The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-06-12

+ Within an aud wife'S breast! --..
THE LUCK Of KILLING DAY
The three companies of the Ninth cav
airy ordered up from Laramie with gild-
ed records for minstrelsy and savage
skir,nishes to help form the headquarters
of the department of the Platte ut Fort
Niobrara, We're dismounting in front of
their new 'dohe quarters between H
company and the suffers store. They
had been in the saddle almost continu-
ously for ten days, and were sore of limb
and 4 little ugly in spirit.
The adjutant's niece, who had pulled
up her pony in the rear Of the guard
house, fifty yards distant, was contem-
plating them attentively. She had never
experienced colOred regulars before. Her
six months career ON the Western from
tier, excepting few days with March
blizzard ut Boise City, Idaho, lay entire
ly at Niobrara, whittier she came from
the arms of her parents in Chicago.
They had sent her with fearful. reluct-
ance away out to, the post, adjutant's
wife, to forget Chopin and Schubert,
and o'clocks, and small gossip for, q
they told their neiahbors:, And While
she sat there straight Oil her pony and
heard the troops swearing softly over
hot August sand winds in May; and
whistling jigs to keep their teeth from
gritting, she believed she must be fulfill
ing her mission with great credit.
The two youngest lieutehahts of the
Ninth, easing the wet gifths ON their
horses, We're eying her hard: They
more than eighteen months, and had al
most given UP hope; therefore. though
this one seemed to pay no special heed
to their glances, she impressed chem
considerably. On the ride down to the
stables while the girl was cantering
home, they admitted as much to one
another. And because they had come
out of West Point arm in arm, their
admissions meant a great deal more than
you mi ht suppose they would.
On the third day in barracks, after
chosen the most comfortable room in
quarters to shave in. they called together
to pay their RESPECTS to the post adju-
tant, smoked his perfecto cigars and re-
turned to their own rocking chairs and
pipes: to swap epigrams Oh the stately
loneliness of his niece: Tho girl took
possession Of their heads very suddenly,
you see, which was natural and excusable
under the circumstances. And she occu-
pied them with varying Eincrements of
tenacity until one afternoon, two weeks
later, in the cobwebbed cellar of the
post hall. They were rummaging in the
corner used as the dressing room for
the post theatricals.
well, what if she is Indifferent and
pious: \ little religion i'll proper doses
wouldn't hurt me at all. And consider
her looks; she may not be facsimile
of the Venus of Milo. but the rcsem-
took PARTICULAR care to study her last
night said the younger of the two
youngest lieutenants from his perch OH
an old gunrack. His name was John
Sterling Mix, and his hair was blonde.
Moon talk said Sandman, discover
ing a hand mirror in battered leathered
trunk. Its time you quit studying
women, Mike; you re toe. young to I'M
dcrstand them: Why don't YOU learn to
talk Sioux. which is profitable in this
country? Something is going to break
loose on the reservation pretty soon. and
you'll be up tree for all Interpreter.
l haven't the slightest doubt that the
girl is lovablc and good to look at; but
shouldn't 20 much farther than calling
her by her last name. Hello! What 8
this nasty stuff in the pill boxes? Looks
like salye.'
Doris Sandham-he was entered in the
register as Lieut.. D Company. 9th
Cav. got his fingers in some of
the grease paint and powder and burnt
cork left over from the last Fools day
performance. He daubed little rouge
on the end of his nose and squinted at
the cavalier on the gunrack. who grinned
and began to count off the finer virtues
of the girl.
shouted. 'I'll be obliged to smear you
with this rouge. T :;i;i Go you less
harm than the color on the cheeks of the
adjutant's NIECE
Mix glowered for a moment, while his
brain evolved an outlandish idea. Then
he said:
'.Dorrie, will make you a proposition
l understand they have Killing Day on
the reservation every week-like our
one next Saturday, and some of the PEG.
pie are going oyer with the colonel in the
ambulance. Now suppose we get out
our leggins, and borrow a shirt and ride
IN with the Indians We can give those
skunk eaters a few pointers on punch
ing. Come, boy, what do you think
There's your grease paint-see if you
-yes, there's enough to paint house
Think of the sport"
~ think, Sandman answered, cycling
him quizzically, that you are one o1
the most ingenious fools 1 ev-''
wait, Mix Interrupted; I'm looking
for sport; but I'll make it an object fol
youth dead earnest; If you kill first
but Of course may call on her as often
as, she pleases. If 1 Kill
Il accept the proposition, Mike" cried
Sandman, with absolutely no ill feeling
The sutler will drive us over. and we
can make some kind of deal DRESSING
at the reservation. You are not only az
ingenious fool, but daredevil. Come
along home. It's dinner time"
+ TN Saturday, about an hour aftc,
guard mount, the two youngest lieuten
ants got into q doublc-seated blackboard
in front of the suffers store with brm
die that contained a small hand miro,
and three boxes of burnt lumber. Their
the pudgy little sutler climbed in with !;
box OF Long Pine Havanas and touched
MS whip to the nigh mule. The six,
mule post ambulance---which was used
on all occasions as stage coach-bad
gone on half an hour before with dis
t!nguished and expectant party. By the
time the blackboard was ont of sight OF
the post and across the Niobrara ford
tne Two youngest and the sutler were
chatting merrily over their cigars.
oh, yes" the sutler was saying, eve
manage to take things as they are mr.
here and keep in decent spirits. The
minstrel shows, and the hops. and tho
dinners at the coionei's and the doctors
kind of make up for the bad winter
months and the sand fieas. OF course
it's the same doggonit old story, week
iii and week out. Until you people came
we hadn't a new arrival for more'n tive
5years, exceptin Indians and the nay.
master-and Miss Corliss, the aiIiutant',
niece. I reckon you've met her? Well
she come out last November, green and
somewhat shy for this part of the Unit
ed States. The doctors daughter is Tho
only other girl we have, and she's Al
school in Boston. When she comes
home the two girls ought to make pail
worth your while, I tell you.'' RI /. -,
The sutler twisted his mouth into 4
smile. Mix bit the end off fresh cipal
and asked if Miss Corliss had ever en-
joyed killing day. SIS =..: -. : -. -.
She hasn't ever seen one, sir. Sht
bought some smelling salts at the store
yesterday. Stylish girl? She is that
I dunno Of any handsomer this side 81
Omaha, pom my socks I don't. ex
ceDtin' the Doctors daughter. and yvo;vt