Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-03-16
A BATTLE Fob A BRIbf.
BOSTON GLOBE.

1T was dawn among the low red
lava hills bordering the dreary plains
of San Augustine that my company
had pitched its camp for the summer
or until our varying fortunes should
drive us elsewhere.
A band of navajos had come from
their reservation, with ponies loaded
with all manner of knick knacks and
gee gaws of beads, straw and what
not, to be offered. for sale.
One day walked about our camp,
interested in contact and intercourse
with these seml-savages, whose wild
ways and legends had always been
an attractive study, when my eyes
fell upon the face of a young girl of
their band. 1t was most wonderfully
beautiful and fascinating.
The girl held herself strangely
aloof from the rest OF her people.
One day / happened to be near
one of the mess fires when the men
were cooking supper, and one OF
them used some coarse ribaldry in
his reference to Marata, for such was
her name.
Quick as fash enc of his COM
panions, Edward Robson, young
giant of plainsman, sgrang at him
with the feroclty Of tiger, and
thenceforward the careless jester
carried a gap in his teeth as me-
mento OF his rashness.
One day, late in July, the sun had
dropped so low that we were in the
grateful shadow of the hills to the
westward, and the small mess fires
were beginning to show their yellow
glare among the trees in preparation
for the evening meal. Robson was
+ talking earnestly with Marata.
Am 1 never to see you where l
can talk to you as I want 2" he ask
ed in the Navajo tongue. You
know love you, Marata, and that |
shall make you my wife when 1 get
my discharge, and we shall be happy
then together. But it is too long to
wait. ] must see you and talk to
you of the plans of cur lives. "
I" How can it be done ?" she asked
in low voice. "You know my faith
er and the Wild Horse watch me SO
closely. can never come down
here unless one of them is with me,
and they have threatened to take me
back to the reservation if / try to
meet you again. If they take me
back it will only be to marry Wild
Horse, and then-then l should
die |"
"You do love NE then, Marata 2"
he cried. "That ought to satisfy me,
but I can't be contented unless / can
see you where / can talk to you
alone as l want. Wait T! I am to be
on picket duty tonight. If you
could only get away from the camp
I would meet you. Can you do it,
Marata ?"
eff you wish it will try" she
said. "Do you know the howl of
the coyote? l will call that way
three times together and make the
last call long"
My brave hearted little girl u
Robson said. "You know how anx-
iously 1 will wait for the signal l
shall come as soon as you call"
Robson stood watching her 1.-THE
figure until it had disappeared among
the shadows of the pines, and then
went back to JOIN his mess smiling
and happy.
When he was gone, another figure,
crouched in a clump of bushes,
Strengthened itself from its cramp-
ed position and raised its hands with
a savage gesture.
1t was the Indian, Wild Horse,
who had slipped into this conceal
ment, where he could hear the low
er's intercourse and Marata's prom
Use.
When Robson went to his post on
picket that night it was with heart
beating high and eyes kindled with
a CLEAN of satisfaction.
With step as light as boys he
paced back and forth, back and
forth, humming to himself beneath
his breath the melody of feryid
Spanish love song.
Only 9 O'clock he said impa-
tiently but length. "That means a
long wait yet. for she said she would
not come until all was quiet. But ]
would wait for years if I expected