The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1895-06-20

of an insane man. IIa. ha! hal ha!
Why, damme, should laugh over his
absurd fancy instead of wanting to
kill the fellow. Alice! Alice, say!"
side door opened and, pale as "a
ghost and trembling in every limb, his
daughter entered. She had heard it
all, and her heart was well-nigh
broken. Seeing her agitation, the old
man placed an arm affectionately about
her waist, and, drawing her tenderlv
to his bosom, said:
There, there, my little treasure,
don't be frightened. IL was nothing
but poor insane soldier who imagineS
himself to be in love with you. IIa! hal
ha! ha! Isn't it ridiculous? Come, Sun
shine, don't tremblc 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 an 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 unhappiness? know the gentleman
who was just here. He is n man of
honor and integrity, and love him as
love my lifer'
The old father cast her from him and
would have fallen to the floor from the
shock had he not clutched his desk for
support. Gazing upon her trembling,
covering form he said hoarsely:
Are you, too, crazy? Speak, girl!
Are you, too, n raving lunatic? What
You bestow your love upon q 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 depthP Get
out of my sight this instant, and never
dare to enter my presence again until
you have repented of this mad folly
and are ready to ask my pardon for the
gross insult you have flung in my face
But, father, in the name of heaven,
in the name of my spirit mother, listen
to me-"
"No, not word. Leave my sight, or
| may forget that you are my child and
curse you! Begone, | 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 a
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 confne
him in irons in the guard house, and as
often tore the order into fragments
and cast it with an oath into the waste
basket He knew of no military law
which made it crime for soldier To
fall in love with pretty girl.
When her first burst of grief had
spent itself Alice arose, and going to
the stables mounted her pony and rode
away over the mesa TO the southwark,
hoping the fresh air might cool her
fevcred brow. On, on she sped, re-
gardless of time or distance, until she
reached the head of gulch four miles
below the fort. Down the gulch she
rode, intending TO return to the gar
rison along the river banlS-along the
path which she had traversed with her
lover but two hours before. just as
she emerged from the mouth of the
gulch into the open valley there arose n
loud, savage yell that chilled her
blood, and a score of dusky forms
sprang up from the bushes and con-
fronted her. Savage hands grasped
the reins of her bride and savage eyes
glared upon her trembling form and
gloated over her terror.
FRO DE CONT ypnD.l