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

cottonwood bark, cracked, flashed,
wAversd. aud then shot up in broad
flame that lighted up the weather
beaten faces around the fire flashed
from their buttons aud gilt braid,
turned into q shimmeriIg sheet Of
flame the bAyonet of the sentinel lag
ging up aud down in the background,
showed for a moment the cluster OF
white tents standing up against the
moon iess, starless night, the mules
and tsthsred horses, the wagons and
the restless figures fitting about among
them. and then subsidsd into a steady
glow and cheerful crackle that was
pleasant enough to hear on a chilly
night in November, after hard day 5
march.
Nalderlyn had been singing; and,
as the last faint echoes Of his ravish-
ing tenor died away among the bluffs
under which we were encamped, a si-
lence fell on the group, only broken
by the swapping of the fire.
Hamilton spoke at last, taking his
pipe iroru his lips long enough to say:
Somebody tell a story"
Yes, yes-a story = chimed in
two or three voices.
WHO will tell it? Major, it is
your turn. You have never told one
yet, Hamilton went on.
My turn " said the major, with q
growi and shake of his broad, square
shoulders. Man alive what story
can have to tell? 1t was school
and West Point when was a lad,
and Indians, war and Indians, ever
since. There, I've told you nv story :"
settlirg back III more comfortable
position with the air Of man who
had performed ALI unpleasant duty to
his own satisfaction.
But you are not going to get off
so easily. 4 man don't live to be
your age, major-and you confessed
to tie wrong side of fifty only the
other day-with his eyes wide open,
and not hear or see something worth
telling. Coms, tell Us about some be-
witchIng sonora YOU have fiirted with
in Texas, or one Of the pretty Mime
ha has as they used to look before
they took 10 overskirts and iiirtations
with tho sutlers clerks. Its our duty
To stand by the officer of the day un.
ul twelve o clock" Hamilton added !;
so DO the obliging."
There t> story the major said
slowly, shaking the ashes from his
meerschaum, and glancing doubtfully
around the little group-'thers Is a
story I might tell you OF good black
horse IA friend OF mine once owned,
ami Of terrible race he ran one dav.
Every one that knew about it when
1t happened must have forgotten all
about that horse by this time: but |
shouldn't care TO have you repeat the
story; my--my friend might not like
it, YOU know.
The major looked thoughtfully into
the lire for few moments, and then
began
1T was the year before the war that
the old Third, the regiment to which
my friend, as well as myself belong
Ell, was stationed along the old Salt
Lake trail. Headquarters were at
Fort Benton, and both of us were
there too, for my friend-well, he was
in my company, and We were great
chumS.
"All Of you fellows have been on
ths plains long enough to know what
life is at a frontier post, and, except
that there were more Indians, and,
consequently, more lighting, no rail.
road, and the excitement of looking
for the, mail-rider, and making bets
as to how many Indians would chase
him TO the fort on the next trip, it was
much the same in 60 that it is at any
of the out-of-the- way posts now.
However. two very pleasant things
happened at headquarters that Sum.
mer.
One was the return of the colonel :
wife with her pretty daughter. who
had been at school in the East for
several years, and the other was the
arrival Of fine black horse-a pres
snt to my friend from his father
which had come out in charge of the
wagon master of the same train that
brought out the HArdings.
Now, YOU all know a Morgan
horses good points as well IS l dc
myself, SO there's no use OF going in,
particulars, beyond telling you that
the new arrival was - handsome AMI.
NAL, black, except q small white sta,
on his forehead, with plenty OF spirit
and courage and good staying power
as events proved. He was know.
ing beast, too, tame as a kitten and
Enrl - hn,.... ....a.l