San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-22

was almost Uenuer. Inc mare ruUUou ner
nose gently against his breast and the man
stood softly stroking her delicate neck.
Unlocking the chains, they dropped. Burr
walked toward the well. The mare, with
dainty steps, arched neck and fiecking tail,
followed behind him, or, caressingly adj
vancing TO his side, rubbed her body
against his, as though the mere contact
with the man was grateful to her. His
arm instinctively lifted and dropped across
her neck.
The two walked on together unconscious
of any incongruity. A bucket of water
stood at the well. The high bred creature
smelt of it, and detecting my previous
presence. disdainfully refused to drink af-
ter me. Emptying the bucket Burr drew
another, and of this the mare drank slow
ly, her white face gradually sinking into
the shallow vessel. All across the parade,
on the return to the stable, the love scene
was pe-enacted AS they passed me the
mare showed her aversion to a stranger by
laying back her, ears and thrusting out her
white toothed muzzle toward me in vi
cious manner, causing me to step hastily
back. They passed into the darkness of
the stable.
Burr comes out with a bucket, puts up
the topmost chain and goes after barley.
The mare with outstretched head looks af-
ter him with kind eyes. Again she saw
me, and with wide opened mouth reached
around the post to pay me the attention of
her dislike. Returning to the stable with
a full bucket of barley Burr passed in. /
heard him pour the grain into the feed
box; heard him speak to his mare as his
dear girl" and heard him-kiss her.
A singular gentleness had come over this
hard man, steeled to human suffering and
woe, whose business it was to impoverish
Indians, to destroy their morals, to brutify
them with the devil alcohol. He sat at the
breakfast table, silently thinking, with his
antelope steaks and trout untasted before
him. Watching the softened face won
dered what was the story. So | asked:
Burr, why do you love that white
mare?" He looked kindly at me, and with
q sad smile replied:
Tonight, after the men are in bed.
Will tell you the story linen orisKiy:
Frank, this is not business. Eat, my boy,
then clear out, and fish or hunt. You will
find some prairie hens in the big willow
thicket about five miles below here. saw
them the other day. Shoot some. Tonight
we will have a feast, and l will open my
two last bottles of sherry, and we will
| talk"
His face hardened. The cold, deadly look
returned to the gray eyes, and our break
fast was soon finished.
Shouldering my rife l stepped out Of
the stockade and slowly walked down the
valley. On the distant hillsides antelope
grazed; down the valley before me l could
see few deer running for cover to the will
lows by the stream. Now and then a
grouse rose before me and flew rapidly
| away. Resisting all temptation to shoot
at anything walked steadily on.
Climbing hill l sat on rock and mus
ingly gaZed at the vast plains to the north
east, at the foothills of the range and at
the rugged. rocky range beyond. | love
| the Rocky mountains, and never tire of
| their face. wasted hours in looking and
| in thinking of the many tales had heard
| of the range.
When the sun was high above me
started for the willows. There / neatly
shot the heads off of six grouse. Then
jointing "A light trout pole l whipped the
clear pools of the south fork of the Teton,
and was soon rewarded by a string Of fine
half pound trout. Then came the pleasant
walk back through the cool dry air and
over the crispy grass of the north. What
a luxury life was in the valley of the Teton.
l turned my spoils over to the smiling In
dian woman who acted as cook for Burr
The rest of the day spent on horseback
running antelope with a lot of half blood
Indians. At s O'Clock supper was eaten
The sherry was brought out, and ! scat
tered on the table handful my last, of
Rosa COnchas that had never paid duty,
and as we sat smoking Burr told me this
story:
I'm the fall of 1868 thought it might be
profitable to start a trading post in the
Yellowstone valley. Learning from the
Blackfeet that the Sioux were camped on
the south side of the river, determined to
ride over and see what arrangements
could make with them.
81 crossed the Belt mountains, and rid
ing down the valley was soon at their
camp, | on the north side of the river, they
on the south. | sat on my horse and hailed
the camp No answer could see plenty
Of Indians walking about, and again
hailed No answer. | shouted myself
hoarse. and the only notice taken of me
was by an old buck, who walked to the
river bank, looked at me, made an insult
ing gesture and slowly walked off. went
there to trade, and, having got angry at
the treatment, though well knew that
ought to leave the valley at once, l. like a
fool. resolved to cross the stream and brave
the danger.
80 forded and rode into camp spoke
to no one, no one spoke to me. The sullen
braves turned their backs OH me as rode
up the street The young girls looked curl.
ously at me. Riding slowly along cooled
rapidly saw that was not wanted, and
L.. ,onl;,aI bot I ,ros -, Dan