The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-27

tween that recollection and her pres
ent elegance was stricken dumb. But
Judith, in good spirits, and excited by
the novelty of her surroundings, was
disposed to be gracious. While the 9TH
ers delayed and dallied she talked TO the
orderly.
'Ts he fast ?" she asked.
every, Miss"
"Where did the Major get him ?''
'T think he bought him of Zuni.n
"What is his name ?'
''The Major calls him Lightfoot, be-
lieve."
"He is just like horse had in Cali
6ornia."
Having remarked this resemblance,
at first carelessiy, Judith began to
recall certain points about him, and
then to fancy that he was the same
the very horse she had ridden over to
Spedden's on her holiday, and which
she had trusted to carry Boone safe
through the Apache country. Tremb-
ling in her saddle, she bent over to pat
the creatures neck, whispering softly TO
it her old favorite name -" "Coaly,
Coaly, Coaly."
At that the horse picked up its ears,
and whinneyed with delight; turning
his head a. If he would have returned
the caress.
ale knows mer cried Judith, so ex-
cited that her face was rosy with color.
'fPlease look at his left hind leg, Mr..
Todd. If it is Coaly, he has little
white mark just above the fetlock. o,
/ know it is Coaly ~
"Sure enough he has, Miss" said Todd,
almost as wondering and excited as her
self.
Then it all flashed over Judith-the
probable Indian attaek-the loss of the
horse-her brothers death; and in spite
of the time and place, she burst into
tears.
At this moment Major Floyd and Mrs.
kellogg rode up to join the party at Mrs.
Stewards, and an explanation became
awkwardly imperative. Judith, with as
much will as she could command, was
unable to govern the quiyering muscles
of her face, or to keep back the pressing
flood of tears, though by great effort
her sobs were repressed. Mrs. Stewart
was confounded-everybody surprised
so Todd undertook to explain. Then, of
course, nobody wondered very much, or
blamed Judith; but the situation was
unpleasant.
al will so into the house." whispered
the culprit TO Mrs. Stewart; 81 am spoil
ing your pleasure"
"You will spoil it IL you go in !" said
the Doctor, who overheard; Command
yOurself-the paroXysm will pass of
shortly, and we cannot have you loose
the ride, nor us your company. Todd,
bring Miss Miles a glass of water"
az will ride with Miss Miles, if you
please, Doctor" the Major said few
minutes later, when Judith had regained
u partial composure. Her cheeks were
glowing and eyes sparkling, as they al
ways did when she was excited. per
haps | can give her some information
about her horse-fOr hers l have no
doubt he Isl" and the Major led off with
Judith, the remainder of the party fol-
lowing.
"Do you like to ride fast ?r asked the
Major. "But need not have asked, for
your horse is one of the fast ones. Let
us try lope together"
Judith gave her horse the well known
touch, and the rein, and away he went,
in that peculiar long and swinging gait
known to western riders as the slope"
"Ah, its easy to see that you under
stand horse, apd this one in particular
Do you wish TO know where got him,
and how? l was coming to this post
across the country, early in the spring,
in command of q company of cavalry,
and happened at the Zuni village at the
time their friends the Apaches were on
their annual visit. On this occasion
they exchange presents, more or less
valubale-hOrses, saddles, Mexican ser
apes and ornaments of various kinds.
This horse of yours had just been pre-
sented to Zuni chef by an Apache
cousin, with the saddle and saddle-cloth,
bride and all these ornaments. The
fact that it was a lady's saddle, shows
that both horse and saddle were stolen.
L became interested in viewing the ami
NAL, with his outfit, and after the
Apaches had started on the home trail
bought him, at good round price, after
wondering where he came from, and
about the history of his caparison,
handsome enough for poor Carlotta.'
Can you tell me anything about them
Miss Miles,"
Judith confessed that she could not.
al have been building up theory
about them," said the Major, (which i;
this: Your brother-you see / am ac.
auainted with your history-picked
up those things somewhere in Mexico
probably at FL Paso, where any amount
of stolen goods find sale, and designed tC
send them to you as present. He prom
ised you present, did he not ~
"Yes; Boone always brought me
something when he came home"
'eYou see guessed it, being a borr
Yankee. Well, he got into the hands ol
the Apaches somewhere on his route
or his horse did. But that he escaped
from them is probabIe-in fact we know
il, if that was he whom we received into
this Fort"
"Who else could it have been 81 de-