The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-07-15


The clouds arc rivcn;
Across the fields she used to krow
The light breaks, and the wind signs low,
Loved and forgiven"
THE WHITE MARE.
In the valley, about SIX m lies above the
forks of the Teton rivcr,in orthcrn Mon
tana, is the Blackfoot Indian agency. A
high stockade of split logs standing on
end, deeply sunk in the earth, cnc;oscs
about two acres of ground. Heavy gates
opening outward, sway harshly on great
iron hinges. They keep the Indians out
o. nights. A we'll Of water is the center
of the enclosure. Low log buildings, Gov
cred with earth, are scattered along the
stockade. A couple of sandhill cranes
stood expectantly at the we'll wait
ing patiently for thirsty man to draw
water. a white tailed deer, with blue
ribbon on her neck, walked daintily
around. Her coal black muzzle, studded
with drops Of dew, brilliant in the slant
ing lays of the rising sun, was silly thrust
into my hand. giving me Il slight shock
of surprise. BY the stables stood Il COW
moose, standing 50 awkwaraly with crook
ed legs and bumped back, and the
penduious lip, which Mark Twain calls
"the Hapsburg,' that her very ugliness
excited my pity. A moose calf-her
miniature in ugliness--stood stupidity ut
her side. Standing at the we'll, facing
the grand Rocky Mountain range, drew
a bucket of water. Drinking deeply, re-
pulslng the while the advances Of the fe-
male crane with my moccasined foot,
got the reward Of all who reject the adj
vance of the tender sex, and was soon en-
gagged in r"pelling furious attack on
me by the long: legged twain. The at
tack was fierce. Their long, hard bills
clashed viciously as they scornfully scold.
ed me, and was on the point of beating
a disgraceful retreat when I heard, |'Ho,
Frank! Come and have a mouthful of
whisky! Recognizing the voice, glad
ly left the cranes in undisputed posses
sion Of the water. bucket, and walked of
across the parade to the store of the fur
company.
Bidding Burr good I declin-
ed the whisky on grounds unnecessary to
state; yet the barrel had yellow head,
and--and-well, knew the tap. l sat
and talked to Burr, who was III charge OF
this extensive store, and before breakfast
he went over it with me. A curious stock.
Everything you could not find in an
Eastern country store was here. As we
walked lie explained the business to me.
Alluring? Not at all. He, looking at
his watch, said: eve have yet time be-
fore breakfast to look at ny mare
The sudden change in the expression
Of the voice, the softening Of the eyes, as
this hard Indian trader spoke OF his horse,
excited my curiosity, and l went with
him. He took me to u low log stable, the
chinks carefully muddcd, the open shut
ter and door we'll made and carefully it,
ted. so as to exclude the buffalo gnats in
the season. A few short, heavy chains,
stretched from post to post, kept the
horse in and other animals out. With
breast pushing against the topmost chain,
with her handsome broad head thrust out,
and alert, ears cooked forward,
stood u snow-white mare. She
was looking at the moose with surprised
expression on her face, as much as to say
swell, you have not grown handsomer
during the night Burr whistlcd, and
with joyful neigh the mare turned her
head toward him and babe him welcome.
The greeting between man and animal
was almost tender. The mare rubbed
her nose gently against his breast. and
the man stood softly stroking her
delicate neck. Unlocking the chains,
they dropped. Burr walked toward the
we'll. The mare with dainty steps, archcd
neck, and fllcking tail, followed behind
him, OF caressingly advancing to his side,
rubbed her body aginst his, as though the
mere contact with the man was grateful
to her. His arm it seemed to me, in
stinctively Tilted and dropped across he,
neck.
The two walked on together, uncon.
scious of any incongruity. A bucket of
water stood at the we'll. The high-bred
creature smelt Of it, and, detecting my
previous presence, dlsdaintully refused
to drink after me. Emptying the buck.
ct, Burr drew another, and of this the
mare drank slowly, her white face gradu.
ally sinking into the shallow vessel. All
across the parade, on the return to the
stable, the love scene was re-enacted. AS
they passed me the marc showed he,
aversion to strangers by laying back he,
ears and thrusting out her white. toothed
muzzle in vicious manner, causing me
to step hastily back. They passed into
the darkness Of the stable. Burr comes
out with bucket, puts up the topmost
chain, and goes after barley. The marc
with outstretchcd head, looks after him
with kind eyes. Again she saw me, and
with wide opened mouth, reached around
the post to pay me the attentions of he1
dislike. Returning to the stable with q
full bucket of barley, Burr passed in. ]
heard him pour the grain into the feed.
box; | heard him speak to the mare a.
his "dear girl" and heard him-kiss
her.
A singular gentleness has come eve,
this hard man, stecled to human suffering
and woe, whose business It was to i'm.
poverish Indians, to destroy their morals
to brutity them with the devil alcohol
He sat at the breakfast table, silently
thinking, with his antelope steaks and
trout untasted before him. Watching the
softened face I wondered what was the
story: So asked: "Burr, why do you
love that white mare?'' He leaked kind.
~ at me, and, with a sad smile, replied
''To-night, after the men are in bed.I will
tell you the story Then brisklv
"trank, this is not business. Eat, nv bov
then clear out, and fish or hunt You'll
ma some fool hens in the big willow
thlcket about five miles below here.
saw them the other 1av Shoot .o,,o
Tonight we will have a feast. and T r,;1l
open my last two BOTTLES Of sherry. and
We will talk" His face hardened. Tho
cold deadly look returned to the orav
eyes, and our breakfast was soon finished
shouldering my musket, I stepped ou1
of the stockade and walked down thu
valley. On the distant hillsides ante
lopes grazed; down the valley before m,