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

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Indian girl she has ncy.iced on the night of
her arrival-Gay F Gather She had lit
tie papoose with taer-not strapped on her
back as was the custom-but carried ten
derby Din her arms. It's small face was
wasted AMI pain-drawn. Poor Gay Feath-
er's owr. face was naggard with anxiety.
| She sprang TO her feet as Amy APP
preached her, and, uttering brief ex-
| ciamation in her native tongue, was about
, to move swiftly away. But the young
| wife laid her white, restraining hand on
the dusky shoulder.
Don't be afraid of me, :" she said gent
ly. Tell me what you want, and, perhaps,
can help you.
Mrs. Gross regarded the two from her
| doorstep. She gave a shrill, unpleasant
laugh To think O. you attacking to herp'
she mutiered, with significance that was
quite lost on Amy. And with that she
went in, banging the door after Der.
j SIS the baby sick?" continued Amy.
Gay Feather seemed to hesitate before
| answering. Yet somehow, Amy's SYM
pathetic face and voice exerted magic
| influence.
Eyes, papoose very sick-him die.' she
| aid at last, with pathetic breviIy.
'.Oh, may be notl He has fever, l
| See. GU Wdnb ueu1Ciue lOI ulmg
| Gay Feathers face frightened. Yes,
| she said But agents squaw say Nor
| She drc We Poor Indian away Ne believe
| Great Father at Washington not know
| what devil agents wife tsp and there was
an angry flash from the dark eyes.
| Amy Armand was the eldest of A large
| family. She was used to children and
| children's diseases. Her practiced eye
saw at once what the baby needed, and,
after asking few questions, she ran into
| her cabin, and going to her medicine
| chest, drew from it the required drugs.
| These, together with few simple direc-
tions, she gave to Gay Feather, and with
a softened, grateful look, the Indian girl
departed.
\
Winter, with its drifting SHOWS and icy
billiards., swept over the plains, burying
the little station at Amerilla in temporary
oblivion But even the dreariest season
comes to an end, and presently Amy Ar
mand awoke to a consciousness that, after
all, Nature had garments of beauty with
which to clothe this barren desolation.
With the coming of the Spring sunshine,
the scrubby grass melted into thick car
pet, dotted here and there with the gor-
geous blue, scarlet and yellow of Western
blossoms. The pale green of the willows
stood out against the dark color of the
hills, and the creek. warm now and linn
pid, swept on amid dowery banks.
But in the midst of this freshness and
beauty was horror greater than that of
isolation-a horror that daily increased.
Rumors came that the indians or neigh
boring reservation, rebellious after the
long winter of deprivation, and conscious
that they had been shamefully cheated by
the dishonest agent, were now, like hun.
CRY wolves, getting ready to spring forth
upon their oppressors As yet they were
silent-but it was that sullen, ominous
silence which precedes storm. But here
and there councilfres lighted up the
evening shadows, and now aud then an In
dian dashed by. and glimpse at his face
revealed it dabbled in ochre and yermil-
ion.
But this did not seem to trouble the
agent. Job Gross was fit companion for
his coarse spouse. He was an ignorant,
dealings with the Indians. To him they
were as so many dogs. to be kicked and
cursed. He laughed contemptuously
when some of his more timid companions
limited of war paint and "pow-wows, and
begged that he would have the feeble gar
Tison reinforced.
The fact was, the station at Amerilla
had never been so poorly guarded as now.
Lieutenant Armand, together with dozen
men, had gone ten miles westward to a
trading station. 1t was not without mis-
givings that he left Amy behind. Well
trained soldier that he was, he snuffed
danger from afar.
"Good-by, sweetheart, he said, at part
ing. "'Take good care of yourself. /
swear somehow | dread to leave youl But
cheer upi When come back, | will see
if | can't get stationed at some larger
post ; il will be far safer and more pleas
ant for you.'
A night or two after his departure, Amy
was awakened from a sound sleep. She
sat up in bed gazing about her with be-
wildered air. For minute everything
was quiet. The soft moonlight of May
evening streamed in at the one small win
dow, and away in the distance sounded
the ripping waters of the creek But
suddenly demoniacal yells broke the
serene silence Then came pistol shots
and wild commoiion. Trembling in every
limb, Amy sprang from her bed and hur-
riedly dressed herself Flinging shawl
around her, she opened the door and eau
tiously peered out.
1t was as she had feared The Indians
were attacking the station. Already the
air rang with the shrieks of the dying.
Sick with horror, Amy turned to flee, she
scarcely knew whittier, when suddenly
from out the shadow of tall cottonwood
tree near by, there sprang 1.-the figure
it was Gay Feather.
Come, pale-face lady, come with me-
quickl' she painted, Selling Amy by the
arm.
For an instant the yonng wife hesitated.
One glance at the Indian girls sincere
though anxious face treasured her.
Where are you going7" she asked, as
they sped along in the darkness.