The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-24
II MAJOR.

What a sensation did the gallant major
create on his return to camp, arrayed cap
apple in a gray suit of calico print. Had
he not been 80 tall and Raunt, lie would
have resembled the ''pantaloon" OF a pam
tomine with all those broad atripss and
printed roses and gay arabesques running
riot over his long Dimensions; his costume
was completed by q broad sombrero OF
plnited palmetto. a strip OF the gay calico
serving as n hat band. This outre costume
was devised and presented AZ a labor of
charity. patriotism and decency thrown in,
by two ladies of one of the parishes that
border the Mississippi river. when he had
emerged from its cold waters. tired with
his long swim, faint for food, with
nothing on his back but his skin,
blue fl ON the November bath. How far he
swan he knew not. nor how many hours
were employed in that active exercise; he
was swimming for his life. that idea alone
was present with him as he dashed into the
swirlinR waters back Of the steamers pad
die boxes. and buffetcd with tho crested
waves in their insane revel. He had
scrambled and crswled with many q back
ward slip on the orumbling bank, and had
lain him down among tho tangled willow
ooS aAio uSSuy AK ACuNCsi III II AOb1dIa
and jotsnm of the last summcr's high
water; only for a few brief moments did he
Yost here. like a big babe in the woods.
among the dried leaves with the ehrill No
vember vino whistling through the bare
b anchos. his skin growing bluer and
colde'; night was creeping on n he
seemed to be in a vast wilderness of naked
trees whose gray limbs were coldly etched
against the dreariest of dim winter skies.
Perchance he recalled the pretty story Of
1.-THE Babes in the Wood" of his child
1000 and yearned for the kindly red
breasted robins to come and cover him
with heaps of leaves; but, alasl there were
no robins in November, and the autumn
winds had blown and scattered the leaves
about in such reckless wa%ntonness that
even the industrious robins would have
tired of their loving task before one long,
lank limb of his had been tucked under the
charitable covering; their ingenuity. how
over, might have suggested to their thrifty
beard depending from the willow trunks,
looking like nothing so much as 80 many
black horses tails cut off and hung out
there to dry. all waving their tangled
meshes uncannily to the rhythm of the
hrewish wind as 1t shrisked across the
wave-tossed river and went shrilling through
the tree tops.
verify, the wind Is rising 40 the sun
lowers. l must push on and seek shelter
and clothes. Thank God. the waves wore
not 80 high when ] took that leap, other
wise. ] should not be here feeling cold, hum
cry and aching-instead l might be in the
warm interior of an alligator. or sharing the
roof of a loggerhead tn. tle; but. as things
are at present. | am truly thankful for my
skin-blue. cold and goose-fsshed though
it be-" These were the majors thoughts
spoken aloud; and like n modern Robinson
Crusoe he felt sswave-dashed on q friendly
shore. and bent on making an effort to bet
ter his hapleas condition. Many hours be
tfudged and stumbled along through the
desolate fields anu along the unused road
ways. passing n part of the night In an
abandoned negro cabin. and at the ~earlirst
peep of dawn creeping from the distant
woods. He felt like a Gain, inasmuch as
be knew not whether he was in the tor
himself in tho depth of those woods until
this riddle was solved, or until tired ma
ture paid his debt. Hunted and haunted,
fevsred and hungerod, cold and detected
was he. as the sun rose higher towards the
meridian and yet no shelter seemed near;
torn by biiars, footsore and almost faint
ing, he spies a curling column of smoke be-
yond his present retreat. his footsteps
quickened. he breathed more freely. food
and shelter we're near. whore there was
there, too. gentle woman to administer to
the wants of the wearisd soldier, and he
found himsalf quoting the old quntrain:
'Oh. woman in our hours of ease" etc.
Administering angel, yes. she always has
self in this garb? Oh. blast it all, my luck
cannot be 80 hard; hope 1t is a camp fire
BONE OF our own bows roasting potatoes in
he ashes and frying bacon on the GOALS"
The cracking of brush near him and the
ground made him forego his mental pio-
lure OF the camp fire aud the savory bacon
splutterinR over red GOALS. Was this q
friend or foe he wondered? WAS 1t a blue
poas o''--here honted to him the lifting
strains of Tho Bonnie Blue Flau;' It was
ike q drink Of wine to him, no was about
10 join in the oone. when he remembered
ts popularity On both sides; hope failed
bim again, whom suddenly nAoat on the
Frosted air rang out the rebel yell! Our
lie thought he yelled aloud. alas! Il was a
queuk. pitiiully weak. femininely shtill.
he rider came upon him unawares, staring
him in disnlay; could this be = lunatic
n such sorry plight; the gallant major
|ould not spenk for Joy and faintness-
ray wondered at the blue nskedness,
he bruised and lacerated being staring al
i'm. Soon pity conquered vain speonla-
ion. and down he threw his army blanket
ough oovefing unloosed his stifTsned
ongue, and loud upon the air rang oct the
alinnt Texas yell. Explanations few and
hort were made, and in n ttics one soldiers
arb was made to do duty for two, and In a
horter time than it takes to tell the tale
ur major was seated at a oosy froside in
be most comfortable OF chairs partakinp
t peanut coffee. fried chicken and lota-
pes; hs had heen duly presented to the
hdies with as much dignity as was Oh rap
ort with the toga- like drapery about his
aunt franc. with his new friends too
mall cap browning his Jova-liko curls.
"The lndios-God blcss them everyone
was always fond of the ladies'" sighed
e, between the Gulps of hot coffee and mid
40 wreck Of chicken bones and pyramids
I potato psels. Two gentle southern
omen warmed and fed him. nursing him
nck to health and strength, devising him
suit of clothes from their window cur
Tins. and plating for him a palmetto hat.
o email boy DOMINIC his first trousers was
Ier moro elated than wan the major with
Is costume. With many hearty hand
,akes he finally babe adieu to these kind
lends and started on his journey towards
brthern Louisiana. whore was hrs old COM
and. BY somo mems. fair or foul, no be-
me possessed OF n mustang pony, and
us be made his entree into Damn. look inu