The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-04-07
Faithless
Friend
A ReminiscenCe of the Zulu War
By a Man Who Suffered
And Triumphed.

which commenced around
10 m. had increased in violence dur
inp every hour of the day and was now
blowing with hurricane force. Seated
around the fire, which burned cbeerlly
and invitingly, in the rotunda of the
Belmont Hotel were many drummers
and others held up by the violence OF
the weather and as is often the case,
under like circumstances, the conVersa-
tion had turned to experiences through
which each had passed, the stories being
listened to with an ever-increasing IN
terest as they waxed. as it would seem,
more and more extraordinary as each
in turn recounted some reminiscelce OF
the past.
All had spoken, save one. lie ap-
jparently had been an attentive listener
to all the stories related, but of COM
ment had made none. 1, Jerry Beau
champ, had already added my little
story and during the recounting OF the
same hal noticed an expression upon
the face of this stranger which seemed
to bear upon it smile of pity or con-
tempt for the smallness OF the tale l
then told. My pique was aroused, as
also my curiosity and imagined that
if this gentleman should speak there
would be told an experience as thrilling
as ever recorded.
The traveller who had started the bal
rolling and who had, in turn, named
each to relate his experiences, ,nowturn
ed toward this taciturn stranger bu'
seeing an evident reluctance to comply
with his request, Was about to REIN
.uuish his Overtures, when l pleaded
earnestly for story, in which l wa
seconded 10y all present.
"t1entlemen," he said, 81 would asl
YOU to excuse me. [ am stranger il
Canada and this is the first real snow
storm have ever witnessed or encoun
tered and for this reasOnI am unable
,secount any experience bearing upo
difficulties, using or otherwise
through which [ have passed in thi
country. In fact it is many, many year
since last saw snow and this becaus
the past thirty years of my life hav
been spent in the interior Of Afric
For this reason L ask you to excuse me
'Perhaps," courteously replied OF
chairman, "you can relate some stol
or incident in your life, even thoue
the same has no relation to this cOu
try. 1t is too early to separate and if
may Judge from your weather-beats
aspect-pardon my reference to tn
matter-I am sure there is at least Of
good ta'e you can record"
eff such is the wish of ALL" repli
the party addressed, 81 will oblige yo
though / should state in advance tn
what am about to relate will probat
be discredited. 1t is nevertheless tr
in every detail. My name is Donov
Steele. At least the world knows |
by that name and it will answer t
purpose here. Who really am is !
secret and will be buried with Q
Years and years ago, more than | CT
to remember, met lady many ye
my Junior. / imagined she loved +
perhaps she did in her then unsta
way. Like many other lovers |
blind, but not quite so blind as
thought was. It is true she made
effort to reciprocate my affection
fool that was, partially allowed |
self to believe her assertions wei e trr
AS l look back upon the two years
lived together I recall the intensit!
my passion and know, at heart, t
this day, in spite of all, I love ber
intensely and sincerely as ever. L;
know that by natures he was tickle
that many and many time she LAT
ed up her sleeve at the success
which, as she believed, she blinded
to her flirtations. Strange as 1t may Q