The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1896-07-11
AN OLD STORY

% mucn admired a. required: portlc-
ularly at the wild frontier posts in the
far west, where an almost continual
warfare with the Indians is-or wss
kept up. deeds Of reckless heroism. Of
magnificent bravery. are treated -
matters Of course. and q man gives up
his life and gets very little glory for it.
A few respectable townsmen in the
States read q garbled account Of the
latest brush with the Indians, feel,
perhaps, q momentary stir Of the blood.
and then fall to criticising the policy
pursued, and 90 forgot all aboutit. 10 his
comrades. the man is demi god. But it
10 very local fame; approval finds
small expression. and comment tends
moro to contempt for failure than to
admiration Of success.
Military courage 10 the coumonest
attribute Of mankind, and not ono man
in hundred faile II it; but to endure
the hardshipe, the privations, and the
deadly ennui OF frontier life requires
another sort OF bravery altogether. and
when man lives up to it allah, then
he is q man.
Some years ago, fifteen or twenty,
maybe. at one Of the posts in the far
west there was a colonel in command
whose fame as an Indian fighter was
undeniable and even passed muster in
the States. His courage and sagacity
had been proved hundred times; he
was big and strong and gentle. The
red men called him the Great Chief"
and were MORALLY afraid Of him. His
own men only called him The Chief"
and they adored him. But he wouldn't
play cards; which was a pity. as there
is nothing else to do when the Indians
are quiet. All the officers could, very
we'll most of them; and, as it was their
only amusement. they naturally pre-
ferred that he should not spoil the
game. Particularly the captain object
ed; for he played exceedingly well, and
with an enthusiasm that was almost too
pronounced, unless one took into consid-
GRAFTON the total absence of other forms
OF entertainment. A man who couldn't
play cards was very poor sort Of man
in his eyes, and man who was superbly
fearless and vet entirely modest was one
to be jealousy admired and secretly,
but none the less intensely, hated.
There was also nice young lieuter-
ant of two-and-tw twenty who played
poker very we'll. not so we'll as the cap
tain, perhaps, but he had gay. boyish
and rather provoking way Of being vii
fully lucky that made him very fair
adversary.
He and the captain were deep in it one
night, and things were growing inter-
esting. The lieutenant was laughing
now and again excitedly, the captains
face was white and drawn. and his
hands shook q little. Winter quarters
are made as comfortable as possible in
a rough-and ready fashion, and when
there is q woman in the case they are
generally attractive enough; for sold.
ier's wife learns many q makeshift. and
marvellous effects can be got with boxes
and barrels, some straw. and q few
yards of muslin and colored stuffs. But
the captains rooms were bare enough,
and whom the colonel knocked anu was
abruptly told to "come" the drearinees
Of it all hit him hard. and he built up
the neglected fire without ceremony
before he strolled over to the table and
drew up chair. At the first pause in
the game he invited himself to join in.