The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-10

cabin in the bright moonlight, discussing plans
for the future and building those airy castles
IN space as lovers arc wont; but heard from
the Adjutant yesterday that one had been Or
dered TO Harker from Fort Leavenworth, un-
der an escort OF a squadron of the 9Th Cav.
They viii he up in a couple Of weeks, and when
he arrives we viii get married immediately.
Eh, darling, pleadingly continued Jack
Susie blushingly assented TO Harris importu-
nifty, and then he told her that he had saved
enough 70 stock a rancho and build a house,
that he proposed 10 leave the Government en-
plOy as soon as they were married, take up a
claim" on the Elkhorn near her fathers, so
that he would not be separated from her at all
or She from her family. Then Jack alter eau
1 tiOning RCaume, who had long before given has
/ consent 20 the proposed match. 10 keep sharp
/ lookout for Indians started about midnight on
bis lonely ride back 10 Fort Harker, where he
was obliged 20 I've carly the next morning
Jack arrived at the post long before daylight
and went 10 bed When he reported TO the
/ commanding officer the next morning, imme-
diatcly after guard mount much to.his disgust,
/ now that he was in love, he found himself
ordered TO guide scouting party composed OF
/ four companies Of the 9TH Cav, commanded by
Col. Keogh, to the region Of Pawnee Rock and
the Great Bend Of the Arkansas 20 miles TO
the southwest Of HaTker, where the kiowas,
under the leadership Of the dreaded Chief
cessfuly rading the overland coaches aud the
freight caravans 90 New Mexico.
The command 20 which Hart was attached
remained away, having occasional brushes with
the Indians, for several weeks. During its
absence the allied tribes had become excessive
/ ly impudent and threatening. They culmi-
mated their atrocities IN q most hendish and
/ cruel massacre Of the settlers on Spilman
| Creek, upon the receipt Of the news Of which
/ the Government determined 20 inaugurate an
! extended campaign against them, In which
/ Gen. Sheridan was 20 take the field in person,
with such famous lndian-fghtcrs for his Lieu
tenants rs Gems. Sully, Custer, Carr, and others.
/ Consequently all scouting parties were called
! IN 10 their respective stations by courier, 10
| prepare for the impending great conflict.
Of course, the moment Hart returned 10
! Fort Harker, be made preparations TO leave
! for the ranch at Twin Mounds and the girl
who had so photographed herself on the tablets
/ OF his memory. ii was early the next morn
ing after his arrival at the post he had shaved,
! put on new suit purchased from the suffer,
aud otherwise made himself presentabe after
bis long scout. But be had hardly cinched the
saddle on TatOnka before an Orderly came 10
The corral and informed him that the com
manding officer desired his presence at once.
/ So Jack, with terribly depressed feelings and
/ mentally damuing his luck mounted his horse
aud rode slowly up 10 Headquarters where he
! found the General standing on the porch wait
| ing 10 receive him.
Jack" said he, as the scout dismounted,
\ I'm awfully sorry TO be compelled 10 call
I upon you 70 make another trip right away,
/ when you have just returned from such long
one. but the fact is, there's not another scout
! at the post; they are all away. ] want you 10
! start Immediately for the Saline. Part Of the
| 9th Cav. are en- route from Fort Saunders here,
and will probably reach the ford northwest Of
! Fort Hays some time today. II is now only
6 O'clock" looking at his watch Won can
reach there as soon rs they do or before, il you
i start now. So 20 at once and guide them In.
They don't know anything about that country
on the river You remember how terribly
broken il is out there. Here arc some dis
patches you are TO give to whomever you find
In command" And he handed the scout a
small package Of papers.
All right, sir" replied Hart, as be put the
bundle in the breast-pocket Of his blue flannel
/ shirt. Pm off now, as sOOn as ] 90 20 my
/ quarters for my saddle-bags and my carbine"
With sad heart, as lie cast his eyes on the
/ blue cones Of the Twin Mounds looming up so
suRgestyely Of the rancho at their base, Jack
/ left the post in a few minutes after his inter-
view with Gen. Sully. fully mindful Of the re-
/ sponsibe duty entrusted 10 him. Hart made
excellent time. lie was anxious TO get back as
! soon rs possible. BY o'clock he had crossed
othor side Of where the handsome little village
Of sylvan to-day ncstles SO picturesquely in the
/ wealth OF woods surrounding he met the troops,
! 70 whose commander he reported and delivered
/ his dispatches He returned with them 10 the
river, whore, as il was now past 3, the COM
mand went into camp Tor the night
After grazing TatOnka for half an hour feed
! ing him some corn, and eating his own dinner
tho thought suddenly struck Jack 10 ask per,
mission 10 90 over 10 the rancho az the foot Of
the Twin Mounds, whose dual peaks were
plainly visible only - miles away % the south
east as the crow flies. The Colonel cordially
granted Jacks request. lie promised to join
the column on the trail early IN the morning
before it had marched any great distance then
at the commanding officers suggestion, Jack
/ drew IN the sand with has finger a rough map
OF The route to Fort Harkcr, experimenting il
/ by pointing out certain divides and lodges Of
rock that could plainly be seen on the trail
from where the Colonel aud the scout stood.
When Jack had finished he left the camp for
the spot where he had given his heart more
than two months before, his soul filed with
rapture az the prospect OF soon meeting again
the gentle girl he loved.
His horse was "a medium sized lr0nchO, full
Of power aud endurance, which he knew could
make Reaumos ranch in three hours easily
4 That would bring him there about z o'clock, Ia
| time for supper, aud more than an hour and q
half before dark. So be struck a Decline for
the Mounds his feelings better imagined than
described; an ecstasy indcGnable except "a
those whose experience has been similar 10 that
Of the overhappy scout.
The sun was just sinking below the horizon
when Jack arrived at the Eikhorn, in the i'm.
mediate vicinity Of the rancho A Good Of golden
light poured into the beautiful little valley a,
he crossed the ford and entered the circular
grove in the middle Of which Rcaume haG
built his log-cRbin and cOrrals. As be rode
toward the place where the cluster Of rude hut,
should be his eyes, which were ordinarily M
keen aud AS bright as an eagles. suddenly flied
for hC looked upon a scene that caused his brouz,
checks 10 biancA and an exclamation OF horror
10 escape his lips The cabin was roohcss, and
the green timber composing its sides and cudi
was stll slowly burning.
"Chcycuues, he muttCred with set teeth, a
he uusiung his carbiue spurrcd his horse for
ward, while prayer for the safety Of the gin
he loved was formulated IN his brain. WheF
he reached the opening where the once happy
home was 50 plctaTC gucly located he drew az
Oh The rains and a. Iat0uka stoppcd a deer
Proan escaped Jack. Lying under the mighty
trees close 10 the ruins OF The cabin, were ID,
EcaIpcd and muiiIWca remains Of keaume and
DIS four youngest children.
But where was Susie, the woman he loved
Daz.d aud stUpriicd Tor a moment. Jack began
10 search for her bodyl She was not with m,
rest ot the murdered family "Oh my God b
be crIc3 H his agony has she been saved lo
a fate worse than death Carried OF "A miscra
bic captive among the s0ulloss sagagcsT Grca
God, no! j cannot think Of IT, Sooner wOuIl
i see her here dead with the others!"