The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-10-20
AN INDIAN LOVER.
An Incident Of Garrison Life on
the Frontier.

The blazing sunlight was slowly rad
Ing away from the parade ground.
The shutters on the sleepy-looking
adobe buildings were being opened,
and In the officers quarters could be
heard the hustle that always precedes
the afternoon ride.
The ''four o'clocks," as the young
girls of the garrison were called, were
clustered together In front Of the Gen.
erals house. The ponies and dogs
s)ike were impatient to go flying over
the plains. The neighing, barking,
shouting, and chattering made din
which to Eastern ears would sound ap-
palling, but to the TENTH" then serv-
ing at McKendell, it was the sweetest
melody.
whats up at de Gineral'sp" asked
one member of ''F'' troop of his fellow,
a. they lounged in front of the suffers
store.
'.His only daughter am havin' birth
day, and de Gineral hab presented her
with a pony" was the response. "F'
troop was composed Of 'brunettes, "
who were serving their country in
characteristic style and with charac-
teristio diction.
The dusky oracle proceeded: "Miss
Mary am q berry han some young lady,
and can manage her mount as we'll as
any man In the Tenth Horse"
So she could; and q lovely picture
she made that afternoon, to more than
her fathers proud eyes, as she dashed
away on the beautiful pony that carried
her youth and beauty.
Her riding habit Of army blue with
the bit Of cavalry yellow at the throat,
together with the little, visorless, un-
dress cap with its crossed sabers and
golden "l0' above them, set of most
effectively the fair face and dainty
form.
'Every inch soldiers daughter"
the fond General thought. as he
watched the gay cavslcade dash past
the oavalry-stables. leaving far behind
the Quartermaster's ''corrals."
To enjoy youth. beauty, and your
sixteenth year, you must be an army
girl in q garrison among the foothills
Of the big Horn" where the air itself
sxhilerates, and life is one long holi-
day!
As Mary bounded along over the
firm yet springy surface of the plain,
abe threw her arms around the brown,
satiny neck Of her mount, and gave that
lately joined member of the regiment q
right girlish hug. ITO think" she
calculated between each embrace,
''that I have a horse of my own. and
can ride as fast as please. o. you
darling!"
Tell me horses can not understand
Why did Brown Bess" raise her
lovely head, and neigh, and fairly fly
over the divide" cutting the air with
her dainty hoofs as though she spurned
70 rest for an instant on the sodp
The kid," so called in virtue Of his
being the youngest officer at McKendell,
and boyish withal. followed after Mary,
vainly endeavoring to overtake her
ladyship. Alas! that gallant member
Of the Generals staff never could ride
save in q heavy. plunging. dragon
fashion. very trying to himself and all
beholders.
With true girlish mischievousness,
Mary spurred Brown Bess to her ut
most speed, and soon passed from the
sight Of her escort. Turning to the
right, she followed the stage route
toward Crazy Woman" situated on
the rivers bank. Along the roadside,
lovely wild-howers were in full bloom;
and such flowersl glowing with color,
and heavy with fragrance. They who
tell US of the baroness and blealness of
the prairie, know nothing OF the gor-
geous bloom which covers Wyoming
Territory In early summer. Dis
mounting, Mary gathered handful Of
the large pink wild-roses, whose golden
hearts distilled fragrance as sweet
and haunting as sandal-wood. Tying
them with the ribbon from her whip
handle as peace-offering to the lid, :"
she waited for his approach.
A rustling OF leaves and the meas
ured fall Of horses hoof, and she
NV, not the crimson face of a Justly
offended cavalry officer. but-an In
dianl Not as fancy, or Cooper. paints
him. but as he looks in the practical
light Of the nineteenth century. He
had on pair Of trousers which must
have been begged, borrowed or stolen
from some soldier at the Post, as the
broad. yellow stripes could be discerned
beneath the coating Of dirt; . gray
flannel shirt and an indescribable dirty