The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-04
TIE WHITE MARE.
New York Sun.

New York auh,l
III tho valley. about ok miles above the
forks Of the Teton river. In Northern Mon
iana, Is the Blaekfpot Indian agency. A high
steplHde pF split logs standing IN end deep
ly sunk In tho earth. ineuaea about two acres
rf ground. Heavy aatea, opening outward,
away hnrshIy on great iron hinges. They
keep the Indians ont u nighta. A vol If
water liz IN the centre Of tho ineloaure. Low
lug buildings. covered With earth are atat-
tered along the stookade. A couple Of sand
hi cranes stood eSpoctantly dc the we'll,
waiting patiently Tor thrifty man TO draw
water white-tailed deer with broad
blue ribbon On her neck, walked dnintiy
around liar cool black muzale. studded with
drops III dew, brilliant In the slanting rays of
the rising sun. was slyly thrust into my
hand. giving me n slight shock Of surprise
nv the stables atood a cow moose, standing
aa awkwardly with crooked legs and bumped
hack and the pendulous lip which Mark
Twain callR 'the lIapahurg," that her very
uuliness excited my pity. moose calf her
miniature III ugllness stood stupidity al her
aide. Standing at the we'll, facing the grand
Rocky mountain range, ! drew a bucket III
water. Drinking deeply. repuleing the while
Tho advanced If the female crane with my
mueoaslned foot, | got the reward Of all
men who reject the advances of the tender
aeN, and was soon engaged In repelIing a flu
rioue attack on me by the long legged twain.
Tho attack WAS iierre. Their long, hard
billie elashed viciously IA they scornfully
anelded me. and was on tho point Of beating
a uipufacenl retreat when ! heard: "Ho.
Frank Come have y mouthful Of whisky r.
Recognizing the voice, | gladly lott tho
cranes in uniiaputed possession of the water
bucket, and walked across the parade to tho
store of the fur company.
Bidding Burr good morning. | declined
The whisky on grounds unueepeeary to state
yet the barrel had yellow head, and and
we'll ! knew the tap. sat ana talked tn
Burr, who was In charge of this extensive
store, and before breakfast he went over II
with me. A curious stock. Everything you
could nut find IN AL Eastern country store
was hero. Az we walked On he explained the
business 70 me, Allurlng Not at all. lie.
hooking at hi4 watch, said "Wo have yet
timo before breakfast 10 look at my mare"
nv sudden change IN the expression of the
voice. The sotteniug Of the eyes, ~ this hard
Indian trader spoke OF his horse, px-
Glted my curiosity, and went with him HI
teok me 10 a low log stable, the chtnSs care
fnlly muddad, the open shutter and door we'll
made and carefully fitted 80 ~ 10 exclude
heavy chains stretching from post to post,
Kept the horse In and the other animals out
With breast pushing against tho turmost
chain. with her handsome. broad head thrust
ont aud alert care cooked forward, stood
nnow- white marc. She was looking at the
moose with surprised expression on her
faep, a. much ms tosay well, you have not
grown handsomer during the night" Burr
whtstled, and with u Joyful neigh the mare
turned her head toward him and hadr him well
greeting n n M nil nj
was almost tender. The marpruhhed her nose
gently against his breast. and the man stood
softly strokinG her delicate neck, Unlocking
the chains they dropped. Burr walked t.
wards the we'll. The mare, with dainty
slepp. arrhed neck and decking tail, followed
behind him, or earessinRy advancing to his
stae, rubbed her body against his, ~ though
The mere contact with the man was grateful
10 her Ills arm, IL seemed to mo- instinct
lively lifted and dropped across her neck.
The two walked on together, unconscious OF
any incOnRtulty. A bucket Of water stood III
The woll The highbred creature smelt OF II.
and, detecting my previous presence, dis
tainfully refused To drink after me. Empty
ing the bucket Burr drew another aud of this
The mare drank slowly, her white face grad
nAlly sinking into tho shallow vessel All
across the parade on the return to the stable
Lhe love scene was rp-enaeted A they
passed me the mare showed an aversion to a
stranger by laying back her ears and thrust
Ing out her white toothed mu2zle toward me
In vicious manner, causing mo to step
hastily back. They pass into the darkness 81
the stable, Burr comes out with Il bucket,
puts up the topmast chain and goes after
barley. The mare with outstretched head
hooks after him with kind eyes Again SHE
saw me, and with wfde-opened mouth reached
around the post TO pay me the attentions OF
her dislike Returning to the stable with u
full bucket OF barley, Burr passed in | heard
him pour the grain into the feed box, | heard
him speak 10 the mare as his dear girl. ="
and heard him-kiss her.
singular gentleness had come over this
hard man steeled to human suffering and
woe, whose business II was to impover1sh In
dams, to destroy their morals, to hruttfy
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. | won
nered what was the story, and SO | asked
Burr, why do You love that white mare?"
He looked kindly at me, and with a sad
smile, replied: Tonight, after the men are
In bed, l will tell you the story" Then.
briskly: Frank this is not business. Eat,
my boy, then clear out and fish or hunt.
You will tind some fool hens in the big willow
fhicket about i've miles below here, | saw
them the other day. Shoot some. Tonight
We will have least, ana | will open my two
last bottles OF sherry, and we will talk" His
face hardened. The Geld, deadly look re-
tnrned to the gray eyes, anu our breakfast
VAS soon finished.
Shoulderipg my rifle, | stepped out of the
stockade AMI slowly walked down the valley.
On the distant hllsides antelope grazpd
down the valley before me | could see few
deer running for cover to the willows by the
stream. Now and then a grouse rose before
me and flew rapidly away. Resisting all
temptation TO shoot at anything, walked
steadily on. Climbing a hill, sat ON a red
rock and musinsly gazed at the vast plains
10 the northeast, at the foothills Of the range,
and at the rugged, rocky range beyond. /
love the Rocky Mountains, and never tire of
their face. / wasted hours In looking and in