The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-30
THEINDIAN TRAIL.

by PIERcE II. SHELTON.
"The Indians have attacked Mr.. Stuart
house, burnt it. and carried his family
into captivity" were tie first words o
a b%reathless woodsman, as he rushed
into the block house of d village in
Western New York, during one OF the
early border wars Cup, up, a dozen
men should have been on the trail two
hours ago"
God help u.s." said one of the group,
a bold. frank forester, and with a lace
winter than ashes, he leaned against
the wall, gasping for breath. Every eye
turned on him with sympathy, for he
and Mr.. Stuart's only daughter, e lovely
girl of seventeen, were to be married in
n few days.
The bereaved father wa unusually re-
spected. He was a man of great hene-
violence of heart, and of some property,
and resided on a mill seat he owned,
about two miles from the village. His
family consisted of his eldest daughter
and three widowed children. Ho had
been from home, so the rumor said,
when his house was attacked, nor had
the neighbors any intimation of the
catastrophe, until the light of the burn
ing tenements awakened the suspicious
of a settler, who resided a mile nearer
the village than Mr.. Stuart, and who,
proceeding towards the flames, found
the houses and mills in ruins. and rec
ognized the feet of females and children
on the trail Of the Indians. He
hurried instantly to the fort, and
it was this individual who now stood
breathlessly narrating the events
which we, in fewer words, have de-
tailed.
The alarm spread through the village
as fire spreads in a swamp after a
drought. and before the speaker had
finished his story, the little block-ho use
was filled with eager, sympathizing
faces. Several of the inhabitants had
brought their rifles, and others now
hurried home to arm themselves. The
Young men of the settlement gathered,
to a man, around Henry Leper, the be-
throthed husband of Mary Staurt, and
though few words were spoken, the ear
nest grasp Of the hand and the accom-
panying look, assured nina that his
friends keenly felt for him, and were
The party was about to set ft nth when a
the direction of the deserted home.
at is Mr.. Staurt," said one OF the old
est of the group. ISLAND back all, and
let him come in"
The men parted right ana left from the
doorway, and Immediately the father
entered; the neighbors bowed respect
fully to him rs he passed. He scarcely
returned their solutions, but advancing
directly to his intended %son-in-law, the
two mutually fell into each others arms.
TIL, spectators, not wishing to intrude
on the privacy of their grief, turned
theiI faces away with that instructive
delicacy which is nowhere found more
often than among those who are thought
to be merely rude borderers; bnt they
heard sobs, and they knew that the
heart Of the usually collected Mr.. Staurt
must be fearfullv agitated.
"My friends" he said, at length, "this
is kind. | see you know my loss, and
are ready to march with me. God bless
YOU" He could say no more, for he
was choking with emotion.
"Stay back, father" said young Lep-
err, using for the first time a name which,
in that moment OF d~esolation, carried a
sweet comfort to the parents heart,
"you cannot bear the fatigue as well as
we-death only will prevent us bringing
back Mary"
II know it-Iiknow, my son-but /
cannot stay here in suspense. No, l
will go with you. 1 have to-day the
strength of a half dozen men,"
The fathers who were there nodded
in assent, and nothing further was said,
but Immediately, the party, as if by one
impulse, set forth.
trail of the Indians, along which the
lille to those unused to forest life, and
the result of long and severe discipline.
But rapid as their march, hour after
hour elapsed without any signs of the
vicinity of the savages, though evidence
that they had passed the route a while
before was continually met. The FUN
ROSE high in the heavens until he stood
above the tree-tops, then he began
slowly. to decline, and at length his
STINT beams could scarcely penetrate
the forest; vet there were 40 appearance
es of the Indians, and tho hears of the
pursuers began to despond. Al
general aeaey '' that 0p a further na' ADVANCE kruwe
was useless, for the boundaries of the
settlers districts had long been passed;
they were IN the very heart of the say.
ages country; AID by this time the In
dams had probably reached their vii
lage. Yet when the older men, who
alone would venture to suggest a returh,
looked at the father or his intended SON.
in-law, they could not utter the words
which would carry despair to two al
most breaking hearts, and so the march
was continued. But night drew on, and
one Of the elders spoke:
There seems to be no hope" he
said, stopping, and resting his rifle on
the ground, "and We are far from our
families. What would become of the
village if attacked in onr absence?"
This was a question that went to every
heart, and by n consent the party
stopped, and many, especially of the
older ones, took a step or two involun-
tarily homewards. The father and
young Leper looked at each other in
mute despair.
"You are right, Jenkins" the young
man said, at length. SIT is selfish in us
to lead you so far away from home on"
and hero for an instant he chokedN'.on
perhaps, a fruitless errand. lut as for
me, my way lies ahead, even if it lead
you into the very heart Of an Indian viii
lage."
"And l will follow you!" "And II"
"And II" exclaimed dozen voices. for
daring in moments like THESE, carries
the day against cooler counsels. and the
young, to a man, sprapg to Lener's side.
Even the older men were affected by
contagion. They were torn by conflict
ing emotions, now thinking Of their
wives and little ones behind, and now
reminded Of the suffering captives be.
fore. They still %fuctuated, when one of
the young men exclaimed in allow voice.