Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-08-22
HER FEARS GROUNDLESS.
Mrs. Browns Experience In the In
dian Territory.

town in Texas. bound for Muskogec.
the then terminus of the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas Railroad.
The occupants OF the coach were
CAPTAIN and Mrs. Brown. bound for
the East on six months leave Of alb
seuce. two native Texans and two gen.
tlemen from the East who had been
travelling through Texas Ia the inter-
est of somo laud scheme aud sheep
farms.
On stopping for dinner and change
of horses, another passenger entered
the coach and took the vacant seat in
front OF Mrs. Brown--a tall figure,
with swarthy complexion and stern
face. He was dressed in n suit OF
black cloth, broad-brimmed hat aud
a grey blanket over his shoulders.
IAN Indian" whispered Mrs. Brown.
as she instinctivcly drew near her hus-
band. who occupied with her the rear
seat of the coach.
Soon the gentlemen from tho East
eager for information, began plying
the newcomer with questions. The
answers came slowly with that pre-
cision OF pronunciation which shows
not thorough knowledge OF the Ian
guage, and soon every ear was intent
upon catching what the Indian had to
tell of his people, till tho night came
on. bringing with 1t indications of
storm, which soon broke in fury upon
them. The windows of the coach were
closed to keep ont the driving rain.
and the darkness inside was relieved
only by the lightning. which came at
longer intervals. until the rain settled
down in n quiet drlzzle.
The conversation had ceased when
the rain began. and one by one the
passengers slept.
Mrs. Brown. however. was not as
leep. She opened the window and
looked out. The long thin rays OF
light, thrown forward on the road by
the lanterns on the front OF the stage.
made thu darkness blacker in the rear
aud she shuddered rs she Withdrew
her head. afraid of she knew not what.
Her husband was sound asleep by her
side. Soon she discovered that an
other passenger was awake. the Indian.
During the afternoon she had watched
him with interest. and had not failed
TO note the size OF his wrists. which
seemed enormous. though his hands
were rather small and shapely. She
had wondered how many scalps he
had taken, and how long since he had
discarded the headdrcss of feathers for
the broad -brimmed hat aud had ceased
% paint his face. In imagination she
cow felt his hands about to seize her
,hroat, those hands which had torn off
MANY scalps. She drew nearer to her
husband put her arm through his.
hoping the movement would wakeu
him. but he slept on. The coach
came to stop; voices were heard out
side. and light flashed through the
window full on the face of Mrs. Brown.
She uttered low cry.
Don't be frightened. madam" said
the Indian. in low voice: 1T is
,nly the down coach. 1t must be near
iavbreak"
Mrs. Brown made no reply, and the
stage rumbled on again in the dark
ness which now seemed all tho black
sr Not sound was heard save the
steady drip, drip, drip Of the rain.
Slowly the night wore away. and
not until the signs of dawn were in
The east did Mrs. Brown relinquish her
vigils. aud slept until the stage stop
ped for breakfast at a large stone
house, modern in style, with nicely
kept grounds. Vines covered the low
piazza; an air of comfort and refine
ment pervadcd the entire place. The
parlor was neat and comfortably fur
nished-a cabinet organ. bookcase
tiled with books, fancy work here and
there.
No Que was visible about the house
save tho proprietor, who came In few
moments to announce breakfast OF
broled chicken. eggs. potatoes, coffee
and delicious bread and butter. While
waiting on the piazza after breakfast
one of the gentlemen from the East
asked:
Where are the Indians in this part
Of the country? l haven't seen any
vet; except the half-breeds we have im
the stage with u.s."
The proprietor smiled as he replied:
II am an Indian. SIR"
lis that SOP" replied the gentleman;
and do you own this placer"
This is my house. and | have here
q largo farm. White people are
usually surprised in passing through
the Territory not to see Indians, with
tomahawks and war paint; but white
peoplc know little about the Indian"
The country through which the
stage now passed was dotted here and
there with comfortable dwellings,
beautiful farms. and line woodlands.
Occasionally small village, with
streets, neat and clean. cottages,
stores and carpenter shops would he
passed, and it was hard for the travel
ers 10 realize they were among In
dams.
Late in the afternoon the stage en-
tered village aud stopped for a
change OF horses. A bcvy OF Indian
girls In picturesque dresses o bright
colors gathered around thd coach.
One. beautiful woman. h dark
starry eyes. hair rs black and ossY N
the ravens wing. with briGh(
woven among the braids nrt
coiled about the shapely head
forward with plate Of small
which she gave the Indian paS
aud stood talking to him in
musical voice until the stage
on again. The Indian watclie(
she stood looking after the co
til turn Ia the road hid the
from view Then. turning
Brown and Offering her cake
'sThat woman was my
years ago, but we could not
PLY together; so the Govcrnoi
could live apart. Now she
and my home Is nj Muskogee.
yet YOU must be friends.
makes these cakes for you"
.'Oh. yes, we are good frien
she always has cakes for me
pass this way; but wc couldI
quietly together" he answered
voice full Of sadness. aud Mrs.