Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-03-22

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Since a lady stopped at our dsSShd asked
leave 10 remain over night. Dhe siaid on day
after day, growing weaker and weaker It
did not take long to discover that she was in
sane. She called the child Gay, and some
times Gabrielle, which is Gays true name.
But she did moi tell her surname, nor any
thing concerning herself. Late that summer
she died No one came TO inquire after her or
the child. "
"Her mother was crazy tramp, and no
thing more. No wonder George was behind
hand, when his wife adopted the child Of a
tramp and brought her up a lady" said his
uncle
Mark colored
~ cannot hear word against my mother,
sir, he said. al shall protect Gay while |
live, and she shall not be separated from me-. D."
"Then l wash my hands of you," ," exclaimed
Mr.. Heber angrly. "You can so your own
way, and get your own living"
"Very WELL sir, said Mark quietly; "that
is settled them
In one week Mark had sold a pair of colts,
which lie had raised himself for five hundred
dollars, the household furniture for nearly as
much more, and was on his way, with little
Gay, to the far West, 10 seek their fortune
The young travellers arrived at Leayen-
worth after long and iatiguing journey.
Here Mark, while looking fol- wagon and
yoke of oxen with which TO cross the prai
ries, fell in with an old farmer named Whit
man, who hal been living in Western Kan
sas, but did not like il, and was now on his
way to Nebraska Mark concluded to join
him, and Mr. Whitman assisted him in pur-
chasing suitable outfit, and that same night
Mark and Cay were snugly ensconced in
their hugh travelling wagon, outside OF the
city, on the edge of the prairie, where Mr..
" hilman, with his wife and seven children,
had encamped Six other families were with
them-thc seven wagons being parked in
the form Of q circle-that is, the pole Of one
wagon resting upon the rear Of another and
the oxen, mules, horses, cows, dogs and pig;
being gathered into the circle thus pro
tected.
Outside the circle Of wagons great fire
was burning, and as Marks wagon drove up
the conductor of the train, Mr.. Langiord
came forward and welcomed the new
comers.
It seemed to Gay and to Mark that they
had entered new cAd wonderOus world.
Both lay long awake that night in thei
sc ~, Ci0st up under the canvas roof an'
they talked in whispers Of their great future
and wondered what il had in store for them
The next morning at daybreak the cam
was astlr By sunrise the wagon train wa
on its way toward the northwest
AT night they halted beside small strean
and parked the wagons, and had supper, an
NN"NN
one great joyous family
AT daybreak, again they were on the way
In the course Of ten days, having travelle
RAPIDLY for OK teams they reached the Litu
Blue river, branch OF the Big Blue. I'll
women built fires and began tho preparatio
Of supper. The men proceeded to park ii
wagons.
SThe last train | took over this route WI
attacked by lndians just here, " said Condu'
tor Landlord "1hey were unusually boil
and we had tough fght-Good heavens
What is that
He beheld, by the last rays OF the sunset,
mounted band Of Indians, their weapoi
glitterng in the yellow light, their plnm
nodding in the wind, as they came on ike
whirwnd.
indians i' yelled the conductor, in
voice that made every womans lace tn
white. "Pawnoes or Sioux, cant l
which. They seem TO be on the war PAIN.
can see their weapons. They outnumper
counting in our women. Call in the chlldre
We shall have to defend ourselves
lie blew q shrll blast on his bugle that ra
out far and wide. They were sweeping do'
upon the train, with whoops and yells, M
der and apine in their aspect.
Conductor Landlord was skilled in lndl
warfare, and was a scout Of considerable no
"There are twenty sayages, he announc
"Remember, boys, You are lighting ior "
mothers and sisters. Show rs what 81
YOU arc made OF.
Then he shouted:
0Now, men, the gun Have out the gu
They are in war paint, and mean misch
When give the word, hre y