River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-01-15

NO. answered Reginald. coolly, cX-
tracing a cigarette from an embossed
silver case and lighting it, I'm going
with you. Miss Forsythe," he added.
hurriedly, checking an outburst from
the Major with a wave of his shapely
hand, your father has ordered me not
to call on you during his absence, and
have promised to obey him. The only
manner in which l can keep my word
is to- accompany him. Temptation
would be too strong otherwise.
But i will not have it, roared the
Major, irascibly. Il forbid you to go. l
order"
sir" rejoincd the youth. calmly, 81
have bought a ticket and have right
to ride where please. / care nothing
for your orders; you are not yet my IA
ther-in-law."
What the Major might have replied to
this audacious speech there is no know
ing. But at that moment the stentorian
cry of '.All aboard" rang out. The Ma
jor's spinster aunt shriel1ed. Reginald
caught the glOved hand of the weeping
blanche and kissed it fondly. The
maiden cssayed in clumsy and wholly
INDIGENOUS $50 her aunt afterward told
herr manner Il clutch the youth and
kiss him ON the face; but he broke
away. The young man and the elderly
one boarded the train, which glided
slowly out, leaving the two women
weeping disconsolately in each others
arms.
Camp life was decidedly monotonous.
The friendly redskins who swarmed
about the agency told awful stories as
to the malignant and bloOdthirsty in
tent of the hostiles, but the prospect of
an active campaign in the Bad Lands
did not brighten as the days wore on.
Major Forsythe grumbled to Reginald
every day at the lack Of any thing like
action. ANY thing would be better, he
said, than the continuous waiting for
something that never turned up. The
Major. by the way, had become great
friends with Mr.. Daudle, 50 much 50, in
fact. that he had got into the habit of
addressing the young man as Reggie.
Daudles manly bearing on the trip, not
to speak of the imposing figure he cut
in his top boots and spurs, was so ut
terry out of keeping with the air of the
Broadway lOunger that the hardy old
man was charmed in spite of himself.
Neither of the twain ever alluded TO
blanche. The routine of camp duty
kept the Major busy most of the day,
and Reginald. who passed as a mere
tourist or amateur newspaper co.re-
spondent. as the occasion might de-
man1. never alluded. in the most round
about way. to a subject that he in
stinctively felt was forbidden. He per
ceived the extent of his progress in the
good graccs Of the Major, and for the
present that was more than sufficient
for him.
There came a day when action of
some sort, in accordance with the de
vout wish of the Major. seemed imper-
alive 4 band of Sioux had behaved
badly They had attacked the home of
settler. driven the old man and his
family out and set fire to the dwelling
\ company of troopers, with Major
Forsythe in command. was detailed to
capture the duslly marauders and bring
them in, dead or alive.
The company had been absent about
five hours tReginald having hidden an
affectionate farewell to his military
/ AEAGA1u 1AA AAAo ht listd NuA - NAAtAA IL W
Cured to the General in command that
a single company of troopers might not
be strong enough to effect the capture
of possibly four or five hundred angry
Indians He accordingly dispatched a
couple of hundred more men. with in
structions to follow the trail of the
first cor pany and render any assistance
necessary, still under the command of
Major Forsythe.
Reginald. who had managed to make
himself favorite with the military, &C
companied the second detachment.
astride fiery mustang. his whole spirit
afiame with the desire To rescue his ven
cradle friend from any and every mis-
hap that might have befallen him.
Ii was noon of the second day out
when the second detachment of troops
caught up with the first. There was a
cloud of dust and other symptoms of a
misunderstanding. Before Reginald had
time To collect his thoughts he found
himself in the midst of confused mass
of Indians and white men. all scram-
bling and fighting for dear life and yell
ing like so many demons Then il was
that the exquisite of the pave and the
clubs. the pampered idler of patrieian
New York. arose to the occasion. For
some unknown reason he found himself
cursing and swearing like the soldiers,
hacking right and left with the dintcd
old saber which the Major had present
ed him. and diScharging his pair of
brand new revOlvers in every conceiv-
able direction.
sort of groan or gasp. or combina-
tiOn of both. seemingly under his mus
tang's hoOfs, attracted his attention for
a moment. At that instant il seemed
that the cloud of screaming redskins
melted away. and the horde of United
States troopers Numbered away in pur-
suit. The young man peered through
the smoke and dust and there, wonders
Of wonders. was Major Forsythe-but
what a figure he cut.
He was doubled up under his horse.
The animal had been shot in the wind
pipe and was choking to death. The
Major struggled in vain to free himself
and. 10, his head was as bare as turnip.
My God. Major" exclaimed Daudle.
You have been scalpedr'
''Scalped nothing. YOU fOol,'' beloved
the old soldier: that red rascal over
there'-pOinting 10 a rapidly-expiring
red man-'.has grabbed my wig-my
wig sir. Curse You, sir; don't stand
grinning there, but get my wig for me. -
Reginald. down whose cheek stream
of blood from cut in his temple was
flowing. looked every inch soldier. He
drew himself up haughtily, and in
quired:
sir, do You mean To say that You
have been wearing wig all these years
you. who have had the miserable ef-
frontery TO stigmatise Inc as a dudePr
1t is true, Reginald" confessed the
old soldier
''Then, sir, rejoined the youth, stead