New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-28
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, JANUARY %. 1872

the door. The blood which had at frs
rushed to his face now fOrsoOk it, and set
tied slowly around his heart. He tried t,
rise, but could not Then the door WA
thrown open, and figure with scarle
lined hood and fur mantle stood on tn
threshold. With mighty effort he took ont
| stride to the door. The next moment he saw
the wide mouth and white teeth of thu
princess. and was greeted by kiss that fell
like baptism.
TO tear the hood and mantle from her fig
ure in the sudden fury that seized him, and
to fiercely demand the reason of this mas
| querade, was his only return to her greeting
"Why are you here ! Did you steal these
garments he again demanded in her gut
the arm. The princess hung her head
did your he screamed. as he reached
wildly for his rifle.
81 did,
| His hold relaxed, and lie staggered back
| against the wall. The princess began to
| whimper. Between her sobs, she was try
ing to explain that the major and his
daughter were going away, and that they
wanted to send her to the reservation; but
| he cut her short, ''Take off those things"
The princess tremblingly obeyed. He
rolled them up, placed them in the canoe
she had just left, and then leaped into the
frail craft. She would have followed him.
but with a great oath he threw her from
him, and with one stroke of his paddle
swept out into the fog, and was gone.
'Jessamy," said the major, few days
after, as he sat at dinner with his daughter,
II think l can tell you something to match
the mysterious disappearance and return
of your wardrobe. Your crazy friend, the
recluse, has enlisted this morning in the
Fourth artillery. He's splendid animal,
and there's the right kind Of stuff for a SOL
der in him, if I'm not mistaken. He's in
earnest, too for he enlsts in the regiment
ordered back to Washington. Bless me,
child, another goblet broken. You'll ruin
the mess in glass ware at this rate!"
Have you heard anything more of the
princess, papaW
Nothing; but perhaps it's as well that
she has gone. These cursed settlers are at
their old complaints again about what they
call Indian depredations,' and l have just
received orders from headquarters to keep
the settlement clear of all vagabOnd abor-
igines am afraid, my dear, that strict
construction of the term would include
your protege.'
The time for the departure of the Fourth
artillery had come. The night before was
thick and foggy. At one o'clock shot on
reused the sleeping garrison. The new
sentry, private Grey, had challenged a
dusty figure, and. receiving no answer, had
fired. The guard sent out presently re-
turned, bearing liteless figure in their
arms. The new sentry's zeal, joined with
an eX-frOntiersmans aim, was fatal.
They laid the helpless, ragged form be-
fore the guard-house door, and then saw for
the first time that it was the princess.
Presently she opened her eyes. They fell
upon the agonized face of her innocent
slayer, but haply without intelligence or re-
prOach.
"Georgy!" she whispered.
Bob
Calls same now. l get plenty well soon.
Me make no more fuss. Me 90 to reserva-
ton"
Then she stopped. a tremor ran through
her limbs, and she lay still. She had gone
to the reservation. Not that devised by the
wisdom of man, but that one set apart
from the foundation of the world for the
wisest as well as the meanest of His crea-
lures.