Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-11
THOUGHT MESSAGES.
A Captains Son Sees the Death of His Father
Who l. Away With Custer.

Captains Son Sees the Death Of His Father
Who Il Away With Custer.
From Hsrper's Weekly.
Among the many curious instances Of SEEM
ing seeond-sisht may be placed the following
incident Of that saddest tragedy of modern
days-the death of Custer and his gallant fol-
lowers:
The love existing between Capt. Blank and
his blue-eyed, golden-curled boy, little BUS
ter, the pet and darling of the whole garrison
was something to be remembered Wherever
the TIL. soldierly figure Of the young fcther was
TO be seen, unless duty, that Of the child
WIS sire to be close beside, sometimes riding on
his fathers shoulder. sometimes cllnging to his
hand. always lifting to his eyes full Of pas
slonate love and content.
When the dreaded dav came that WIS to sepa-
rata those fearless men from the women and
children who 50 loved them, Buster could
hardly be torn from his father and nv hrls-
band told NE shat long after the child's shrek
or utter misery, unchildike in its intensity
rang In its ears. For some DAYS after the COM
mand had marched scross the low purple hills,
out of the reach OF loving eyes. Buster drooped
and pinned, but he was a child, and the old
childish gayety came back to his eyes, and his
laugh, which rang out dc happily as ever,
almost Earring upon his young mothers ear.
One warm June day at Fort Lincoln Mrs
Blank sat sewing IN her tiny parlor. her baby
creeping about the floor at her feet while she
chatted with two or three more lonely wives,
perhaps OF the beloved ones far OF across the
plains and their possible return. Suddenly
Buster rushed in through the open door, eyes
Sparkling, hair flying.
Mamma, he shouted. my papa's s'ooting
his 'yolveT! i heard him"
did YOU, darling?" his young mother said,
stopping TO kiss The little flushed, eager face
"How very nice, l wish he would come home
aud s'OOt ir Don't you2-'
Hes s'ooting Injuns.'' the child went on,
.'and he'll SCOT EN- all and zen he'll tome
home"
I'm sure hope he wiIl,' sighed Mrs Blank.
Run out and play, Buster, and don't 60 in the
SUM-"
How Buster does talk about his father!'
some one remarked. II often meet him run
ming along with some one, and, child or man,
soldier or officer, you can always catch the
words my papa il YOU listen to him
Then the talk wandered on. always in q minor
KEY, for there had been quite an interval of time
since the last letters, and there was always I'M
acknowledged anxiety, though all felt I'M
bounded faith in the powers Of the gallant
seventh.
Presently the sound of child's bitter CRYING
brought them all TO their feet and Buster ran
into his mothers arms in the door sobbins
wildly:
Mamma" he sobbed, 'sthe Injuns has dot
my papa He dot no more s'oots In his 'volver;
ne OOteQ II 01l Ou. WANT my papa ana the
bad Injuns has dot him.
Mrs. Blank knelt down on the floor beside her
boy, drawing him close to her heart. Hush,
Buster" she said. very gently, but firmly, you
must must not be such u SILLY boy, the 1njuns
can't get your papa. Gen. Custer Is there; he
viii take care Of papa and all the men. Do you
think troop would let the Injuns get papa.
See, you are making all feel very bad, and
papa would say that you were not his brave
little lad Now, stop CRYING and 60 and play,
You could not hear pspa's 'volver so far away"
''Yes,' the child exclaimed earnestly, 81 tan
hear my Papa's 'volver, and know he's s'ooted
1t all But army discipline prevailed, and the
boy ohoked back his sobs, nesting in his
mothers arms and resting there, strangely quiet
for the rest of the long summer day.
That evening when the children were both
sleeping and the daily bulletin to her absent
\ husband had been written Mrs Blank sat for
some moments in silent thought. then drawing
sheet Of paper to her wrote down the date,
June 26. and poured out to her only brother
the aching Of her heart and the senseless anx-
| tety caused BY the child's foolish words. the
memory of which still stirred him in his sleep.
| for he sobbed and tossed all night.
| On the 9Th Of July, when the whole army
writhed and cried out in agony at the news that
had come to US, we to whom Mr. b bad shown
mis- sisters letter knew that on the 26th Of June
| Captain Blank had dearly eold his life, and had
/ been found pierced with many wounds. his
empty revolver ciasped in his stiffened hand.
And far away, in his quiet home, his baby boy
bad seemed 70 know it.