Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-23
THE MESSAGE.

and the most delightfully."- sentimental mes
sages clicked through all my dreams. The
telegram which contained our sentence OF
exile from Fort William-that is the way
had learned to regardit-came early on the fol-
lowing morning. and the major at once deter
mined to start in the afternoon and make camp
on the river about fifteen miles distant.
was beginning to feel quite seriously on the
subject of Miss Sainton, whom / had at first
approached in spirit of criticism, so that there
was more regret than relief when received
marching orders. She said goodbye to me
with copious tears, which afterward learned
to fear were lightly shed. and set forth with
delicately moist little handkerchief in my
breast pocket as a souvenir. All, how quickly
they dry these tears,
The name of the stream on whose banks we
camped that night is synonymous with heat
sand, malaria, Indians and mosquitoes and we
found it with all its most unpleasant features
conspicuous. the Indians to be sure, were
only few hideous squaws from a neighboring
friendly band, begging watches and tobacco
but the mosquitoes were with us in force and
we knew that rattlesnakes lurked in the rank
and unwholesome underground. l was in some
what OF melting mood. SO when the major
produced cribbage board by the evening
smudge consented to play with him. though
il is not game to which 1 am addicted. Fur
ther, let my thoughts wander back to Fort
William, and when we parted for our respective
tents the major was cackling over repeated
victories.
went to sleep promptly, as is the custom of
youth and health, and / was first aroused to
consciousness some hours later by the terrific
noise Of a tropical storm. MY tent fly was
fastened back and the rain was driven in upon
me in torrents. The lightning was binding
and the thunder echoed deafeningy from hill
to hill. The sentry who was walking before
our tents paused to exchange remarks with me
about the storm, and the major and shouted
at each other as to the condition Of our tents
and clothes i'll the matter of humidity. We
were both drenched and the major was very I'M
happy. But as the storm did not threaten any
direct danger to the United States funds he
could not be less philosophical than /, and
presently we both subsidized with the storm.
wrapped the very simple drapery of my couch
about me. imagined myself soldier and re-
signed myself to inevitable discomfort. while /
unused on the gentle words the telegraph had
whispered to me last night
so muslng, again went to sleep, and having
no idea at what time the thunder had first
awakened me. l do not know how long l slept
returned to consciousness slowly when next
awahed. and lay with my eyes shut, pleasantly
aware OF my surroundings. The storm had re-
coded. 1Le lightning WAS faint, and the thun-
der but distant. soothing rumble. The odor
OF the wet earth reached me agreeably think
must have been lspsinS into sleep again, when
a Succession Of light sounds at my very ear de-
tached themselves from the noise OF the retreat
ing storm. In my condition of semi-c onscious-
ness imagined, or rather felt. that was listen
ing TO the ticking of Miss Sainton's messages,
on which / had been meditating. but soon,
memory and reason asserting themselves, l
realized that it was merely the water dripping
from the branches of cottonwood
which overhung my tent, on to q tin bucket
which had overturned beside my ten. when
speaking to the sentinel But L listened in
spite of myself, and. though OF course lacking
the characteristic click of the instrument. those
sounds were consecutive, do: and dash follow
ing each other Enthusiastically.