Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-03-04
THE WHITE MARE.

In the valley, about SIX miles above
the forks of the Teton river in northern
Montana, is the BIackfoot Indian agen-
CIV. A high stockade of split logs stand
ing on end, deeply sunk in the earth,
encloses about two acres of ground.
Heavy gates, opening outward, sway
harshly on the iron hinges. They keep
the Indians out O. nights. A well Of
water is in the centre of the enclosure.
Low log buildings. covered with earth,
are scattered along the stockade. A
uple of sand-hill cranes stood expect
antly at the well, waiting patiently for a
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 dross of
dew, brilliant in the slanting rays of the
sun, was slyly thrust into my hand,
giving me a slight shock of surprise. By
the stables stood a COW moose, standing
50 swk wardly with crooked legs and
bumped and the pendulous lip which
Mark Twain calls ''the Hapsburg," that
her very ugliness excited my pity. 4
moose cali-her miniature in ugliness
stood stupidity at her side. Standing
dI IHG WSIIJ l6OlIlS INT SldIlNl 1GOShy
Mountain range, drew a bucket of wa
ter. Drinking deeply, repulsing the
while the advances of the female crane
with my moccasined foot, got the re-
ward of all men who reject the advances
of the tender sex, and was soon engaged
in repelling a furious attack on me by
the long-legged twain. The attack was
fierce. Their long, hard bills clashed
viclously as they scornfully scolded me,
and | was on the point of beating dis
graceful retreat when | heard, "HO,
Frank come have mOuthful of whis-
ky?" 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 com
pany.
Bidding Burr GOOD morning." l de-
clined the whisky on grounds unneces-
sary to state; yet the barrel had a vel
low head, and-and-well, | knew the
tap. | sat and talked to Burr, who was
in charge of this extensive store, and
before breakfast ne went over it with
me. A curious stock. Everything you
could find in an eastern store was
here. As we walked he explained the
business to me. Allurine? Not at ali.
He, looking at his watch, said: ave
have yet 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 the
buffalo gnats In season. A few short
heavy chains, stretching from post to
post, kept the horse in and the other
animal out. With breast pushing
against the topmOst chain, with her
handsome broad head thrust out and
alert ears cooked forward, stood snow
white mare. She was looking at the
moose with a surprised expression on
her face, as much as to say: "Well,
you have not grown handsomer during
the night" Burr whistled, and with a
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 deli
cate neck. Unlocking the chains, they
dropped. Burr walked towards the
well. The mare, with dainty steps,
arched neck, and flecking tail, followed
behind 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 together, unconscious
of any incongruity. A bucket of water
stood at the well. The high-bred crea-
ture smelt of it, and detecting my pre-
vlous presence, disdainfully refused to
drink after me. Emptying 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 reenacted. AS
they passed me, the mare showed her
aversion to a 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 a
bucket, puts up the topmost chain, and
goes after barley. TIE mare with out
stretched head locks 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; l heard him speak to the
mare as his ''dear girl" ard 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 at the breakfast table,
silently thinking, with his antelope
steaks and trout untasted before him.
Watching the softened face, wondered
what was the story. So | asked: "Burr.
why do you love that white mare p
He looked kindly at me, and, with