Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-07-16
THE WHITE MARE.

cred with earth, are scattered along the
stockade. A couple of sandhill cranes
stood expectantly at the we'll wait
ing patiently for a 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 rays Of the rising sun, was silly thrust
into my hand. giving me slight shock
of surprise. By the stables stood COW
moose, standing so awkwardly with crook
ed legs and bumped back, and the
pendulous lip, which Mark Twain calls
1.-The Hapsburg," that her very ugliness
excited my pity. A moose calf-her
miniature in ugliness--stood stupidity at
her side. Standing at the we'll, facing
the grand Rocky Mountain range, drew
bucket of water. Drinking deeply, re-
pulsing the while the advances Of the fe-
male crane with my moccasined foot, I
got the reward of all who reject the ad.
vance of the tender sex, and was soon en-
gagged in repeliing furious attack on
me by the long. legged twain. The at
tack was fierce. Their long, hard bills
clashed viciously as they scornfally scold.
ed me, and I was on the point of beating
disgraceful retreat when I heard, "Ho,
Frankl Come and have mouthful of
whiskyp' Recognizing the voice, glad
ly left the cranes in undisputed posses
sion of the weter.bucket, and walked of
across the parade to the store of the fur
company. ..,. 80,
Bidding Burr good morning, 1 declin-
ed the whisky on grounds unnecessary to
state; yet the barrel'had q yellow head,
and--and--well, knew the tap. I 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.
Everything you could not find in an
Eastern country store was here. As we
walked he explained the business to me-.
Alluring2 Not at all. He, looking at
his watch, said: eve have yet time be-
fore breakfast to look, at my mare" st4ss.
The sudden change in the expression
of the voice, the softeniag 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 muddea, 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 a snow. white mare. She
was looking at the moose with surprised
expression ON her face, as much as to say
"Well, you have not grown handsomer
during the night Burr whistled, 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 hel
delicate neck. Unlocking the chains,
they dropped. Burr walked toward the
we'll. The mare with dainty steps, arched
peck, and Ticking 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 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, detecting my
previous presence, dlsdaintully refused
to drink after me. Emptying the buck.
at, 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. Al
they passed me the mare showed bel
aversion to strangers by laying back hel
ears and thrusting out her white.toothed
muzzle in q vicious manner, causing me
to step hastily back. They passed into
the darkness of the stable. Burr Gomez
out with a bucket, puts up the topnost
chain, and goes after barley. The mare
with outstretched 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 hel
dislike. Returning to- the stable with 9
full bucket of barley, Burr passed in. ]
heard him pour the grain into the feed
box; I heard him speak to the mare q.
his ''dear GIRL and I heard him-kisl
her. 30 N -
A singular gentleness has come ovel
this hard man, steeled to human suffering
aud woe, whose business 1t was to inn
poverish Indians, to destroy their morals
to brutify them with the devil alcohol
He sat at the breakfast table, silently
thinking, with his antelope steaks anG
trout untasted before him. Watching th.
softened face I wondered what was tha
story. So asked: ssBurr, why do yor
love that white marea'' He leaked kind
" at me, and, with sad smile, replied
"To.night, after the men are in bad, Twill
tell YOU the story" Then briskly
frank, this is not business. Eat, my boy
then clear out, and fish or hunt You'll
find some fool hens in the big willow
thicket about five miles below here.
saw them the other day. Shoot some
To.n night we will have : feast, and Wil
open my last two bottles Of sherry, AM
We will talk. His face hardened. tn
cold deadly look returned % the Rrsy
eyes, and our breakfast was soon finished
Shonldering my musket, I stepped on
of the stockade and walked down III
valley. On the distant hillsides ante
lopes grazed; down the valley before ~
could Gee few deer running for cove
to the willows by the stream. Nov mi
then grouse rose before me and BE,
& rapidly away. walked steadily o.
Climbing hill, i mt on arock and mul
ingly gaxed Ct thev1st plains 10 the nort1
east, g the foothills Of tho ra0ge, and /
the rugged, rocky range beyond. I Ion
tie Rocky mOuntains, and newer tire
AhaSr faSe vaska1 hna,ra IN L>n1rin