The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-24

v v monster hauling the train
known as the "CalifOrnia
Limited" rolled into the Northwestern
Depot and stopped. The grey-haired
engineer, equipped with the ever-pres-
ent oil can and the handful of waste,
crawled from his cab and fondly stroked
the sides of his iron racer which had so
nobly brought the train over the last
section of it's mad flight to Chicago.
Farther back, around the coaches, all
was hustle and confusion. Here cor
pulent gentleman, putting profusely, ell
bowed his way through the crowd; here
travelling salesman, Immediately
dressed and carrying sample case,
sauntered nonchalantly along the plat
form: here a fond parent greeted a
returning child, or stalwart son en-
braced his grey-haired mother. Here
were all kinds of people and all kinds
of sights, even to that most ludicrous
of depot scenes-the small boy drag
ging the abnormally large valise.
Presently young man, wearing the
uniform of the United States army,
appeared on the platform of one of the
coaches. His handsome, richly tanned
face gave evidence of recent service
under tropical sun, while the double
bar shoulder straps and the broad yell
low stripes down his trouser legs des-
ignated his rank-a captain of cavalry.
Every feature of his face scintillated
with happiness; every agile movement
of his body bespoke of blissful anticl-
pations.
As he alighted and wended his way
through the throng, he became tie
cynosure of all eyes. People paused
In their conversation to cast glances of
admiration in his direction and to COM
ment on his magnificent physique and
his military bearing. But the young
soldier, seemingly oblivious to all things
mundane, passed quickly along the
platform, through the big iron gate
way and up the flight of stairs leading
to Wells Street. Here he entered cab
sSouth on Michigan Avenue until or
dered to STOP" he said to the jehu; ano
the cab rolled away.
Once ensconced from the gaze of th'
prying public, he drew photograph
from his pocket-the pocket next to hi
heart. The light from numerous stree
lamps revealed the smiling face ant
the wavy hair of beautiful younl
woman. "Marion, my Marion" he mur
INJURED fervently as he pressed it to hi
lips.
Two years previous, or just before b
had sailed for the Philippines, they ha
plighted their troth, but at her reques
the announcement was to be withheld
until his return. "No one suspects,
she had written in her last letter, "n
one, not even Brother Jack"
"How we'll she has kept our secret,
he thought as he gazed lovingly at th
picture. In fancy, he lived over agai
the scene of their parting. Twas th
night before he had left. He had calle
at her home, ostensibly to bid good-by
to Brother Jack, but in reality to clas
her in one last embrace. Jack had LEI
the room on trumped-up errand an
Marion and he had been left alOn
One passionate embrace, one last lii
gering kiss, and she had pressed tn
photograph in his hand. swear it me-
to your heart, Tom; and remember l.
love you," she had sobbed. Then,
Brother Jack entered by one door, 81
had passed out by another, and Il
young soldier had gone forth to fig
under the Stars and Stripes, alwa
with her picture next to his heal
There it had reposed during many
battle and during many hard mar
under the calorifc rays of the Far Eas
ern sun. She was his first thought
reveille; his last thought at taps.
Tonight, in the cab, he gazed Ion
ingly at the photograph with it's jagg
edges and with one corner gone.
bullet had done this; the same bull
that had torn it's way through his 81
at the battle of Mariquina Road, al
which had caused the surgeons at
First Reserve Hospital to shake tht
heads gravely. But he had pull