The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-22
TWO THANKSGIVINGS.
A Surgeons "reminiscences Of From
tier Days
tBy Batc Bro,pnice ShcrtoOod.I
CHAPTER !.

TTET-N
ling 70 forego the luxures and comforts of old
settled communities for a season, in the hope
and expectation of greater things to follow,
were everywhere predominant Bold enter
prise was manifest upon every side and villages
sprang up like mushrooms IN night; while ina
few brief months the hum and industry OF towns
and cities were heard where the prairie dog
had held happy fellowship with the Iattlesnake
and the owl.
Leavenworth City, which had shared so
largely in the phenomenal growth which gave
10 the Union the great free State of Kansas,
with its sterling sons and noble daughters, was
IN the full flush of her development st the time
Of which / write. Every steamer brought its
cargo of human freight. and hotels and board
ing houses were thronged TO their utmost to
accommodate all who came. Boarding was
fabulously high and rents were enormous, so
that people were obliged 10 live in very close
quarters. unless they carried well-flled pockets,
or were fortunate enough TO strike employment
early.
The Pixies Peak mania which had forced its
tide of travel further up the river at ST.
Joseph, checking the immense impetus of
I.eavenworth's prosperity, had indeed begun to
make itself felt; but, in spite of that, the city
never presented better inducements for the
investment Of capital or the exercise of push
and pluck.
Nor were the social pleasures anywhere alto
gether forgotten, though formaiities were little
observed, and both men and women united in
making even the privations they encountered
serve the happy purpose of keeping alive and
active the kindlier faculties of heart and
mind.
In their fraii crowded tenements their
chinked cabins, or pitching their tents like the
patriarchs Of old on the yerdant plains of prom
Use, the Kansas homeSteaders were as whole
souled and happy hearted a people as ever
planted the flag Of freedom on new and vir-
gin soil. The rising towns were whole-hearted
hospitality itself
Fort Leavenworth shared materially in the
prosperity Of the city, chiefly in social way,
and very warm friendly relations We're pre-
served between many families of the city and
"the army people" as the few officers at the
fort. with their households, were termed. The
drive from the city 10 the fort was charming,
and once within military grounds all was 8
scene of quiet loneliness and beauty. The
well-kept lawn, the wide, smooth walks, the
neat and handsome quarters and, more than
all, the superb river view, all combined TO Gre
ate In the mind of the visitor the hyeliest in
terest and pleasure.
One morning. think il was early In Octo-
ber-I was seated at my window, quietly smok-
ing cigar, when party, who had driven up
from the city, entered the grounds and ap-
preached the surgeons quarters.
There were three of them, a heayy-set gen.
fleman. just turning forty; very slim and
very stylish officer OF, perhaps the same age,
wearing the uniform Of a captain-a German ]
was sure from his peculiar soldierly bearing
and cast Of couDtenance-and a young girl,
scarcely sixteen and who looked even younger,
very pale, bat whose pallOr was lit up by the
most wondering, luminous eyes j have ever
seen IN man or woman, seldom even in a little
child. I noticed also her extreme nervousness
as she approached, particularly when she adj
dressed her father. for such the heavy-set gen
tlem2n proved TO be.
1t was beautiful and balmy autumn day,
with doors and windows all wide open TO admit
the grateful sunshine and as they stepped upon
the threshold ] rose and went forward to meet
them.
The officer was the first to speak. With a
low bow, has military cap covering his breast,
he inquired for the post surgeon. and learning
that 1 was that ofiicer-I was wearing a blouse
with no insignia Of rank about me-he intro
onced himself as Captain Dare, of the Regular
army, bearing q letter of introduction from a
mutual friend IN the East. He then presented
his companion as Mr. Ransom, newly-ap-
pointed Government contractor Oh his way to
Fort Scott, together with his daughter, Miss
Marcia.
IN few moments learned that the young
girl mother had been the most intimate friend
Of my wife until her death, few years prcTi-
GUS, since when her daughter had been attend
ing school at a New York convent, whose
E4DlbLer hlb lal not 4EIL IRON the TIME OF Aer
eitra2ce until removed by her father TO accom-
pany him upon his western trip.
Their acquaintance with Captain Dare, whose
regiment was al Fort Scott, and who had been
spending the time Of an extended furlough In
New York, was very recent, beginning with
their railroad journey West, aud continued
IN Leagenworth boarding house, in which
they had al taken up temporary residence the
day previous
Afr. Ransom also bore letter of iDtroduc.
ton, addressed to me, although intended more
particularly for my wife, and written by an
old friend Of hers, as wei as Of Marcia's
mother
Captain Dare came TO the fort on some spe.
clal mission connected with an examination
into the ordnance stores, with view of change
Of arms in the infantry at Fort Scott, mis-
sion that would detain him some days. Mr
Ransom expected to experience slight delay,
looking TO the forwarding Of supplies to the
frontier posts
My visitors came SO well introduced. and
were withal so interesting, not only in them.
selves, but because of their relation TO absent
friends that ! felt quite pleased and elated al
the prospect Of the pleasant cay before me.
knew also, that my wife. who was very
fond Of company, would be pleased with oul
new friends and that she would at once take
pretty, pale Marcia 70 her heart who, could
not help thinking, was just such a sweet, deli
cate creature as our OWE little girl would have
been bad the Lord seen Git 10 spare her 10 US
few brief years longer.
Inviting them cordially to accompany me,
led the way to our little cottage, where, with
out moments delay, my wife joined US IN ia,
parior, shaking hands al around and kissing
Marcia again and again, st the same time zoos
ening the strings Of her snug little bonnet anC
making her feel al once at home In the wa,
that only true woman can
harcias eyes were full of tears as my wifi
drew her down beside her on the sofa, Will
her little hand lay soft and dainty as an in
1aDts IN her firm matronly clasp.
We spent. al IL all. charming day together
though, when our friends had taken thei
departure my wife and ] agreed that there wa
something IN Captain Dare we did not alto
rether Ike. Brilliant IL conversation, with
fund Of information that only comes with acut
personal observation in many lands there wa
yet something In his manner which impresset
us both unpleasantly.
AL that giitters is not gold" remarked M
wife, and, after musing for few moments
added:
Charles, I wish I had asked Marcia TO spen
her time with me until her father is ready {
leave for Fort Scott"
CHAPTER II.
III was more than q week before we agai
met Mr. Ransom and Marcia, though Captai
Dare was frequently az the fort. We did nc
learn 10 like him any better on ACQUAINTANCE
particularly as lac twice made his appearance q