New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-06-23
THE WHITE MARE.

ern Montana, is the Blackfoot Indian
Agency. A high stockade of split logs
standing on end, deeply sunk in the
earth, incloses about two acres of
ground. Heavy gates, opening out
ward, sway harshly on great iron
hinges. They keep the. Indians out o.
nights. A well of water is in the CEN
ter of the incl0sure. Low log build
ings, covered with earth, are scattered
along the stockade. A couple of sand
hill cranes stood expectantly at the
well waiting patiently for thirsty man
to draw water. A white-tailed deer,
with broad blue ribbon on her neck.
walked daintily around. Her cool.
black muzzle, studded with drops Of
dew, brilliant in the slanting rays OF
the rising sun, was slyly thrust into my
hand, giving me slight shock of sur
prise. BY the stables stood COW
moose, standing so awkwardly with
crooked legs and bumped back and the
pendulous lip which Mark Twain calls
''the Hapsbu::,,," that her very ugli-
ness excited my pity. A moose calf
ner miniature in ugliness - stood
stupidity at her side. Standing at the
well. facing the grand Rocky Mountain
range, l drew bucket of water.
Drinking deeply, repulsing. the while
the advances of the female crane with
my moccasined foot. got the reward
of all men who reject the advances of
the tender sex. and was soon engaged
in repelling furious attack on me by
the long-1egged twain. The attack
was fierce. Their long, hard bills
clashed viciously as they scornfully
scolded me, and was on the point Of
beating a disgraceful retreat when I
heard "Ho, Frank! come have a
mouthful of whisky!' Recognizing
the voice, l gladly left the cranes in
undisputed possession of the water
bucket, and walked across the parade
to the store Of the Fur Company. /.
Bidding Burr "Good morning."
declined the whisky on grounds I'M
necessary to state; yet the barrel had a
yellow head. and-and--well, I knew
the tap. l sat and talked to Burr, who
was in charge of this extensive store,
and before breakfast he went over it
with me. A curious stock. Every
thing you could not find in an Eastern
country store was here. AS we walked
he explained the business to me. Al
luringp Not at all. He, looking at
his watch said: ",We have vet time
before breakfast to look at my 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 went
with him. He took me to low log
stable, the chinks carefully mudded, the
open shutter and door we'll made and
carefully fitted, so as to exclude tho
buffalo gnats in season. A few short
heavy chains, stretching from post to
post, kept tho horse in and the other
animals out. With breast pushing
against the topmost chain, with her
handsome broad head thrust out and
alert ears cooked forward, stood o snow
white mare. She was looking at the
moose with surprised expression on
her face, as much al to. say: "Well,
you have not grown handsomer during
the night.1 Burr whistled, and with a
joyful neigh the mare turned her head
toward him and babe him welcome.
The greeting between man aud animal
was almost tender. The mare rubbed
her nose gently against his breast. and
the man stood softly stroking her deli
cate neck. Unlocking the chains, they
dropped. Burr walked toward the we'll.
The mare, with dainty steps, arched
neck and fiecking tail, followed be-
hind him, or, caressingly advancing to
his side, rubbed her body against his,
as though the mere contact with the
man were grateful to her. His arm, it
seemed to me, instinctively lifted and
dropped across her 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, detect
ing my previous presence, disdainfully
refused to drink after me. Employing
the bucket, Burr drew another, and Of
this the mare drank slowly, her white
face gradually sinking into the shallow
vessel. All across the parade, on the
return to the stable, the love scene was
As they passed me, the
mare showed her aversion to stranger,
by laying back her ears and thrusting
out her white-toothed muzzle toward
me in vicious manner, causing me to
step hastily back. They pass into the
darkness Of the stable. Burr comes
out with bucket, puts up the tOpmost
chain, and goes after barley. The
mare, with 0utstretched 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 her dislike. Returning to
the stable with full bucket of barley,
Burr passed in. heard him pour the
grain into the feed box; heard him
speak to the mare as his "dear girl"
and l heard him-kiss her! -
A singular gentleness had come over
this hard man, steeled to human suffer-
ing and woe, whose business it was to
impoverish Indians, to destroy their
morals, to brutify them with the devil
alcohol. He sat ut the breakfast-table,
silently thinking, with his antelope
steaks and trout untasted before him.
Watching the softened face, Wondered
what was the story. So l asked:
"Burr. why do you love that white
marep'' He looked kindly at me-. and,
with sad smile. replied: "To-night.
after the men are in bed, 1 will tell you
the story Then, briskly: Frank,
this is not business. Eat, my boy, then
clear out. You will find some fool hens
in the big willow thicket about five
miles below here. saw them tho
other day. Shoot some. Tonight we
will have feast, and will open my
two last bottles of sherry, and we will
talk" His face hardened. The cold,
deadly look returned to the gray eyes,
and our. breakfast was soon finished.
Shouldering my rifle, stepped out
Of the stockade and slowly walked
down the valley. On the distant hill
sides antelope grazed; down the val
ley before me I could see q few deer
running for cover to the willows by the
stream. Now and then grouse rose
before me and flew rapidly away. Re-
sisting all temptation to shoot at any
thing, walked steadily on. Climbing
a hill, I sat on q red rock and musingly
frozo6 Of tho voot ,,1o;nc RI thu MORT h.