Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-01-15
THE WHITE MARE.
BY FRANK WILKEsON.

THE WHITE MARE
BY FRANK w1LKEsoN.
In the valley, about six miles allow
the fork of the Teton river in northern
Montana, is the Blackf ,ot Indian agency
"A high stockade of split logs standing OF
ends, deeply sunk in the earth, enclose
about two acres of ground. HEAVY
gates, opening outward, sway harshly OF
grestiron hinges. They keep the indiana
out O. nights. A we'll of water is in the
center of the enclosure. Low log build
ings, covered with earth, are scattered
along the stockade. A couple of sand.
hill cranes stood expectantly at the we'll
waiting patiently for thirsty man to
draw water. A white.tailed deer, with
broad blue ribbon on her neck, walked
dain,ily 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 q
slight shock of surprise. By the stables
stood a COW moose, standing 30 awk-
wa1dly with crooked legs and bumped
back and the pendhlous lip which Mark
Twain cells "the EHapsburg," that he1
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 Noun.
tain range, l drew bucket of water.
Drinking deeply, repulsing the while the
advances of the female crane with nv
moccasined foot, got the reward 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
viciously as they scornfully scolded me,
and was on the point of beating q dis.
graceful retreat when I heard, "Hol
Frank! come have mouthful of
whiskyp Recognizing the voice,
gladly left the cranes in undisputed pos.
session OF the water bucket, and walked
across the parade to tae store of the fur
company. ..
Bidding Burr "Good morning." de-
clined the whisky on grounds unneces.
sary to state; yet the barrel had 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. Everything you could
not find in an eastern country store was
here. As We walked he explained the
business to me. Alluring? Not at all.
he, looking at his watch, said: "We
have yet time before breakfast to look
at my mare"
The sudden change in the expression
OF the voice, the sottening of the eyes,
as this hard Indian trader spoke of his
horse, excited my curiosity, and I 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, stretched from post to
post, kept the horse in and the other
animals out. With breast pushing
against the topmost chain, with her hand
some broad head thrust out and alert
ears cooked forward, stood 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 whistlel, 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 delicate neck.
Unlocking the chains, they dropped.
Burr walked towards the we'll. The
mare, with dainty steps, arched neck,
and aecking tail, followed behind him,
or caressingly advanced 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 tho we'll. The high.bred
creature smelt of it, and, detecting my
previous presence, 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 bucket. ALI across the
parade on the return to the stable the
love scene was reenacted. As they pass
ed me the mare showed her aversion to g.
stranger, by laying back her ears and
thrusting out her white toothed muzzle
toward me in a vicious manner, causing
me to step hastily back. They, pass me
into the darkness of the stable. Burr
comes out with bucket, puts up the top
most chain, and goes after barley. The
mare with o1tstretched head looks after.
him with kind eyes. Again she saw ne.
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 pass.
ed in. 1heard him pour the grain into
the feed box; I heard him speak to heI
as his Z" dear girl" and heard him.-kies
herl -. 81. - IA. IS.
A singular gentlenees had come over
this hard man, steeled to human suffer
ipgs and woe, whose business it was to
impoverish Indians, to t destroy their
morals, to .brutify them with the devil
alcohol He. sat at the breakfast table,
with his antelope steaks and trout UNI.
tasted before him. Watching the soften
ed face, wondered what was tho story.
So / asked: "Burr. why do you love
that white merer. He looked Kindly at
me, and, with sad smile, replied: 1"To.
night, after the men are all in bed, 1 will
tell you the story" Them 1briskly:
Frank, my boy, this is not business.
Eat, then clear out and fish or hunt.
You will find some fool.hens in the big
willow thicket about five miles below
here. i, I saw them the other day. Shoot
some. Tonight We will have : feast,
and will open my two last bottles 81
sherry, and we will talk. ~ His face
hardened The cold, deadly look return
ed TO the gray eyes, and our breakfast.
was soon finished. ~. . s. 81 ~ r.. a
shouldering my rife, I stepped out of
the stockade and slowly walled down
the valley. On the distant hil)sides
antelope grazed; down the valley bo-
fore me I could see 8 few deer running
for covsr to the willows BY theIstream.
Nov and then 9 grouse rose before me
and fey rapidly away. Resisting al |
temptation to shoot ct anythine.
WA1ka1 htaad1lv IN Nl3mn hann = h1iI s. ]