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

undoubtedly thought particularly fas-
cinating.
ALLEN ranged his black horse up
by the side Of the little brown one
just then, for the mare was getting fd-
getty at the peculiar Indian odor and
the swapping dogs about her heels,
while Elsie herself, though she carried
a brave enough face, gave little gasp
OF relief as Yellow Bird moved away,
and said
81 wasn't exactly afraid with so
many people around me, but oh, ism t
that dreadful Indian
Next to Elsie herself, nothing at
tracted quite SO much attention from
/ the gentle savage that morning az the
black horse. He was pattsd and felt
OF and admired whenever he would
stand still long enough TO allow it.
He had way of clearing wide cir
Gle with those active heels Of his, that
the Indians only seemed to admire,
and many were the lavish offers of
buffalo robes, ponies and squaws in
exchange for his handsome horse that
my friend had pressed upon him that
morning.
Riding back from the pow.wow,
Harvey began joking his pretty COM
panion about her new admirer. was
near enough to hear what he said.
live had an offer for you this
morning, Miss Elsie-quite tempting
one for poor military man like my
self; but unfortunately, as ! told Vel
low Bird, you are none of my proper
ty, and had not the disposing.'
yellow Bird ?
Yes; the chief who spent so much
time admiring you. l heard Allen
say lie paid You some compliments this
morning. We'll, he offered me no less
than FIVE ponies for the pretty white
squaw-quite fortune, you see; and,
when ! refused, pressed two, three,
more upon me, and even offered to
throw in yellow dog
Miss Elsie had to endure a good
deal OF joking about her remarkable
offer; but no one looked upon it other
wise than Joke except poor Mrs.
Harding, to whom life on the Plains
was serious enough matter at best;
she heard an Indian war-whoop in ev-
cry howl of the wind. and had spent
the day of the pow-wow in barricad-
ing herself in Ler own room, until it
took 10 little time and some exertion
of strength to get her out again.
From the moment General Harvey
told her about Yellow Bird, it was he
who fattened his nose against her
window in the shape of every Indian
hanger on about the post, who wake /
about on tiptoe at unexpected times
in the form Of the colonel's orderly
shook the windows, slammed the blinds,
and moved in the dark corners OF the
room.
I'm sure the colonel, steady going
churchman that be was, must have
sworn softly under his breath both at
the swain for admiring and General
Harvey for telling. so often were his
we'll earned slumbers rudsly broken
BY Mrs. Hardings fears.
But the Autumn wore on and moth
ing came Of them, for Yellow Bird had
taken himself off with his own partic-
ular band, and there had not been
more than the average number of dep
relations.
Miss Elsie went quietly on in her
sweet and gracious way, hemming her
ruffles, waiting on her mother, visiting
the sick in the hospital, playing on
her piano and taking lessons in shoot
ing at mark, and all with the gen.
tie, gracious manner that set even the
wissst heads among us spinning.
AS for Allen, You may be sure
time did not mend his case at all, and
he spent his days alternating from the
lowest depths of despair and disgust
with himself for having any hopes at
all. to the seventh heaven of ecstasy
from smile or few words for him
self alone.
! "Lovs-making in crowded gsrri-
son, unless you are willing to take
the whole community 10 your conf
dence, Is extremely unsatisfactory bus
iuess
Miss Elsie, whenever visible, was
sure TO be surrounded by all the un-
employed officers at the post: and who
ever else was missing, by any favors-
bic dispensation of duties, the adju-
taut was always sure to be on the
ield.
Allen Was getting desperate, for
there was behind all his elderly, quie,
way good deal of what women cali
nerves, and BY November his passion