Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-10-04
CHAPTER VI

Lieut.. Vandever was Industrious In
acquiring knowledge OF horseman.
ship, for call to field duty might be
made at any moment in the then IN.
settled state OF the Indians Ia his dali
ly rides about the post and down
the river he frequently met Miss
Sanford and sometimes rode be-
side her. Her treatment Of him was
always polite, yet she maintained to-
ward him an air OF modest reserve
which warned him that any rcsump.
ton Of fopplah gallantry would meet
with her disapproval. On several oc-
casions he had passed by when herself
and Private Brown were sitting to-
gether, bending over o sketch or quiet
ly conversing, and IT shocked him to
see the daughter OF the commander on
terms Of such seeming familiarity with
o man in the ranks In his estimation
the private soldiers were mere soulless
machines, which moved only ut the Of
fetal beck and call, but puppets in OK
allied hands, and lump Of indignant
resentment stuck In his throat Mt the
thought that the maiden could grant to
vulgar private the sociability she de-
Mod him.
On one OF his daily ride1 he overlook
her in the river bottom just as she had
reinea In her pony to make the ascent
Of the steep hill lending to the fort.
lie politely salutcd her by raising hia
cap, and she acknowledged the saluta-
ton with bow and pleasant smilo
ut hes been u beautiful afternoon
for riding, Miss Sanford" he said
ut has indeed, Mr. Vandcver. |
thlaly the New ilexieo climate cannot
be surpassed in lovcliness in the whole
world
The climate is all right, but the
society Is open to severe criticism" he
replied. he native people are but
half civilized and the ilatricans are
rough Doors, ind Il does strike me as
being somewhat severe that The ladies
md gentlemen Of the army are com-
PEELED 10 exist ami. such uncongoninl
surroundings
80, yon ure too hard on the people Of
the territory" she replied. ~ have a
number Ct valued friends among the
coed people Of San Mareial, the town
just above the fort, both natl,e and
American. nod ! have always found I
thsm to be ccpesnill, whole-soaled. /
cfufteala neis'hbors. You win modify
ydl9 i7vs Of sll1m wIoa YOU come to
know them Even were we east away
q thousand miles from civilization, |
am sure we could be hay py com.
Weare little world In our.
selves, Mr. Vandever'
"a rather insignificant world" he re.
piled. "You can almost enumerate Its
on your fingers. A dozen
or so oftlcers, and half as many ladies'"
"And several hundred soldiers" she
added.
10, the soldiers cut no figure in our
world, save Us slaves to do our bidding.
The riH-ralf of the land must not be
In the same breath with la.
dies and gentlemen. sometimes
thinb 1t debases n gentleman to be
Obliged to command such fellows"
Her face flushed with anger, and
turning her clear blue eyes full upon
his face she replied in biting words
Lieut.. Vandever, clothes and rank
do not make the man. Indeed, In my
own experience, | have known the
gaudy uniform Of the officer tocover far
less manly instincts and actions than
have noted beneath the plain garb Of
the private soldier"
They had reached the summit of the
hill, and touching tho rein she gal
lopsd unconmonlously away, leaving
fill biting hi4 ine N canfgsior.
ITO RI rONTINUED'