharpness. The other muttered an |
cath and leaned weakly back against |
the bank.
.9rom Perry" CALCULATED Langfeld
taking step toward HIM. YOU
The man nodded
The lines on Langfeld's face were
tense and drawn, aud he steaded him |
self with an effort. Well hc said, at /
last. ''it's three miles to camp, and we'd |
better be moving"
There were few drops left in his |
Canteen. He offered them to his co1npan- !
ion, converted himself into a prop for the |
wounded side, and the slow, painful jour |
ney down the trail began.
Neither of them talked much. The !
mist hung midway on the mountain, and /
when they emerged from it the com
pany's quarters lay on the ledge below |
Already the camp was astir. |
The two men upon the path paused, |