Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-16

/ Miss Harding had made friends
with him on the jenrney out, and it
was clever enough to see him unite
I his halter with bis teeth and trot af-
ter her for sugar or a cracker, If she
crossed the parade ground and he was
tied near it,
No boy, in his first feathered cap
and spsulsts, ever enjoyed playing
soldier as we'll as that black horse
did, and at dress parade he curveted,
pranced and strutted in a way that
was the amusement OF all beholders,
and would have soon upset man less
firm in the saddle than an o!d cavalry
rider.
"As for Elsie Harding, the colo
nsl's daughter. there are no such girls
nowadays. Since the war, at least, |
have never seen one like her So frank
and true, with u sweet, winsome face,
and color that came and went with
every change Of mood. Such hair,
too None Of your braided-in stuff.
but hair that waved and rippled in
the sunshine like q mass of spun gold
"Of course, in a week every un-
married man at the post was at her
feet, but she treated us always in a
frank, sisterly way, and her rich color
never deepened at tender looks or
words from any Of US, unless, perhaps,
for the adjutant, a sleepy looking,
good-natured fellow, and-I used to
think, possibly-for the black horses
master.
Now he-the man, msan-ought
to have a name, and I'll call him Al
len, if nobody minds; it isn't his own,
of course. He was a long, quiet,
brown fellow, whom the subs called
Daddy, aud who had rare faculty,
when an unhappy chance threw him
in ladies society, of getting out Of
their way, behind tables and chars
He would stammer and stumble
and blush up to his eyes whenever
Miss Harding spoke to him, which
she seemed Just little afraid to do.
But he loved her-yes, he loved her,
aud hi. battered old heart is hers yet. .
There had been talk all Summer
Of Pow WOW to be held at Fort
Benton some time in the Fall, and
early in September the order came.
Half-breed scouts and friendly In
dians, that had been hanging about
the fort more or less all Summer, were
sent out TO call in the chiefs of the
hostile Sioux, and large tent was
pitched outside, but in plain sight of
the fort, to shield the pow-w overs
from the sun.
Nearly every one in the fort that
was not on duty, made his way, sooner
or later that morning to join the mot
lev crowd around the council tent.
1T was a picturesque enough sight
too. The broad. brown, sullen river;
the plain, gray sage bushes; the high
sand bluffs at the right, and al the
left flag streaming high over the
heterogeneous collection of buildings
called a tort.
The centre of the picture was the
tent, and about it were copper colored
figures in blue and scarlet blankets,
buffalo robes, glittering silver and tin
ornaments and feathers Indian ponies.
cavalrymen, in their gaudy uniform
OF blue and yellow; officers, in undress
uniforms: stolil squass, curious and
quarreling, and crying papoOses, and
in all. through all, and about all
dogs
I'm the midst of this picture, more
strikingly beautiful by contrast, was
the slight, Sirlish figure in the dark
riding dress, mounted on a spirited
brown mare For Elsie had ridden
down with her father and General
Harney-colonel he was in those DAYS
to see for herself the heroes of
Coopsrs novels and so many other
romsnces; and very much disappoint-
ed she was, | remember, with the
greasy, sullen faced crowd, and al
her pretty, girlish illusions OF stalwart
Hiawathas were destroyed for ever.
when one-l thiuk he was as unpleas-
ant looking savage as it has ever
been my misfortune to meet, and that
is saying good deal-cams up to
stare at the pretty white squaw.
yellow Bird, his name was; quite
a famous Sioux chief in his day. His
lessings were fringsd with long brown
hair, aud from his belt there hung
more scalps Of unmissakably white
mems hair than any ef us cared to
count.
Elsie did not see his admirius
stare, and was startled enough when,
coming up to the side OF her horse.
he held out two greasy fingers and