The Washington critic. (Washington City, D.C.) 1890-1890, 1890-02-14
SHE REACHED THE FORT.
Bo Laura canfeid Splao1r Ftsunaln.

them, at frontier post in West.
II was winters night wind, snow aud
cold were without, but in the log hut
bright fire blazed upon the open hearth,
and the bare room was made IN sense
homeike by rugs stretched over tho planl,
lloor and photographs of fine pictures
pinned upon the walls.
The regiment was particularly dull one.
Not young girl in the post aud the wives
Of the senior officers we're women who
looked upon life from a serious aud practi-
cal point Of view. Mails came irregularly,
the Indians were quiet, dullness reigued.
But now ripple stirred the placid waters.
The Colonel's widowed sister had arrived.
She was barely %; she was childless aud
rich IN this worlds goods.
"What do you think of the Colonel's
sister2n said one of the officers.
"What do think OF her? ! think that
she has the saddest pair of eyes ever saw"
said another.
"Just my thoughtH'
"And mineh
"l made this same remark to the Coloue's
wife" said the first speaker, land she told
me she thought II best to tell me Mrs. War
denis story, so that we might all be the
more careful in keeping away from subjects
in her presence which might bring back to
her the sad experiences of her pastn
Hettie Ransom met, while visiting her
brother, an officer named Warden. He
was man of independent means, and on
his marriage resigned his commission. But
before year had passed longing for the
freedom OF frontier life was so strong upon
him that he easily persuaded his wife TO
try ranch life.
They found beautiful tract of land,
rich in soil and with excellent water sup
plies, To he sure, their eastern friends
cried out that they were "taking their lives
in their hands" Did they not realize that
they were going into a section of the coun-
try where Indians were within a days
march of them?
''Yes,n Warden said, ~ realize this, but
the Indians are us harmless as a flock of
sheep, aud besides the ranch is only twenty
miles from Fort -n
The Wardens built themselves com
Portable house and were fortunate in secur-
ing burly Dutchman and his plethoric
frau for servants.
Mrs. Warden was an excellent horse
woman and good shot, so they enjoyed
long rides about the country and seldom
came home without wcll-filled game bag.
AS have said, their nearest neighbors
were at the fort-tweuty miles beyond
that is, neighbors of their sort, for here and
there between were lands worked by
Swedish and Danish bomesteaders.
AT the close of the first year child--a
little girl-was born. When this child
was about months old Warden found 1t
necessary to attend to some legal matters
and to do this there must be ride of 100
miles.
Warden felt no fear in leaving his wife,
yet when he stood on the doorstep ready
to start he said to her:
"I1ettie, If any trouble should come,
have the team put to the big wagon and
make for the fort. Take the north fork
| trail, and be sure to have your pistols
| loaded and plenty of reserve shots at hand,
and If the red devils should make escape
| impossible, put the muzzle first to baby's
breast and then to your own
His wife laughed and told him she had
no fears.
"Neithern said he, '.have |, but for all
that, remember, sweetheart" and then he
rode away.
! week passed, and late one afternoon
| the German, Johann, came into the room
| where Mrs. Warden was sitting with her
baby in her arms. His ruddy face was SO
blanched that it took no words to tell that
something had happened And this was
what he had to tell: A few minutes before
"Bob," miserable half breed, to whom
both Mr.. and Mrs. Warden had shown
many kindnesses, had appeared suddenly in
the barn, given Johann message for Mrs.
| Warden, and then as suddenly departed as
he had come. He told Johann:
"a train of emigrant wagons is on the
! Ndllty IOdu An aJbdch is plduueu. III Is
| known that Mr.. Warden is aWay from
home. If the Indians find liquor there is no
telling what they would do next, and Mrs.
Warden had better try for the fort as soon
! as night closes i'm
With all speed Mrs. Warden made her
preparations, obeying her husbands in-
structions except as regarded the horses.
SADDLE Kitty and Dan,' she said to
Johann, and when he grumbled that "Kitty
could never pull with Dan," the quiet look
| on his mistress face made him go out rather
sullenly to do her bidding.
When the last bars of the early spring
twilight has quite faded out Of the sky the
perilous journey to the fort began. For an
hour or more the wagon dragged its way
along the narrow, steep road, the wheels
sinking deep into the mud that the many
warm rains had made.
Suddenly Johann held up the horses,
and, with Ii moan of ''Mien Gott, we are
lostp' began to cross himself and humble
rapid prayers, while his wife wrung her
hands and sobbed aloud.
Down in the valley far below them the
gloom was broken by sudden bright light.
They were too far away to distinguish
sounds, but they knew the work of murder
and pillage had begun; knew that mothers
tears and little childrep's cries would only
add zest and pleasure to the savage
revelry. Holding her baby close to
her breast, Mrs. Warden tried to
shut out for a moment every passing
fear as she asked for higher guidance, and
in that moment the German and his wife
| flying to evils that they knew not Of
abandoned the wagon and took to the
timber. Left utterly alone, there was but
one thing to do. Laying her baby among
the straw, Mrs. Warden climbed out of the
wagon and embarrassed her little mare
| Kitty.
Tho orncefu1 GRO aturn caan,ad nc oonSoious
OF all that was transpiring as though she
| possessed human soul. She did not
whinny at the sight and touch of her mis-
tress' hand.
She only rubbed her cool nose against
Mrs. Warden's cheek and then stood very
! still. Whea the embarrassing was accom-
| plshed Mrs. Warden put her arms about
Kitty's neck.
"Kitty,n said she, ''you are my only
hope; Kitty, you must carry baby and me
to the fort; we shall have to creep along
edge of the timber 1--WE might be seen on
: the traill. Walk with mu1led hoofs, Kitty,
+ save baby and me-"
All through the long starless night the
mother, holding her child wrapped closely
under her cloak, with no rein but the silken
name of Kitty to guide with, rode for life.
She will never forget how quietly the
baby slept, how carefully the little mare
| picked her way through the underbrush,
looking back now and then as much as to
say "Take heart, day and help are both
coming
In the early morning q company Of men
from the fort, TO the rescue bound, came
upon Mrs. Warden. She was numb with
WEAKNESS, faint with the effort she had
made, the strain she had undergone; but
her mother-lOye knew no sense of tired
ness
''Baby is safe and warm under my
cloak she said; ''she has been so good
and has nestled and slept all the way.n
They took the child from her arms and
found that it was dead.