Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-09-29

her waist, and, drawing her tcndcrly
to his bosom, said:
There, there, my little treasure,
don't be frightened. II Was nothing
but poor insane soldier who imagines
himself to be in love with you. Ha! ha!
ha. ha! Isn't II ridiculous? Come, Sun
shine, don't trcmblc so, for the poor
fellow has gone and cannot harm you.
will at once order his confinement in
the guardhouse until he can be re-
moved to IN asylum. Kiss your old
fool father, little sweetheart, and dis
pei your fears"
Throwing her arms about his neck,
she kissed him fondly, and, in voice
choking with sobs, said:
"Oh! papa, dear, darling papa, would
you doom your little Sunshine to life
of unhcppincss? know the gentleman
who was just here. lie Is man of
honor and integrity, and ! love him as
love my lifc!''
The old father cast her from him and
would have fallen TO the floor from the
shock had he not clutchcd his desk for
support. Gazing upon her trembling,
covering form he said hoarscly:
Are you, too, crazy? Speak, girl!
Are you. too, raving lunatic? What!
You bestow your love upon, n worthless
private soldier! Oh, my God, this is too
much! Would You disgrace the honorcd
name you bear, name upon which
there has never yet rested stain. by
lowering yourself TO such depth? Get
out of my sight this instant, and never
dare to enter my presence again until
you have repentcd of this mad folly
and are ready to ask my pardon for the
gross insult you have flung in my face.
"l,ut, father. in the name of heaven,
In the name of my spirit mother, listen
to me-"
mo, not n word. Leave my sight. or
may forget that You IRE my child and
curse you. BECOME, l say, this instant"
Sobbing violently the poor girl left
the room and fastening to her own
chamber threw herself on the bed and
gave way to her grief in the most pit
eous cries and means.
Col. Sanford paced his room like
Gagged lion. Twice he sat down and
wrote an order addressed to the officer
of the day instructing him to place Pri-
vate Brown under arrest and conflne
him in irons in the guard house, and US
often tore the order into fragments
and cast it with an oath into the waste
basket. lie knew of no military law
which made 1t crime for q soldier to
fall in love with u pretty girl.
When her first burst Of grief had
spent itself Alice rrosc. end going to
the stables mounted her r9nycnd rode
away over the mesa to the cOCthvGrd.
hoping the fresh cir might ccol her
fevcrcd brow. On, on she sped. re-
gardleGs Of ti,ac or distance. until she
reached the head Of u grleh fur mil,s
below the fort. Down the Eul;h she
rode. intending t. return - tie gar
risen nlong the river banls-al5ny the
path which he E:l travcrSci with her
loser but two hoa:' Lcforc. Just rs
she emerged frAai the mouth of tho.
gulch into the open valley there arose n
loud. cavugc yen that chilled her
blood. ana score cf dusl;y forms
sprang up fron the bushes and con-
frontcd her. ..avaT. hands graspcd
the rcins Of her br.,.lc and savage eyes
glarcd upon hcr troubling form and
gloatcd over her terror.
She wa In the l,;a..a of band Of
Mcscalcro Apache l:s.iaas. their hill
cous faces rendered yet more hideous
by great blo:chcs o! war paint.
While some of the Indians danced
about her in iicndisli c::ultation. others
bound her arms with rawhidc thongs,
and then. leading her pony in their
midst. they for,.cl the Rio Grande and
moved eastward through the hills to-
ward the Mescalcro reservation beyond
the san Andrcas.
a cavalry soldier who was hunting
antelope in the hills witnessed the cup
ture from u distance. and pushing his
horse TO It's utmost speed bore the
news TO the fort.
The tidings Of the poor girls capture
threw the garrison into the widest ex-
citement. ilugles blarcd forth the call
to horse, and every preparation was
made for the pursuit of the red flcnds.
Col. Sanford paced the porch In front
of his quarters, issuing orders to his Of
flccrs, swearing aud gnnshing his teeth
in his great ragc and grief. In the
midst of his frantic movements Private
Brown. hiS face pale and pnin-drawn,
his eyes set in look Of the most fixed
determination. stepped onto the porch
and confronted him.
'Col. Sanford" he cried. ''you must
listen to me"
You here again, you internal scoun-
drel." roared the officer, drawing his
sword. "Degonc 10 your troop ut once,
sir, and get into the Elddle, or will
cut You down as would noxious
weed!'
mo, colonel, will not go and you
shaR hear mel Strike me down II you
will, but your daughters life depends
upon what have TO say"
Something in the young soldiers look
and tone arrested the coloncl's uplifted
hnnd. and allowing the point of his
sword to drop to the floor he said:
swell, sirrah. what have you to say?"
"Thank God you have permitted rea-
con TO overcome your mad prejudice.
Col. Sanford, do you not know that II
You scndtroops on the trail Of those In
dams your action will seal the death
warrant Of the child you love so dcarlyP
Has not your long experience in Indian
warfare taught you that at the first
sign Of pursuit. the rcd devils will
cruelty murder her and ecattcr into the
hills TO save themselves? IL viii be
madness to send q force against her
captors-"
''Colonel, the man speaks the truth"
said Capt. Colby. ~ know these Mes
caleros well, and I am very sure that
should they discover q body Of troops
ON their trail they would quickly rid