The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-10-06
GAY FEATHER.

slowly sinking behind the peak of dis
tant divide" 1t dropped from the
sharp point, and instantly flood of mel
low light poured along the sky, bringing
out in bold relief the long, Jagged out
line of the range, tinting the white
capped peaks with soft rose color, and,
by vivid contrast, making still blacker
the wide expanse of.the plains with their
herbage burnt by recent fires. To the
left was a small creek whose winding
course was marked by fringe of scrubby
willows, and whose waters flowing down
from the rocky heart of the mountain,
were chilled by the eternal SHOWS.
Suddenly, far to the eastward, there
appeared amid the purple and brown
shadows, a strange lurid glow, and be-
hind it, writhing, serpentine length
like the trailing body Of a huge dragon
with single cleaning eye. 1t swept
along, the light grew larger, there was a
prolonged whistle whose shrill echoes
were repeated from the distant rocky re-
cesses, 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, crowd had assembled to
greet its arrival. A score of miners
from up the gulch," several officers
from the garrison, two or three Mexicans
with clanking spurs and gay-striped
blankets, together with sundry women
and children-a!l laughing and chatting.
To the left of the station, party of In
dians formed q picturesque group. All
re mounted on shaggy ponies. Among
them was a young girl with smooth,
we'll shaped face, bright eyes and 1.-the
form. She was dressed 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
str ped calico. Her feet were incased in
neat moccasins, trimmed with colored
porcupine quills; 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 stolidity
nor the half-repressed ierocity of her race
Its expression was gentle, almost mel
anchoy. There was-a pathetic droop to
the sensitive lips, and mild, pleading
look in her soit, dark eyes.
AS the train stopped, she leaued for
ward on her pony, an eager, expectant
look oversprcading her face. Among
the first TO alight from the cars was tall,
handsome man, wearing an officers uni
form; and closely following him came
the tim. dainty figure of pretty young
lady, who, amid the motley crowd,
seemed like some delicate blossom
dropped down in a tangle of weeds.
The women at the station stared at
her with unaffected admiration, not un-
mingled with little envy.
"Hcigh! But she's rare onep ex-
claimed Jenny, the Scotch sergeant's
wife. 'She's as dainty as bit of
heather!"
"Humphl A stuck-up baggage, I'll
warrant; though, for the matter o. that,
her gownd isn't silk evenl' said Mrs.
Crosse, the wife of the ''agent," who,
rich in her husbands spoils, gloried in
the possession of the only satin dress at
Amerilla.
"Weel, she's bonny bride, anyhow, 4"
persisted Jenny, "an' l don't wonder
that the Lieutenant feels proud of her. :"
''And / wonder what Gay Feather III
say" said Mrs Crosse, with disagree
able laugh and knowing look at the In
dian girl we have mentioned.
The latter caught both glance and re-
mark. A faint, red glow Overspread her
dusky cheeks. She drew herself up
proudly, uttered a brief word of com
mand to her pony and dashed away
through the crowd, the mud from her
horses heels plentifully bespattering Mrs.
Crosses gown.
"Drat these redsBinsr' muttered the
agents wife.
But Gay Feather needed not this be-
nign remark She kept steadily on her
way toward where the rose-tinged sky
bent down and touched the gloom of 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 bellies p
she asked. ISN'T she pretty, Ellisl l
wonder if could ever learn to ride like
that Do look at her"
"Hushl' said Lieutenant Armand
''Don't stop here"
His voice sounded strangely harsh
and, half frightened at its tone, the
pretty bride looked un into his face. II
was white and stern, but relaxed little
at her appealing glance.
~ didn't mean TO be severe, Amy, >
he said. pressing the small hand resting
on his arm "But / want to get into 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 trough set. "
True, she found novelties, but there was
little poetry. Instead, the plain prose OF
human nature, degraded beyond anything
she had ever seen. Amerilla was not a
pleasant place for a refined woman. But
Lieutenant Armand had not thought
much about that when he took his bride
from her Eastern home. Il was not in
his selfish nature to be very consderate
of others. Though not bad at heart, his
early training had been void of those in
fuences which tend to mold characteI