Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-01-03
A FALSE MASCOT.

A FALSE MASCOT.
King was giving dinner in honor Of
his promotion. He was first lieutenant
now and had fair chance Of paying off
some of his debts. Not that he was q
young man Of particularly extravagant
habits, but second lieutenant, be he
married or single, is always more or less
In debt. He is expected and forced by an
nnwritten law to make quito as good
showing as his colonel and to keep up
quite as much of an appearance
The dinner was little unique. All the
officers were to leave at l o'clock that
morning on scout. They were In their
field clothes, at Kings request, and had
already the rough, unshaven look Of men
able and willing to do or dare anything.
In the hall of Kings bachelor quarters
their felt scouting hats hung OH the rack.
On the porches of their own houses their
mess kits, ready packed, stood waiting to
be strapped upon the mules. Their cloth
ing and bedding, wrapped in shelter tents
and ponchos, were beside the chests
Here in the dining room-lighted by a
lamp which King had admired while OH
leave and had gono month into debt to
buy, and another which, in a fit of econ
omy, ho had obtained from tho quarter
master, and which hung in unoompromis-
ing ugliness over the table-sat company
of 12--women in evening gowns, strange
ly beautiful and modish in contrast to
their surroundings, and men in uniforms
very shiny at the seams, blue flannel
shirts and top boots. They were cavalry.
men and belonged to Kings regiment
Their gayety was not that of prisoners
just before execution, although there was
the chance that any one, or possibly all Of
them, might never come back alive, but
when one has become used to going off ov-
cry spring and sometimes every autumn
to chase-how often in vain!--tho willy
red man one ceases to consider the posi-
bilities Of tho outcome, and besides 1t Is.
not often that officers are killed in Indian
fights. There is frequently pretty ami
mated exchange of bullets, hut the death
list Is not heavy.
Howbeit, there are exceptions to the rule.
So these men, each one under possible
sentence Of death, and these women each
one perchance to say goodby forever to the
man at her side, talked and laughed in
utter carelessness, finding only an added
zest in the rough clothing Of the men and
little deeper interest in the plans they
were laying for their camps and their dis
cussions of the contents of the mess chests.
The dinner did not go off without a
hitch. That was hardly to be expected in
this faroff part of the world, hundred
fI,a
dependent on a commissary department.
and suffer- for its supplies, but nothing
mattered, and nothing was noticed.
After a time they all rose and went out
on the porch, where the men smoked their
cigars. They had not staid at the table
and sent the women into the parlor this
time. They were army officers and pre-
ferred their feminine friends to their to-
bacco, and each one was glad to ignore
custom which made 1t the proper thing to
deprive himself Of the women for even so
short time They were glad of tho OK
cuse which the coming parting gave them
of making the most Of the few remaining
hours.
The night was duly dark. Tho outlines
Of the foothills and the mountains beyond
them could not be seen, but a flicker of
light in the distance from some Indian
signal fires told where they WERE Coy
otes were bowling up by the graveyard,
there was sound of preparation in the
barracks and occasionally the neigh Of
horse at the stables.
The sergeant of the guard called out,
Ten o'clock" and the officers made
movement to get their hats. There was
still much to be done before the night
march commenced. King sat ON the rail
ing of the porch talking to a woman who
leaned against post. He could not see
her, but knew that her beautiful face was
there close to his.
That was enough. He was asking for
promise before he should start off into the
heavy darkness across the plains, but the
woman had no wish to promise. Sho en-
joyed Kings uncertainty far too much. 1t
would have been commonplace to be en-
gaged-she had discovered that OH pro-
vious occasions-but to have him for
sutton would not be so bad. He was hand.
some, manly, brave and her abject slave.
Besides, if she were to bind herself, sho
felt that this time, with this man, she
would have to keep her word.
She laughed slowly as he continued to
beg tho promise. I'm tell you what I'll
do Twill give you the next best thing to
mc-a picture OF myself. am alwaysa
mascot. My picture will be moro OF one.
! will give IL to you when you start. Of
course we'll all be there to sec you off.
Now, remember" sho went on, wax
ing eloquent as the charm Of her itlca
grew upon her and speaking with convfc-
ton remember that wherever you may
60, In whatever peril you may be, who.
ever shall threaten or warn you, you need
have no foar II were there iii person,
would be exempt from danger, 80 my pic
ture-my other me--will also be, and II
1t II with you no harm can come near"
And King had to be content There
was no time to say more for the mon
were leaving and orderlies passing back
ward and forward.
Through the sightless darkness King
walked homo with the girl and caught no
glimpse OF the face he kissed so tenderly
at parting. Out Of the blackness hand
he could not see rested In his; up from the
gulf Of the night two lips were raised to
his. Then he turned and walked back 70
his quarters, lit q cigar and gave his
striker orders CONCERNING the disposal Of
his scouting outfit.
In tho silence Of midnight the troops
rode away. The tramp Of their horses,
he muffied clanking Of their accouter.
ments, could be heard, but not thing
Ieen save the burning points Of light from
Tho officers cigarettes. The signal fires
\ tho Indians flashed and went out on
ths MONTANA There were no buele calla