San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-06

admrauon TOR me, wreck as I was, seemed
unbounded; and from that moment, during
the hot months which followed, Vita and
were almost inseparable hung at her side
on many ride over the prairie among her
Indian neighbors, and great was their inter
est In me-''ths little piece Of paper which
folds" as they called me- never could re-
press a creeping sensation in regard to these
Home Missionary pets, particularly when
saw them dressed-or undressed-for their
dances; but my artistic eye appreciated
their tepees, patched and smoke stained,
with their long poles sticking out Of the
black opening up into the sky. And their
poetical domestic life, it was charming to OBJ
serve; the noble Hiawathas doing the work
If pipe smoking, while the aged Minnehahas
amused themselves toying with the hoe
among the waving corn, or wrestling with
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 had no fear Of the hall
civilized Sioux, she being good shot,
bold rider and a liberal dispenser OF tobacco
and candy.
One day as we approached the homo Of
1.-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
young traveller, a white man, while trying to
ride a pony which he was trading for, bad
been thrown and kicked by the unbroken
colt, and was lying in a 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 Vita's warm sympathies were touched
by his pallid, suffering face, and she immedi-
ately arranged to have him conveyed to her
home.
Weeks passed These weeks were the bust
est ever experienced in my checkered career.
From morning till night, and, in fact, often
through the entire night, was in constant
motion. Some one had to watch the sick
man continually, and l 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 was a mutual recognition. With
out a word he grasped at me-ah, what a
food Of tender recollections l brought back
to himl-and great was Vita's astonishment
as he pressed me to his lips, and his first
words were to ask how came there Then
she, in amazement at his demonstrations,
explained that | had been sent to her by
cousin in New York. He, with that charac-
teristic thoughtfulness so prominent in man.
kind, without stopping to express word of
gratitude to tue patient, worn face that for
weeks had tended him so faithfully-he, weak
as he was, attempted to dictate a letter-and
such aletter, fairly glowing with love and I'M
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
formerly he had so despised. Well, I too,
relented. 1t is so delightful to meet an old
acquaintance who has been as unfortunate
as ones self.
By his dictation I learned that the note
from him which I had concealed for forty
eight hours was Of such a tender character
that he, receiving no reply, took silence for a
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 as he grew
stronger he'd sit up in bed and talk for hours
Of her to poor Vita. Finally, as his health
returned, they took long rides together
through the romantic paths on the reserva-
ton; they attended Indian dances, collected
bead work and carved pipes; at other times
whole days were passed on the lake, under
the impression that they were fishing.
And thus weeks few by and the letter
never came Yes, they still talked Of it; it
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,
toned, what far away sound their voices
had, and then their voices would fall upon
them with great, heavy thud
Isoon 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
dreaded letter. And Vita-well, it was evil
dent she took care not to be present on the
arrived of the stage.
No matter how animated conversation
they might be engaged in, just let any one
casually refer to the postotfice, and how the
light seemed to fade-how dark and gloomy
everything suddenly appeared Even l
felt it.
1t was sunset-such 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 rapid
approaching with a letter in his hand. The
first notice they had of his presence was
yhen thu lettar was tossed IN him r. was