The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-12-05
GAY FEATHER.

The dull red disk of the setting sun was
slowly sinking behind the peak OF a DIS
tant divide" 1t dropped from the sharp
noint and instantly food of mellow
light poured along the sky, Bringing out
IN bold relief the long, jagged outline OF
The range, tinting the white capped peaks
with soft rose color, and, by vivid con-
trast, making still blacker the vide ex-
panse of the plains with their heritage
burnt by recent fires. To the left was
small creek. whose winding course was
marked by a fringe of scrubby willows
and whose wasers, flowing down from the
rocky heart of the mountains, were chilled
by the eternal SHOWS
Suddenly, far to the eastward, there APP
peared amid the purple and brown shad-
ows, strange, lurid glow, and, behind II.
a writing, serpentine leneth-like the
trailing body of huge dragon, with a
single cleaning eye. 1t swept along. the
light grew larger, there was a prolonged
whistle, whose shrill echoes were repeated
from the distant rocky recesses, and then
the express, with its long line of cars,
steamed into the little station at Amerilla
and stopped short with many snort and
sizzle.
AS usual, a crowd had assembled to
greet its arrival. A score of miners from
up the gu'ch, several officers from the
garrison. two or three Mexicans, with
clanking spurs and gray striped blankets,
together with sundry women and children
all were mounted on shaggy ponies
Among them was a young girl with
smooth, well-shaped face, bright eyes and
1.-THE folm. She was dresses more gayly
than the two elderly squaws who were her
companions. A bright blanket was thrown
over her slender shoulders, and beneath it
was dress of red and blue striped calico.
Her feet were encased in neat moccasins
trimmed with coored porcupine quilts; a
string of beads was around her neck, and
in her long black hair were braided vari-
hued feathers. Her face wore neither the
heavy stolidty nor the half repressed fe-
E0CItY OIL utI IdCC-lbo CAPICSblOA WAS
gentle, almost melancholy. There was a
pathetic droop to The sensitive lips, and a
mild, pleading look in her soft, dark eyes.
AS the train stopped she leaned forward
on her pony, an eager, expectant look
overs preading her face. Among the first
to aIight from the cars was tall, hand
some man, wearing an officers uniform:
and closely following him came the rim,
dainty figure of pretty young lady, who,
amid the motley crowd, seemed like some
delete blossom dropped down in a tangle |
of weeds
The women at the station stared at her
with unaffected admiration, not uImingled
with little envy.
Height But she's a rare onew ex-
claimed Jenny, the Scotch sergeant's WIFE,
-.She's as dainty as a bit of heatherl'
"Humphl A stuck up baggage, III
warran,. though, for the matter O. that
her gownd isn't silk event. said Mrs.
Crosse, The wife of the agent" who,
rich Ia her husbands spoils, gloried in the
possession of the only satin dress at Anne
Iilla.
'WeeI, she's bonny bride, anyhow"
persisted Jenny, san dou's wonder that |
the Lieutenant feels proud of her.
''And / wonder what Gay Feather II |
saw" said Mrs. Crosse, with disegreea-
BILE laugh and knowing look at the In |
dian girl we have mentioned.
The latter caught both glance and re-
mark. A faint red glow oyerspread her
dusky cheeks. She drew herself up
proudly, uttered brief word of command
to her pony, and dashed away through the
crowd, the mud from ner horses heels
plentlfully bespattering Mrs. Crosses
gown.
"Drat these redskins" muttered the
agents wife.
But GAY Feather needed not this benign
remark. She kept steadily on her way
towards where the rose-tinted sky bent
down and touched the earth. Her 1.-THE
form. gracefully erect, stood out in fine
relief against the fast fading light.
The young bride turned to look at her.
..Isn't that one Of your Indian bellesY
she asked. "Isn't she pretty, Ellis? l
wonder if could ever learn to ride like
that! Do look at herr
"Hushr' said Lieutenant Armand.
"Don't stop here"
His voice sounded strangely harsh, and,
half frightened at its tone, the pretty bride
looked up into his face. 1t was white and
stern, but relaxed little at her appealing
glance. 80
III didn't mean to DO severe, Amy, he
said pressing the small hand resting on
his arm. But want to get in our cabin
as quickly as possible. There's a rough
set here, and l can't bear to have you
stared at"
Young Mrs Armand soon realized that
she was indeed among rough set.
True, she found novelties. but there was
little poetry. Instead, the plain prose OF
human nature, degraded beyond anything
she had ever seen. Amerllla was not
pleasant place for refined woman. But
Lieutenant Armand had not thought much
about that when he took his bride from
her Eastern home 1t was not in bis self
ish nature to be very considerate Of others.
Though not bad at heart, his early train