The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-09-19

had adorned the form of her grand.
mother when in the village Of WASH
tngtOn she waltzed with Lafayette.
During a lull in the music-measured
capering a tall, handsome young man,
CARRIED in the fashion Of the day,
passed with long and careless strides
from one end Of the saloon and out
toward the upper deck.
Admitting eyes were bent upon him;
and one lady turned to her partner
and said:
"Oh, please. Colonel tell me who he
ls."
The Colonel placed his right hand
on the bosom Of his ruffled shirt and
bowed. Miss Lucy" he said, lit would
be one of the satisfactions Of my life
to crafty your more than natural
curiosity. but that pleasure is denied
me. can't tell you who he is"
And then-because the Colonel had
! sighed his own sentimental distress in
the presence Of Miss Lucy and because
her curiosity concerning the young
stranger stirred a jealous qualm-he
added: HE looks like a Yankee to
me."
The young man was Yankee. And
because he was journeying to the
South upon q grim and terrible mis-
sion, the gayeties Of the ballroom had
grated upon him and he had sought
he solitude of the upper deck. Yet
t was this moment that Fate chose
20 bring him face to face with one
who was to change the whole course
If his life.
For as he turned into long pas
mgeway, aflalne with light but de-
gerted, there suddenly entered at the
ar end a girl thrilling In utheness and
almost barbaric in dress. In swift IN
:ohsciousness of him she approached,
Z great handful Of roses in red glare
hiding her features. She lowered her
7and; he eau ht full view of her face;
md it seemed to him that his heart
leased to beat, like pendulum caught
/ md halted, then thro WI again into
motion. She did not look at him as
7 he slowly passed her. he gazed into
her eyes As She bent them upon the
roses held out in front Of her; and
then he wheeled about to follow her.
She turned into a croSs.paSsage, was
! gone he ran to the entrance, but she
mad vanished. ::
In the young mans heart was a
struggle to call her, but there was no
appropriate word; and then sobered,
the Yankee smiled ut himself. But the
smile did not balm bis delicious
wounds, and Ire continued his search
into the ballroom. There were many
handsome women, bellies Of proud vii
lagos, but To none did he give a sec
ond glance Again he passed out to-.
ward the upper deck.
For a II me he stood gazing down
upon the n,ver-solved mystery Of night
on the Mississippi. The f1ddles were
going agai n, and he heard slippered
feet whisp ering over the floor, but It
seemed to him that this scene Of gay
ETY. was forced, like a melancholy
laugh; 1t reminded him OF book Of
poems in tatters, OF a love-letter in
faded inF
Built bout one of the smokestacks
was a ST. nnty Of boards called the
dog no ise." Turning a corner OF the
shanty. the young man stumbled
against some one; man growled In
resentEs emit.
II bel your pardon!"
II SD ould say you dol" A young
fellow of unusual height and Of HUI
morous slimness came forth out of the
shadow. The boat was landing, and
tuq ,entine-torch on the shore re-
veal ed him, pale and long Of face,
with ct,llar cut low and chin standing
hl'kh..
''Yes, sir" he added, "and although
1T may not be necessary on this occa.
sion, yet If you knew who am, you
would apologize sosae more"
"Ah, .Nou don't sayl" replied the
Yankee, smiling. And 40 you seem
to be TO, i'd of the I,uslc Of ipology,
will you please tell NJ who y'u are?"
Il can do that cas-! > enouLh. but !
don't wi 81 to frighten you"
You Are consideratu. But the fact
is I "a ther enjoy tho sensation of
fright"
1.-THE .tremble: ( am liberty Shot.
tie"
"what, you dcn'e mean tat you are
really Ii berty ShoEde t'"""'
II swe,r it."1o" 79mlGHa
"vjell, WELL! And noN'd VII you
plsl. en- tighten me as to who Liberty
81 ottle Isl, And why do you suppose
II at peoree who have heard Of you.
remble in your presence, What have
you done?"
"Sir, modesty puts clamp on me.
>. And now would you mind tell
ing me your MARCEL?
mot at nil. My name Is Virgil
BRACE"
"You don't say? Well. we'll! But
never heard of you. either" Now they
laughed. the Joyous and unsuspicious
mlrth Of youth. They stood looking