The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-05-27
Miss Constance Dynecourt. >

cat any rate I could never love him,
although he comes counting armed with
papas consent, as he said this morning.
No, no, Rena, | don't want a husband cut
and dried for me. am more romantic;
who knows but that my love may come to
me from over the prairie instead of the
sea-" sang the girl. Just then the bugle
summoned them to the evening meal.
Colonel Dynecourt was widower with
only the two children we have introduced
to the reader. He had been married twice.
His first wife dying when Rena was only
two years old, in short time he married
again beautiful girl much younger than
himself, who died within eighteen months,
leaving the almost broken hearted man an
infant of few months old, who was her
self in miniature. The Colonel never
married again, but had an excellent house
keeper and mother for his children in a
maiden sister of his second wife. The
Colonel had come into quite large for
tune from an uncle for whom he was
named, few years before, but had by
this time become such a veteran soldier
that he declared he could never be happy
leading civilians life.
Constance had been at convent in
Georgetown since she was ten years old.
She had graduated with much honor a few
months before and this was her first expert
ence of the plains. Captain Cameron,
Colonel Dynecourt's son-in-law, was on his
way to Fort Laramie, where he was in
command. There were two other ladies
(besides the Colonel's daughters and
"Auntie, , as she was called), wives of the
other officers of the camp. Their conver-
sation around the camp fire was interrupted
by the Colonel's reminding them of the
mornings early start, which quickly broke
up the whole party, and soon the whole
camp, except the sentinel and officer of
the day, were wrapped in slumber.
About 2 o'clock the camp was suddenly
awakened by volley of musketry and the
war cry of the savages. The ladies were
soon huddled together in the rear. The
attack was totally unexpected and the
camp was surrounded before the soldiers
were well awake. Had no help arrived
this story would never have been written,
but in the thickest of the fight band of
about fifty cowboys dashed up, and at the
shout of "Captain Wilde" the Indians be-
come demoralized and are soon driven off.
While Colonel Dynecourt was warmly
thanking the "boys' for their timely as
sistance his eldest daughter rushed up to
him wildly frightened, exclaiming:
"Papa, 1 cannot find Constance She
was standing with us few moments ago.
Where can she be p
"Not find Connie ?" distractedly asks the
Colonel. and almost in answer young fel-
low galloped up among them bearing the
beautiful girl in his arms in a dead faint.
He handed his burden to the bewildered
father, who, with the assistance of the la
dies, soon restored her to consciousness.
"Oh father" were her first words, "a
horrid painted Indian stopped over me,
suddenly enveloping my head in his blanket,
which stifed my cries, and drew me up be-
fore him upon his horse and rushed off with
me. l was almost dead with fright when |
heard the gallop of a horse behind us, the
sound of shot, and the next instant the
Indian swayed, his arm fell from me, and
we both rolled to the ground. In few
moments this young gentleman rode up,
and feeling safe suppose tainted, for |
remember no more.'
81 feared the fall would hurt you, Miss
said the young man, who advanced with a
bow, ''but | found his horse which was
fresh was gaining on mine, and knowing
that if he got behind that chain of knolls
an eighth of mile distant he might sue
cessfully escape, took the surest plan and
wounded him."
Warm indeed were the congratulations
of all the garrison, and Colonel nyneooart
and the ladies were more than charmed
with the handsome young fellow who had
shown such speedy bravery. He explained
that he thought he heard faint cry and
turning to see from whence it came he saw
the Chief stoop to raise something and
gallop off Only waiting TO get bis horse
from which he had dismounted he was
speedily in pursuit, and by the dim light
of the setting moon he recognized female
drapery. The cowboys set up three cheers
for their leader, Captain Wilde, which
was repeated by the United States troops,
and as it was by this time nearly morning
the Colonel ordered the teams to be fed
and preparations made for an early start.
captain Wilde" explained that he and
bis band, being out on the Roundtop, were
camped about mile further up the river,
and hearing the firing had supposed an
emigrant train attacked by the Indians,
and had hastened to its relief
When they parted there was warm
haadshake between the Colonel and the
leader of the cowboys, and when Constance
in her warm hearted way thanked him
again for rescuing her, when the pansy
blue eyes looked up timidly into the brown
ones, there were two lives changed forever
and aye.
The troops reached Cheyenne, the capi-
tai of Wyoming Territory, without much