The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-13


II was amply worth while for the Gov
ernment to keep troops in an Indian
country, at that rate, Mrs. kellogg was
thinking.
"How far did you follow the Indians ,"
asked the Colonel.
so, five miles perhaps-it was no use
going farther. We had to come back,
too, and bury the murdered emigrants.
1t was not a pleasant duty, either. And
we had our own wounded to take care
of. Lieutenant Small's case is very
critical"
"When did you pickup this girl the
Doctor has at his house? l hear there
is some mystery about her."
"Well, there is. You see it is this
way: We had taken care to ascertain
the names of the killed as Ear as that
was possible from the marks on the
wagon-eovers, and other articles, and we
found that one of the wagons belonged
to Jack Miles How many others there
were OF this name, women and children,
it was impossible TO tell; but that they
were all killed seemed positive, as we
should have been in time to witness the
fight, had there been any; for the In
dians were at their work VIII IN we came
in sight, and had not even time to set
fire to the wagons, as they usually do.
The whole country about, for two miles,
was fiat, and afforded no shelter from
observation except by the banks of the
arroyo, which was occupied by the In
dians."
"But might not they-the emigrants
and Indians-have been between you
and the flying woman, so that youreyes
would not separate her from the rest ?'
asked the lady who "ought TO have been
q lawyer"
/ The Major gave the lady a rapid
glance, smiled, and said: 'It might
be. Still the mystery is not evaded;
because, when she first came into
camp she spoke of Boone Miles,
who belonged to train going north,
and that was attacked two days previ-
Ou5tAs 1lClG nON AMOOl
that name, could there ?"
''NIost probably not. Yet it is almost
as singular that two Milse's, coming
from opposite directions, should meet
the same fate so nearly together. Miles
is not q common name, though that
poor young fellow did say of himself,
There would be one Miles less as if he
could be spared as well as not. We
shall know when the girl comes to her
self, suppose"
(which she never may. The Doctor
thinks it is a bad case, l believe, though
the patient has evidently fine eonsti-
| tuition, which, if not weakened too Sc
riously by fatigue and anxiety, may
bring her through. This isn't n good
climate for brain fever, / should i'm
agine."
f'You should have seen Todd's conster-
nation" continued the Major, "when he
found how nearly he had shot q woman
The soft-hearted young man actually
shed tears. 1 believe he would have
given a years pay to have saved the
girls horse-shot under her, you know
It did look hard; the poor brute seemed
to suffer so, and actually looked almOs
humauely imploring; so we had to haV'
it put out of its misery by another bul
let. / don't think Todd will ever be abb,
to forgive himself. He hung aroun'
the ambulance all the way in, ant
wanted to do everything the Doctor re
quired, in the most expiatory manner.
"She is one of the ordinary emigran
! class, l suppose?" inquired Mrs. Kel
, logg.
"Probably. There was nothing in he
dress to indicate higher class; and a
t to speech, she has not said much NOR
than to mention her father and Boone
r But can testify to one attribute-she
e handsome!" and the Major laughed 8
+ if he had tossed the golden apple anew
a 30, young men can see beauty in
: maiden of the Forest" retOrted Mr.
)! kellogg. "Black eyes, fat, red eheek
= simpering expression"
IA very fair category Of Zuni'
!. charms" returned the Major; "but NJ
h quite comprehensive enough for those
v Miss Miles. However, Pm not going
i commit myself. II the young lady r,
+ covers we shall have a belle in Fo
e kellogg to make you married ladi'
e look to your laUrels."
=; "Somebody to dispute the honors wit
n Penelope and Josie, among the men.
y will be a good thing, think, if it pr
fl vents Pen spending the whole Of h
f. time flirting with the soldiers" and MI
Kellogg smiled as frankly as if she we
10 not the least bit jealous of this han
At some woman already.
1t 'If it is to be among the men, Too
p has pre-emption claim-or will insi
he has. He is hit badly, for private,
n "And, by Jove, Pll bet you're hit +
ne an officerm roared the Colonel, might
ke tickled at the idea. 81 was saying
be Alicia and Mrs. Stewart yesterday tn
Id we wanted more ladies in this Fort, al
er by Jove, Pm glad we've got one, no.
er 1 talked of sending out to capture
III train on our own account, didn't
ye Alicia? If this experiment succeed
of we'll try again, won't we, MsjOr?"
A. But the Major was a gentleman
re heart, and could not see anything fac
,ir tious in the circumstance of acquiri
al ladies' society in the way this ones h
been acquired; and so muttered SON
M. .t,;,,o, ,,,,;rtalIioibIe I'm reply, and 50