St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-03-05
A Cast Horseshoe.
BY EMILY REAL

IVY hat VIII YOU do with 1T 7" asked
as Kate held up battered old horse
shoe.
"Gild it, and hang it by blue rib
bons for luck, " came promptly.
'Luck ~ ! repeated. "The one
thing emJlcmatic of i'll luck to me is
east horseshoe
"TheIe you differ from those of us
most skeptical of witches, for even we
feel safer and happier under this pro
tccting symbol" answered Kate, coolly
and dogmatically.
"The saddest, most unlucky TRACE
dy in my memory is connected with a
east horseshoe" replied, with heat.
"You are not going to revive poor
Arnold's story ?" asked my colonel.
"Certainly not What do you take
me for p / asked.
Nevertheless, did revive the story,
the colome's unlucky protest provok-
ing the insiStency of our guest to hear
what / had to tell of cast horseshoe.
/ have searched maps of Texas Ion
Fort lngc without success, and might
think my memory in fault if it were
not for its peculiar surroundings. The
Leona River itself, upon whose banks
Inge was, would have made the fort
conspicuous, for. unlike most Texas
streams, it is limpid and bordered by
II luXuriant growth of trees, chiefly
pecan and meSqut. Around was the
great prairie, covered with coarse cacti
the cattle found difficult to swallow.
A few hundred feet from lcge was
Stone Muuntaiu--a peculiar landmark -
Il hill three hundred feet high, formed
of stone seemingly cut out and piled
into regular shape. Standing alone ON
the level of the great prairie, it easily
assumed the proportions rs well rs the
name of mountain.
The prominent feature of the garri
son was ii solitary lIve-oak-a few of
the species grow in that section of
Texas that stood in the centre of the
parade ground ; Il lounging place for
both the ladies and the officers whilst
the band -lugc was head quarters
di>coursed most excellent music for an
hour or two after guard mounting. |
can even now recall the gay sight the
ladies in their pretty summer costumes
(San Antonio was within shopping
distauce.) and the officers in white
fatigue suits and red Sashes. the ever
burning cigars sparkling like fire flies
Most of the officers were bachelors
So, though had It legal right to but
cone room and Il Kitchen" by the
courtesy OF my husbands friends had
a pretty suite of rooms, if they were
built OF logs. -Four rooms and PEN
was the description given in army par
lance to four airy rooms, connected or
divided -as YOU please to put it-by a
long hall or gallery open ON both ends.
The officers quarters tronted Oh the
river bank, the soldiers barracks
forming the other sides Of the square
parade ground.
il We had a good many bachelors,
we also had one unmarried belle, and
Elise and were soon fast friends in
deed, most of poor Atuold's courtship
was done in my coy parior.
| never saw girl tight harder for
her liberty than Elise, or, to use Il
hunters phrase. die harder" If poor
Arnold had not been Such II universal
favorite. not always spoken of Us u
good fellow, - even If he had been less
handsome. on less brilliant in every
way, Elise might have been more
easily subjugated. But, her conquest
accomplished, never knew anyone
under greater thralldom to the blind
little god. Even after her engage
ment she was Feticent, and would have
kept me. as she Thought. in the dark,
1T poor Arnold had NOT let me INTO the
secret. ! regretted Elise's secrecy, for
1t made me seem uukiud TO my old
chum and playfenuw Frank May bin,
vino had been transferred to our regi-
ment "A few months after my marriage. /
were-my husband in the lot-with /
Elise, and hadto cultivate the virtue Of
patience whilst Frank CONSUMED many (
an hour OF my time with his mild raw
ing>. | was not unhappy about him, /
for here there was 50 much smoke /
the flame could not be dangerous. vet
1T seemed unkind not to put him on .
his guard.
1t was It lovely day, the sky as rig
idly, stubboruly blue as "a Texan sky /
so we'll knows tue trick Of being. The .
san ruled remorseiessly, sovereign .
not to abdicate, royal III his strength
in all, a giant to ran his course" II .
was just after guard mounting, and
under the greenwood tree We, the
ladies and available officers, were dis
cussing some interesting triviality
festlvity of some kind, if / remember
rightly. In the midst Of the eager
talk the colonel was called aside nvs-
terionsly by the adjutssnt, and quite as
mysteriouly 10y the adiutant, and quite
as mysteriously 4 chilly hush fell over
the whole OF our cheerful little compa-
ny. Something was up" without a
doubt. Like beans III bag we'll shak-
en-, all, as il by magic or natural aftini-
ty, quickly matched themselves
Wives who bad been airtiug quite de Il