The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-04-01
THE WHITE MARE.

end, deeply sunk in the earth. enc'oses
about tFo acres Of ground. Heavy gates,
opening outward, sway harshly on great
iron hinges. They keep the Indians out
o nights. 4 we'll of water is in the cen
ire OF the enclosure. Low log buildings,
I 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
4. / white tailed deer, with q broad blue
| ribbon on her neck, walked daintily
around. Her cool black muzzle, studded
with drops Of dew, brilliant in the slant
! ing rays Of the sun, was slyly thrust into
my hand, giving me q slight shock of
surprise. BY the stables stood COW
moose, standing so awkwardly with
/ crooked legs and bumped back aud the
/ pendulous lip which Mark Twain calls
''the Hapsburg," that her very ugliness
excited my pity. \ moose calt-her min
iature IN ugiiness-stood stupidity at her
side. Standing at The well, facing the
Rocky Mountain range, I drew bucket
Of water. Drinking deeply, repulsing
/ the Willie 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
il repeIling furious attack on me by
the long legged twain. The attack was
fierce. Their long, hard bills cIashed
yiciously as they scornfully scolded me,
and / was on the point of beating a dis
graceful retreat when / heard, "Ho,
Frank come have a mouthful of whis-
keyl" Recognizing the voice, 1 gladly
left the cranes in undisputed possession
Of the water bucket, aud walked across
tie parade to the store Of the fur COM
pany.
Bidding Burr Good morning" I de-
cHned the whiskey on grounds unneces-
sary to state; yet the barrel Lad yellow
head, aqd-aud-weli, knew the tap. /
sat and talked to Burr, who was il charge
Of this extensive store, and before break
fast he went over it with me. \ curious
stock Everything you could not find
in an Eastern country store was here.
As We walked he explained the business
10 me- AlIuring? Not at ALL He look
ing at his watch and said: eve have yet
lime before breakfast to look at my
mare"
The sudden change in the expression
Of the voice, the sUftening of the eyes,
as this hard Indian trader spoke OF his
horse, excited my curiosity, and l went
with him. He took me to low log
stable, the chinks carefully mudded, the
open shutter and door we'll made and
clrefuIIy fitted, so as to exclude the buf
T,lo guats in season. 4 few short heavy
chains, stretching from post to post,
Kept tie horse in and the other animals
out. With breast pushing against the
topm0st chain, with her handsome broad
head thrust ont and alert ears cooked
forward, stood a snow-white mare. She
was locking Mt the moose with a surprised
/ expression on her face, as much as to
say: "Wel, you have not grown hand
somer during the night" Burr whistled,
and with joyful neigh the mare turned
her head toward him and bade him wei
come. 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 towards the
wei. The mare, with dainty steps, arched
neck, and tlecking 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 nae, instinctively lifted, and dropped
across her neck.
The two walked on together, uncon-
ec.ous Of any incongruity. 4 bucket OF
water stood at the well. The high bred
4 creature smelt Of it, ana, detecting my
I previous presence, disIaintully 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 NE, the mare showed her
aversion to & stranger, by laying back
/ her ears and thrusting out her white
toothel muzzle toward me in vicious
maaDer, causing me to step hastily back.
. They pass INTO tie darkness of the stable.
Burr comes out with bucket, puts up
the t2rmost chain. and goes after barley.
(. The mare with dutsuetched head looks
after him with kind eyes. Again she saw
me, aud with wide open mouth reached
around the post to pay me the attentions
of her dislike. Returning to the stable
with 2 full bucket OF barley, Burr passed
in. heard him pour the grain into the
feed-box; heard him speak 10 the mare
IS his dear girl, and l heard him-kiss
her.
Y singular gentleness had come over
this hard man. steeled to human suffering
aud woe, whose business it was to i'm.
4 poverish Indians, to destroy their nor.
ais. 70 brutify them with the devil alco-
/ hol He sat at the breakfast table, silently
thinking, with his antelope steaks and
trout untasted before him. Watching
the softened face, l wondered what was
the story. So I asked: ''Burr, why dc
you love that white mare z" He looked
kindly at me, and, with sad smile, re
piled: "ro night after the men are il
bed, I viii tell you the story" Then
nrlskly; Frank, this Is not business
lat, my boy, then clear out, and fish o.
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