Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-18


 the fire wood Our rides were generally confined to the Indian reservation, as this included the only attractive scenery, the land in the other direction being simply level, monotonous prairie; and Vita hada aHo fear of the half civilized Sioux, she bying a good shot, a bold rider and a liberal dispenser of tobacco and candy.
 One day as we approached the home of "The Seven Brothers" there seemed to be somewhat unusual excitement. Squaw ladies, Indian gentlemen, artistically bare babies, dime museum dogs, all seemed interested over something. We soon learned that a young traveller, a white man, while trying to ride pony which he was trading for, had been thrown and kicked by the unbroken colt, and was lying in state Of unconscious ness His arm was evidently broken, and from the condition of his clothing he had evidently been roughly handled by the pony's feet. Vitas warm sympathies were touched by his pallid, suffering face, and she immed1- ately arranged to have him conveyed to her home.
 Weeks passed. These weeks were the busi- est ever experienced in my checkered career. From morning till night, and, in fact, often through the entire night, I was in constant motion. Some one had to watch the sick man continually, and 1 was generally re- quired to fan his fevered brow, and usually was in Vitas hand; but of all this he was unconscious, not having been in his right mind one moment since his accident.
 One morning he quietly opened his eyes, and it almost made me rattle to see the change it made in his face, and in that sec ond there a mutual recognition. With out word he grasped at me-ah what flood of tender recollections I brought back tn him Land crnNt was VitafS aStoOiShmaOt as he pressed me to his lips, and his first words were to ask how I came there Then she, in amazement at his demonstrations, explained that had been sent to her by colsin in New York. He, with that charac- teristic thoughtfulness so prominent in man. | kiud, without stopping to express a word of | gratitude to tue patient, worn face that for | weeks had tended him so faithfully-he weak as he was, attempted to dictate letter-and such letter, fairly glowing with love and un- | dying affection-to her, my former owner; and poor Vita had to write 1t all while he was clasping me to his heart Yes, mel whom 1 formerly he had so despised. Well, too, relented. It is so delightful to meet an old acquaintance who has been as unfortunate | as one's self
 By his dictation I learned that the note l from him which 1 had concealed for forty | eight hours was of such a tender character that he, receiving no reply, took silence for dismissal, and suddenly, as we had learned, buried himself In the whirlpool of frontier | excitement
 After this letter was mailed he began counting the days that must pass before he could hope for reply, and he grew stronger he'd sit up in bed and talk for hours returned, they took long rides together through the romantic paths on the reserva- tion; they attended Indian dances, collected bead work and carved pipes; at other times | whole days were passed the lake, under the impression that they were fishing.
 And thus weeks flew by and the letter never came. Yes, they still talked of it; 1t was impossible to drop the subject entirely, he had said so much the first few days, but to | me it was almost amusing to notice that whenever the expected letter was now men tioned, what far away sound their voices had, and then their voices would fall upon them with great, heavy thud
 I soon saw as time went on that he dreaded mail day, and what look of relief would mount his features when the mail arrived without bringing the expected and now l dreaded letter. And Vita-well, it was evi- dent she took care not to be present on the arrival of the stage.
 No matter how animated conversation they might be engaged in, just let any one casually refer to the postoffice, and how the | light seemed to fade-how dark and gloomy everything suddenly appeared. Even | felt it.
 It was sunset-such a sunset as you can see in Dakota only. They were seated on the ragged edge of home made hammock, their hands were rather mixed and their eyes well, their eyes were not on the sunset, nor on the road where neighbor was rapidly approaching with letter in his hand The first notice they had of his presence was when the letter was tossed to him. It was too late for Vita to escape this time; she had to sit there and see his trembling hands tear the eavelope-a worn, redirected, much post marked envelope. Evidently it had followed him from place to place for weeks
 How unconsciously she crushed me in he1 hand as her frightened eyes watched the letter as it gradually appearedl I think read it first, or at least realized its full mean ing before they did It was simply the wed ding card of my former owner She hao married her gallant rescuer, the captain.
 When had recovered from my surprise sufficiently to look at my companions, they | -well-to an unprejudiced observer it looked as if Vita's arms were around his neck, anG to we'll trained ear it sounded as if he hac kissed omebody.-Demorest's Monthly.