Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-11-07

the majors wound-and I certainly
looked for a reply of some sort yester-
day.
1.-THE wires are down both east and
west, I'm told-cut by 'friendlies' at the
reservation, very probably. No dispatch
has passed either way since Yesterday
answered the colonel. "Rolfe's must
have come before that. Possibly we
will have later news when the sergeant
rides back tonight gave him an order
to get any kilograms that might have ar
rived for the regiment. What time does
know, doctor?''
Somewhere about three, sir, but
fear there will be no mail for us for a
day or two. Old hands here say it is
madness to FACE a Dakota blizzard on
the open prairie, and some of the officers
think we are in for gale, to say the
least
ssWell, Brewster said the colonel
kindly, sSyour statement is all that
was needed to put an end to any idea
that you knew all about Ellis before his
enlistment. Of course | shall have to
look into Captain Rolfe's charges against
him; but say nothing about the matter
for the present.
The cavalry trumpet, weird and fitful
on the wings of the gale, was sounding
first call for retreat as Brewster left the
colonel's tent and started down the gem
tie slope to join his troop. Already the
snow flakes sgere driving almost hori.
zontally with the biting wind, and il.
the rapidly gathering gloom the men
came budding from their rude shelters,
and bundled to the ears in their great
coats stood stamping and swinging their
arms, impatient to have roll call over
and done with. The colonel came forth
moment later, and together he and
Holden tramped over to the turf walled
structure in which their wounded com
rade lay. The air was now SO thick
with snow that objects hundred yards
distant were blurred and those beyond
entirely obscured. Holden softly I'm
strapped and raised the canvas flap and
poked his fur capped head within the
aperture.
ssSleeping?" he queried of the hospital
attendant.
Sleeping Ike baby, SIR" whispered
the soldier, as he tiptoed to the entrance.
over an hour. and then he just dropped
away, and the captain left at first call.
ssThat's capital" said Holden, turning
to the chief. He has worried SO over
the effect the news might have on hi.
wife that | couldn't get him to slee..
Now, If we can only tide him over uni
morning and ii this beastly gale wi
only subside, we'll have good news fo.
him.
ssWell, don't let Rolfe get near him,
said Farquhar with quiet smile. 'sThere
isn't better duty officer in all tic
Twelfth, but somebody has to suppress.
him once ii awhile"
HE ought to be married." laughed
Holden in reply.
That night when the trumpets pealed
tattoo the musicians braced their backs
against the clustering northwest and
blew as best they could, though Boreas
strove to silence their lustiest effort, and
no trooper on the windward side could
hear note. Over the whistle and howl
of the gale, far out on the desolate prairie,
far to the southeast, however, the stir
ring, welcoming, hope-reviving strain
was borne to the frozen ears of a solitary
ding him pluck up courage. rouse him.
self to renewed effort, and once more
plunge forward into the blackness of the
night
So long as he kept the gale in his bat
tered face, SO long would he be strug
Cling toward comrades and shelter.
Staggering, stumbling, sometimes crawl
ing a few PAGES on hands and knees,
sometimes turning his back to the icy
blast and gasping for breath, sometimes
burying his face in his arms, sometimes
stretching those arms aloft to heaven
and lifting up silent prayer for help,
for strength, he had struggled on afoot
long after abandoning his fallen and
crippled horse. No reckoning light, no
glimmering star to guide, only the rude
buffets of the cruel, pitiless blast, the
singing, biting, thrashing of the snow
pelting him like small shot, to point the
way, yet savagely to beat him back-tO
bid him face and force them, yet furious
to overwhelm and down. Weak and ex-
hausted, he had well nigh abandoned the
last vestige of hope, and wailing cry
went moaning aloft from his cracked
and frozen lips: ssGod in heaven guide
me; bear me up; give me strength. tits
not for myself, but those poor women.
God in mercy hear me. God in pity
answer"
And over the wrath and fury of the
mad hurricane, triumphing above the
shrek and howl of the TEMPEST, ringing
like the voice of archangel through the
vault of the storm dashed skies, Gods
answer came The divine pity, riding