Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-02-05
THE WHITE MARE.
A Sketch Of the Montana
Border.

In the valley, about six miles above th
forks of the Teton River, in Northern Mon
tana, is the Blackfoot Indian Agency.
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 hinges. They
keep the Indians out o nights. A we'll of wa
ter is in the center of the enclosure. Low
log buildings, covered with earth, are scat
tered along the stockade A couple of sand
hill cranes stood expectantly at the well
waiting patiently for a thirsty man to draw
water. A White-tailed deer, with broad
blue ribbon on her neck, walked daintiy
around. Her cool, black muzzle, studded
with drops of dew, brilliant in the slantine
rays of the morning sun, was slyly thrust in
to my hand, giving me slight shock of sur
prise. By the stables was a COW moose,
standing so awkwardly with crooked legs and
bumped back and the pendulous lip which
Mark Twain calls 'the Hapsburg," that her
very ugliness excited my pity. A moose calf
her miniature in ugliness- stupidity at
her side. Standing at the wall, facing the
grand Rocky Mountain range, drew buck
ct 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 fu-
rious 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 dis
graceful retreat when heard:
'Ho, Frank! come have 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" l declined
the whisky on grounds unnecessary to state;
yet the barrel had yellow head, and-and-
we'll, 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. Every thing 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 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 20 exclude the buff
falo gnats in season. A few short heavy
chains, extending from post to post, kept the
horse in and the other animals out
With breast pushing against the topmost
chain, with Aer handsome 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: ''Well, you have
not grown handsomer during the night.
Burr whistled, and with joyful neigh the
mare turned her head toward him and bade
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 toward the we'll. The mare,
with dainty steps, arched neck, and flecking
tail, followed behind him. or caressingly ad-
vanced to his side, rubbed her body against
his, az though the mere contact with the man
were grateful to her. His arm, it seemed to
me, instinctively raised and dropped across
her neck.
The two walked on together, unconscious
of any incongruity. A bucket of water stood
at the we'll. The high-bred creature smelt of
it, and, detecting my previous presence dis
refused to drink after me- Empty
ing 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 re-enacted. AS they
passed me. the mare showed her aversion to
a stranger by laying back her ears and thrust
ing out her white-toothed muZZle toward me
in a vicious manner, causing me to step hast
lily back. They pass into the darkness of the
stable. Burr comes out with J bucket, puts
up the topmost 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 attention of her dislike.
Returning to the stable with full bucket of
barley. Burr passed in. heard him pour the
grain into the feed box; I 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 suffering and
woe. He sat at the breakfast table, silently