The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-11-13

"eie COVERED Win a broad slouch nat, and
he carried a small valiS8 in his band.
Blanche gasped. Her aunt pursed up
her lips and said nothing, The Major
gulped a couple of times, recovered himself
and then suffered: Good of you-very
good of you, my boy; come to see me of,
eb?"
No." answered Reginald cooIly, ex-
tracing a cigarette from an embossed sill
yer case and lighting it, I'm going with
you. Miss Forsythe," he addedhurriedly.
checking an outburst from the Major with
a wave of bis shapely band, your father
has ordered me not to call on you duling
his absence, and have promised to obey
him. The only manner in which | can keep
my word is to accompany him. Tempta-
ton would be too strong other8i se."
But will not have itr' roared the
Major, irascibly. "Iforbid you to go. l
order"
"sir," r%ejoined the youth, calmly, 81
have bought a ticket and have a right TO
ride where please. l care nothing for
your orders; you are not yet my father.in
law"
What the Major might have replied to
this audacious speech there's no knowing.
But at that moment the stentorian cry of
"An abeard!o rang out. The Majors
spinster aunt shrieked. Reginald caught
the gloyed hand of the weeping Blanche
aud kissed it fondly. The maiden essayed
in a clumsy and wholly i~ndecorous $50 her
aunt afterWard told herr manner 70 clutch
the youth and kiss hin on the face: but lie
broke away. The young man and the
elderly one boarded the train, which glided
slowly out, leaving the two women weep
ing disconsolately in each others arms.
Camp life was decidedly m-onotonous.
The friendly redskins who swarmed about
the agency told awful stories as to the ma
lignant and bloodthirsty intent of the hos
tiles. but the prospect of an active campaign
in the Bad Lands did 10 brighten as the
days wore on. Major FoIsythe grumbled
to Reginald every day at the lack Of any
thing Ike action. Anything would be
better, be said, than the continuous waiting
for something that never turned up. Tie
Major, by the way, had become great
friends, With Mr.. Daudle, SO much SO, in
fact, that be had got into the habit of ad-
dressing the young man as Reggie.
Daudle's manly bearing on the trip, not
to speak Of the imposing figure lie cut in
bis top boots and spurs. vas so utterly out
OF Keeping with the air of the Broadway
%lounger that the hearty 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
correspondent. as the occasion might de-
msnd, never alluded, ii. the most rounda-
bout way,to a subject that he instiuctfyely
felt was forbidden. He perceived the ex-
tent of bis progress in the good graces of
the Major, and for the present that was
more than sufficient for Lin.
There came a day when action Of some
sort, in accordance with the devout wish of
the Major, seemed imperative. A band Of
Sioux had behaved badly. They had at
tackled the home of a settler, driven the old
man and bis family out and set fire to the
dwelling. A company of troopers, with
Major Forsythe in command, was detailed
to capture the dusky mara uders and bring
them in, dead or alive.
The company had been absent about five
hours (Reginald having hidden an affec-
tionate farewell to his military friend on
his departure) when it occurred TO the Gen
eral in command that a single company of
troopers might not he strong enough to
effect the capture of possibly four or five
hundred angry Indians. He accordingly
dispatched a couple of hundred more men,
with instructions to follow the trail of the
first company and render any assistance
necessary, still under the command of Ma
jor ForsYtbe.
Reginald, who had managed to make
himself a favorite with the military, ac-
c~ompanied the second detachment, astride
a fiery mustang, his whole spirit aiame
with the desire TO rescue his venerable
friend from any and every mishap that
might have befallen him.
1t 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 misunderstand-
ing. Before Reginald had time to collect
his thoughts he found himself in the midst
of a confused mass of Indians and white
men, all scrambling and fighting for dear
life and yelling like so many demons.
Then it 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 him
self cursing and swearing like the soldiers,
hacking right and left with the dented old
saber which the Major had presented him,
and diseharging his pair OF brand new re-
volvers in every conceivable direction.
A sort Of groan or grasp. or combination
of both, seemingly under his mustang
hoofs, attracted his attention for a moment,
At that instant it seemed that the cloud OF
screaming redskins melted away, and the
- r TT.s4aI G.o+ar trNanars thupderel