The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-31

COmrdQe, anu, do llC CA
pected, it proved only another lie.
Then there came an era of apparent
prosperity, and now the poor mother IN
iov besought her husband to recognize the
son, for he reported himself in good en-
ploy, with fair salary and brilliant pros
poets. He even sent draft to repay a
small portion of what he termed his
fathers loan but this was soon followed
bv a draft on his father for double the
amount, and later another, and then letters
of inquiry came from his employer, and
then rueful complaint of how that trusting
person had been swindled. In her agony
of grief and disappointment, the mothers
health was giving way, and tarrar con-
cealed from her particulars even worse
that their wretched son had won the love
of his employer only daughter, ana that
she had followed him from her fathers
house. There had been secret marriage.
There was another Royle. This news
had come to the colonel but day or two
before. 1t was this that had unsealed his
lips and turned him to Captain Leale for
counsel and support.
tsMy daughter wrote the bereaved
father, 'was the idol of my heart, the
image of the mother who was taken from
her long years ago. Yet she turned from
me in the passion of her love for him, and
they have gone God alone knows where. Ii
you can find him, say that though he has
robbed me poor, l can forgive him all II he
will but be good and Kind to her. She was
delicately nurtured, as carefully educated
as your own daughter could be, sir, and
she was more to me, for she was my all.
own that having married him, her duty
was with her husband, but why should
she have hidden that marriage from her
father? Ny own fortune is wel1-nlgh
wrecked, but she has her mothers little
portion-enough, if he can resist his crav-
ing for drink and gambling, to support
them in comfort. l pray you help me
save my child
All this sad history was now well known
to Malcolm Leale, and his eyes were full
of sorrow as he bent them upon the gentle,
yearning woman at the desk, lost IN her
study of her tirst-born' s face. Ellis in turn
stood watching him. She was a girl of Is,
vet seemed older far, because OF the years
in which she had been her mothers COM
panion and closest friend. Then as he
made no answer to her query and seemed
plunged in thought she turned and stepped
lightly over to the mothers side.
Day dreaming, again, Queen MotherP'
she asked, in the half-playful way that was
habitual with her. "If you don't go on
with your letter to VIII it won't be ready
for the courier. Captain Leale tells me
they are to send one out at noon"
"Wnl they really?, asked Mrs. .Farrar,
all hope of hearing from him this week, or
of getting a letter to him. Who is to go,
captain? The pass must be breast deep in
snow"
Il think not, Mrs. Farrar. There was
very little wind, you know, and the fall
seems to have been very uniform. Cor
poral Rorke and couple of my men are
getting ready now. The colonel was only
waiting, hoping that there might be still
some news from Red Cloud"
''Why, how can it come? The wires are
down, the road hidden, and the river IN
fordable,' said Ellis, eagerly, The last
news was bad enough. l own | don't want
to hear further"
Over Leale's face a graver shadow fell.
"There are Indian riders who could easily
make the Journey" he said. "Crow Knife,
for instance, whom the colonel sent over
with the scouts five days ago. The fact
that he hasn't returned makes me hopeful
that matters are quieting down." but here
he turned again to the window to level his
glass upon the broad, rolling expanse of
white, stretching In wave after wave to the
bleak horizon.
''God forbid there should be further
trouble" said Mrs. Farrar, slowly, inger-
ingly replacing the portrait in its drawer.
Surely the general has force enough there
now to keep those Indians in check" she
Ventured appealingly.
IL.
has, provided the renegades captured on
the Cheyenne are not sent back there.
Those people should not be taken to the
agency. They are Minneconj ous, Unkapa-
pas, Brules, turbulent, aforementioned
lot, who make trouble wherever the others
are peaceably disposed. They should have
been disarmed and dismounted and put
under guard at Fort Robinson until this
question is settled. What l fear is that
Red Wolf band is still out and is defying
the agent, and that the revolt will spread
to Kill Eagles village. If they go on the
warpath some of our best scouts will be in
volved. That boy Grow knife is worth his
weight in gold, but his father and mother
would follow Kill Eagle"
they should revolt, we, our command,
would have to be ordered out?" asked
Ellis, anxiously.
at might be-" he replied, cautiously
'but | am hoping that no winter campaign
is in store for US. Think of march over
such waste as that, and he pointed to
the snowclad scene before them. 1--WE
couldn't cross the Platte this side of
Laramie, either, even if the stream We're
fordable. The running ice would cut the
horses from under u.s.
Out across the parade, clear, yet soft, as
though muffied by the snow, the cavalry
trumpet began sounding orderly call.
"Rorke and his men will start as soon
as they have had dinner, Mrs. Far
rar," said Leale, land l must see the
colonel before they go. 1 will send for
your letters" He took up the glasses
again for one last survey Ellis narrowly
watching him, while her mother went on
with her writing. For moment the
search seemed barren of result as before,
but suddenly Leale started, stepped nearer
the window and riveted his attention on
one spot. Ellis quickly noted it.
''You see some one ?'' she asked.
A brief nod was the only answer. Then,
glass in hand, the captain suddenly turned
to side door, let himself out into another
room, and thence to an outer gallery sur
rounding the house. Here his view was
unobstructed. Two gentlemen were COM
ing up the pathway from the adjutant' S
office, and a soldier in immaculate uniform
and sidearms following a short distance
behind, indicated that the one in uniform
was the post COMMUNICATIVE elder one a
gulshed-looking man of nearly 60
whose pointed mustache and imperial were
wellnigh as white as the new-fallen snow
about him, whose complexion, bronzed by
years OF exposure to prairie sun and wind
was ruddy brown, almost like Russia
leather.
Over Leale's face fell the same shadow Of
anxiety that was noted when he stood gaz-
ing IN silence upon the sorrowing mother
at the desk within The colonel was ta1l-