davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06

"Trumpeter Walters gone, str-deserted. +"
Twenty of the men were away on escort
duty, and so it happened that only
young Lieutenant Blunt and about 30
troopers were left at the camp, just west
Of the agency. Fearful that the money,
"burning" as it always does in the SOL
diers' pockets, would tempt his men to
gamble or drink and get into mischief
around the crowded post, Charlton had
ordered that the troop should march at
once to the Niobrara and wait there for
his return. It was known, Of course,
that many Indian bands were ont, and
it promised to be adventurous 1t was
Mr.. Blunt's first independent command,
too, and he felt trifle nervous. All
went we'll, however, until the morning
of the second day, when Sergeant
Graham excitedly called his young COM
mander, his face clouded with dismay.
Lieutenant, he cried, "Sergeant
Dawson and several men were robbed
last night. The moneys clean gone.
Blunt was out Of his blanket in an
instant. "How much Is missingF" he
asked.
~ can't tell yet, sir-a good deal
But that is not the worst Of it..
"What on earth could be worse?"
"Trumpeter Waller's gone, sir-de.
serted taken his horse, arms and ev-
erything."
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06

Of disastrous break down, turned sud-
denly away and strobe across the drive.
More than one woman was in tears.
There was not ripple of faintest laugh
ter when it was seen that in his blind
ness the old sergeant had oollided with
the tree box at the edge Of the acequia.
Straight to his humble quarters he went,
but they were beautiful to him, radiant
with the light Of joy, pride, gratitude
and love that beamed and burned in his
honest heart.
And now, a year later, all the cavalry
was in the field. Gold had tempted e1-
plorers and miners innumerable to the
Black Hills of Dakota-.Indian land by
solemn treaty. The government warned
the invaders back, but to no purpose.
The Indians swarmed from the agencies
and massacred all whom they could
overpower. Charlton's troop had early
been hurried up to Red Cloud, and now
with others was engaged in the perilous
work Of patrolling the trails around the
Indian haunts.
Two months Of hard and most ex-
citing work had they had, and still the
troubles were not over, and then, just
after the paymaster with his iron safe
and bristling escort had paid the out
lying posts a visit and Captain Charl-
ton had peen ordered in with him to at
tend a court martial at Fort Laramie,
there came q week that no man in B
troop ever forgot.
Mr.. Rayburn had been wounded and
ws.s in the hospital at Fort Robinson.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06
NO. 80.

jewsharps are made with the harp part
Of various ornamental designs. Jews
harps are not tuned to a key, but
harps of desired key may be found.
Commercial jewsharps rank not as
musical instruments, but only as toys.
Many jewsharps are, however, used
as musical instruments, and are played
upon by men, and not infrequently in
conjunction with musical instruments.
Jewsharps are sold more or less
throughout the country. Many are
sold in mining regions of the south and
west, and wherever Hungarian and
like labor is employed. In such places
it is not unusual to find a man playing
u jewsharp while others play accord
ions and 80 on.
The total sales of jewsharps in this
country are not SO large as they form
erly were.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06

"What could possibly have induced
the boy to turn scoundrel all at onoe?'
asked the lieutenant. 1T will break
his old fathers heart"
II can't account for it, sir. He has
been as honest and square as a boy
could be ever since his enlistment, but
the men tell me that he has been spend.
ing a good deal of time over in the post
whenever we camped there, and I AM
afraid, from what Donovan says, that
be has been gambling with the young
fellows at the band quarters. There's
hard lot in there, I'm told, and the old
hands encourage the boys to get all they
can out Of strangers, and then they turn
to and fleece the boys. It is about $40C
he has taken. A man knows that will
last but little while on the frontier,
but to boy it seems big pile
Then, rapidly approaching, the bound
ing hoofs of a troop horse were heard.
Blunt eagerly turned and saw Sergeant
Dawson galloping toward them down
the north bank. Refining in so suddenly
as almost to throw his painting bay
upon his launches, he vaulted lightly
to the ground and stood before the lieu
tenant, his face beaded with sweat and
his eyes glaring.
(Which way has he gone? Gould you
tell?"
Eyes, sir. I trailed him out across
the prairie yonder for 800 yards or 80.
Then he took the Laramie road, and
there the hoof tracks are all confused,
but I knew he would never keep that
line very long, and I'm almost certain
found the place where he turned off,
q mile beyond the ford and we'll over
the bluffs"
"Turned south toward the Sidney
route?"
"Yes, sir, rs though he was going to
skirt the road awhile, then make fol-
Scott's Bluffs, keeping we'll west Of the
Sidney stage route. If be got on that,
he'd be likely to meet Captain Forests
troop, SIR"
"But You were in charge Of the
guard, sergeant. How came it that
your sentries and you could let man
slip out with his horse and everything
The night was still, and they ought tc
have heard, even if they couldn't see. "
"It was dark as pitch, lieutenant.
The new moon was down before II
O'Clock, and, as for hearing, the horses
were uneasy and stamping or snorting
all the while from midnight until 2
O'Clock. Either they shifted Indians OF
the coyotes startled them. Then the
stream makes such a noise over the
rocks, sir, and the lieutenant will re-
member we had no sentries out across
the stream. The Indians couldn't stam-
pede the herd from that direction"
"But how could he get his horse out
from the herd Without
"It wasn't there, SIR" broke in the
trooper, eager to defend himself against
the imputation Of carelessness or neg
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06
CHAPTER II.

THE OATH OF ENLISTMENT.
It was while stationed at old Fort
Sanders that Waller's enthusiastic devo-
tion to his new captains family began.
The former troop commander was Or
dered to the retired list, broken down
by wounds, and the senior lieutenant
stepped into his place. Waller bade
farewell to his old captain with tear
dimmed eyes-they had served together
for over Is years-and with much in
ward misgiving, but not the faintest
outward show thereof, saluted the new
arrival, a young officer, but soldier
through and through. 1t was not week
before the sergeant had fully satisfied
himself as to that. Presently the new
captains family reached the fort and
took up their abode-a fair haired, blue
eyed young mother with two children,
boy and a girl, the eldest being three
years younger than Fred-and then be-
gan another and strong interest.
That very winter scarlet fever devas-
tated the fort Few children escaped
the scourge. There were dozen little
graves in the cemetery out on the prairie
when the long winter came to an end.
There were two or three larger graves,
and one of these held all that was NOR
tai of Fred's loving mother. He and
his stern, sad faced father were now
alone in the world.
And Captain Charlton's little house.
hold had not been spared. Itwas among
the officers quarters that the pestilence
had first appeared. Frank and Florence
Charlton were among the children earli-
est stricken. The servants fed the
house, as frontier servants will, and
their place was promptly supplied by
Mrs. Waller. She and her husband
would listen to no remonstrance, and
Mrs. Charlton, overwhelmed with care
and dread. was only too glad to have
the strong, CHEEKY army woman's help.
Over the little brown cottage the shadow
of death lowered for days before it was
lifted and borne away, and when at
last all danger was over and all was
again hope and peace the sergeant's
wife went back to her own humble roof
across the parade and there suddenly
sickened and died. When the scourge
was finally swept from the garrison and
the soft winds began to blow from the
south, the stricken old soldier was glad
Of the chance to 90 with his troop into
the field service and was almost happy
in one thing-Mrs. Charlton had taken
his boy as one of her own, and each day
she was teaching him faithfully and
we'll. When the troop rode away from
Sanders, Fred was left behind to occupy
little room under the captains roof.
Remember, sir, you are sergeant OF
the guard, and that house and that
household are your special charge for
all summer long," were Waller's part
ing words to his boy.
Regularly as the mail reached the
troop during its summer scouting Gap
tain Charlton's home missives had their
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06
TORE CONTINUED.
THE TRADE IN JEWSHARPS.

The cheapest jewsharps come from
Germany and Austria, the medium
and finer grades from England, and
the very finest are now made in this
country, says the New York Sun. o.
the total production two-thirds OF
more are made in England. Jews
harps are made in standard sizes, rang.
ing in length from an inch and quar-
ter for four inches. They are occa'
sionally made to order larger than
that, but four-inch jewsharp is q
good deal of a jewsharp, and it may
have very musical tone. There are
cheap jewsharps which are sold at re:
tail for a cent. A four-inch imported
jewsharp retails for a quarter of d
dollar. An American jewsharp OF
this size sells for fifty cents. Its iron
frame, or harp, is tinned, and the steel
tongue is tipped with brass.
Besides being made of many sizes,
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06
CHAPTER V.
TRAILING THE TRAITOR


Fred Waller knew all the valley Of
the North Platte as well as he did the
trails around Sanders and Red Buttes,
and if he could succeed in eluding the
Indian war parties be would have no
difficulty in fording the river, or swim
ming if necessary, and, with the start
he must have had, his light weight and
powerful horse, 1t would be next to i'm
possible to catch him, even if they
could follow his trail. Besides were they
not ordered to remain at Niobrara un'
til Charlton's return3
The more Mr.. Blunt thought Of the
matter the more worried and perplexed
be became. Anywhere else he might
have sent a sergeant with couple OF
men in pursuit, but here it would be ex-
posing them to almost certain death. 1t
was some minutes before Sergeant Daw-
son came in answer to the summons.
Blunt could see the troopers gathered
about the first sergeant, excitedly dis
oussing the affair and bemoaning their
individual losses Graham was noting
the amounts on slip Of paper, and his
fine face was pale with distress. sis
that all now, men?" be asked as he
completed the list. Then be sharply
turned away and once more approached
his young commander.
Lieutenant" be said, halting and
raising his hand in salute, "it isn'tquite
30 bad rs I feared, but bad enough.
Sergeant Farron, Corporal Watts and I
are the principal losers, besides Ser
geant Dawson. Three Of the men who
went into the agency on pass just after
we were paid had left most Of their
money with me, and that is gone. I had
it with my own in the fat wallet al
ways carried in the inside pocket Of my
hunting shirt. You can see, sir, how 1t
was DONE" And the sergeant displayed
long, clean out through the Indian
tanned buckskin. "It took sharp knife
and light hand to do that. for I'm not
a heavy sleeper. Farron, Watts and I
were sleeping side by side just over
there on the bank, and they heard moth
ing all tho night. But will the lieuten-
ant look at this handkerchief, sir? Is it
ohloroformed? I feel dull and heavy, as
though / had been drugged. He COULDN'T t
have got it from me any other way"
Blunt took the bandanna and shifted
it cautiously and then turned it over
and curiously inspected it. There was
certainly all odor of chloroform about it
"a strong odor.
"Whose Ia this?' he asked. II do not
remember seeing any of the men wear
ing one like this"
"None Of them owns it, sir. I've asked
the whole party but Sergeant Dawson
and the men on guard. They have these
cheap red things for sale at the store
there at the Red Cloud Agency, but none
of the troop have I ever seen wearing
them. They are too small for neck
handkerchiefs. Dawson is out yet, try
ing to locate the trail. I've sent Rob-
bins for him." And the sergeant looked
anxiously away southwark, searching
the prairie with world of pain and
trouble in his eyes.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06
CHAPTER ~.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES,

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
Lieutenant Blunt's position on this
bright July morning was most embar-
RAISING. Personally he had known the
pet trumpeter Of B troop less than a
year, for, as was said in the previous
chapter, in point Of actual experience
on the frontier the boy was the superior
of the young West Pointer, who had
Joined only the preceding autumn.
Finding young Fred so great favorite
among the officers and men, MIR. Blunt
was quite ready to accept the general
verdict, although his first impression of
the youngster was that he was trife
spoiled. On the other hand, no other
man in the troop had so favorably i'm
pressed the new officer as the "left
principal guide" Sergeant Dawson,
whose dashing horsemanship, fine fig
ure and carriage and sharp, soldierly
ways had attracted his attention at the
first outset. Then Dawson's manner to
him was 80 scrupulously deferential
and soldierly on all occasions-some-
times the old war worn sergeants would
be a trif1e superoilious with green sub
alterns- Blunt's moderate amount
of vanity was touched. He was always
glad when his turn came round as Off
Ger Of the guard to find Sergeant Daw-
son on the detail, and he recalled, when
he came to think over the events Of his
first half year with the regiment that
very summer, that it was when on
guard he began to imagine Fred Waller
was "somewhat spoiled. Twice the
boy marched on" as orderly trumpeter
when he and Dawson were on the guard
detail for the day, and both times the
sergeant had found fault with the mu-
sician and had most respectfully and
automatically, but in that semiconfiden-
tial manner which shrewd old soldiers
80 we'll know how to assume to very
young subalterns, given Mr.. Blunt to
understand that the boy "needed look
ing after" Months later, when Blunt
and Rayburn were discussing the proba-
bilities of promotion, when the sergeant
major of the regiment took his dis
charge and there was lively competition
among the soldiers for this the finest
nonoommissioned post in the regiment,
Blunt warmly advocated Dawson's
claim. "He Is tbs nattiest sergeant in
the whole command" he said, land
the smartest one know"
"Oh, yes, answered Rayburn with q
certain superiority of manner and a
quiet sarcasm that provoked the Junior
officer, "there's no question About Daw-
son g smartness. One after another every
'plebe' in the regiment starts in with
the same enthusiasm about Dawson. 1
had it myself about eight years ago
But the trouble with him is he isn't O
slayer. He can't stand prosperity"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06

the musicians as soon as he was "big
enough to blow" as he expressed it.
And then, too, for there were no army
schools or schoolmasters in those days,
regularly as the day came round and the
sergeant's morning duties were done he
had his boy at his knee, book or slate
in hand, patiently teaching him the lit
tie that he knew himself and wistfully
looking for some better instructor.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-06

a8- Ones political enthusiasm is very
like the earth upon which we live. 1t
is flattened at the polls.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27

the Sth of December en- route 10 Sherman.
Tex. | had quite nice time while In Car
tersvile. There were lot of our friends
al the depot to see off. We passed sew
eral little towns, then we came to Chatta-
nooga Being dark, we cou .dn't see Look
out mountain, which | would have liked to.
Then we came to Nashville, a very largo
city; from there on to Memphis, where we
had to lie over two or three hours. We
crossed the great Mississippi river at )1em-
only by lights from the city. We crossed
several other large streams, then we came
to Texarkana. We had to wait some time
there I enjoyed the ride from there to
Sherman much, the land being partly
prairie, it looked quite different from what
was always used to. which was billy ard
th:ckly timbered. Then little after .
O'Clock arrived at our destination. no.
tice a lot of the cousins are joining the
club. I enjoy Aunt Susie's pieces 50 much.
especially about the hospital.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27
POEMS OF CHILDREN.
BY Josephine Malcolm.
For The Constitution
Little Wee-WinSome.

My little Wee Winsome is 50 dear to me,
With her bright sunny smile and her laugh
full of gee.
She merriy climbs on my trotty-horse
knees
And away we go to wherever we please.
First we sail off on the River of Rhymes
And l say Ger the jingles hundred times,
Then to the country where wee fairies
dwell,
To each little grotto and green messy dell,
Then to the Land of the Lullaby Lows
And | sing all the songs that my darling
knows
But when the star-babies shed their first
tiny beams
We're off to the Land of the Dreamy-dreain-
dreams.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27

| going to school now. but 1 VIII start in a
! few days. My papa is a farmer. L love
TO work on the farm ana t,,a expect TO an od
made 50 cents, and l viii send cents of
it to the Grady hospital.
Annie Seay, Montgomery. Ala.-Dear Jul
NOR AS have been reading The Consti-
tuition l. will send 10 cents to join tho
Grady Hospital Club. | am fourteen years
Old and go to school. have two brothers
and no sisters.
| would like to correspond with some OF
the cousins. My number is III n. McDoA-
ouSh street
Elizabeth Fuqua Rogersv:lie, Ma.-Dear
Junior: | am just seven years Old. nave
been going to school two weeks and have
learned all the letters of the alphabet ana
their sounds | can spell cat, dos and other
words of three and four letters. am so
Ing to try TO make teacher: my mother IS
IL teacher, and | am going to Srhoo! 70 heF
| have three brothers, but have no sister.
Oliver Grisham. Lanner. TeX.-Dear Jul
Nor: ] am twelve years old. | live close 10
the bottom land and have gathered a NICE
lot of prcans. | wish some Of the cousins
were here to help me gather them. have
no pets except a little sister and niece II
is very cold here this morning ana me
ground is covered with snow. what has
become of Sarge PunI,ctt? | Ike to read
his and Biz Arp's letters.
Eugene whitley whitley. La.-Dear
Junior: live in the country and | enjoy
a country life out here ! am free ant" can
go riding driving. fshin. hunting, and !
can have all kinds Of fruit and vegetables
] try to keep the golden rule and read my
duns and l have the best rabbit trap. with
out exception. / offer Plan to make 1t 70
everyone that viii send me an addressed
envelope with stamp on IT, Inc!oSed Hhu
3 cents for Grady hospital.
Rebccca Nose. Laurens County. South
CaroHna.-Dear Junior: l would like 20
know YOU all better. l am proud TO Get
TIE Constitution. I like to read the Wo-
mans Kingdom. / have not started 10
school vet. school days are oar happi'st
days. think 50 often Of The n"SP.lal an"
of those who are in IT, lAGIoat " ctn},II
for the Grady hospital ! think we Shouil
take such things to heart ana d" unto
Others as we would have them do unto u.s.
Maggie Killebrew, Bluftton Ga.-Do2r
Junior: | am eievrn years Cd. ! live N
Bluffton. ca. 1t has about three hundred
inhabitants. We have good school Ii IS
not Il railroad town, but II mas a telephone
to Fort Gaines. / VIII te!l you All about
going to the picnic on Thank giving pay
We went in wagons and bug&jy". we went
about six miles. When We got there we
We carried dinner and had a very nee
time Coming back one OF the wagon
wheels came OFF. but no one was hurt'
cav, Moore. 1loore's Mil, A.a.-Dcar
Junior: | have been reading the cousins
letters | enjoy reading them very much.
our school has opened. ! always read
Aunt Sasie's letter. 1 think them very
interesting, How many of the cousins iINe
10 read? ! do. and read everything | can
set hold Of / like country life best, De
, cause in the country we can nave all IN"
fun We want; IN 'tAe Ci'y we rah.'o' .'2
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27
BILh ARp'S LETTER

|
from Meridian to New Orleans. 1t is in
| the piny woods and derives large revenue
| from lumber and turpcntine. IT IS the
| market for many thousand bales of cotton,
| out business does not seem to be depressed
| on account of the price There are large
stocks of goods and the stores are throng-
ed with customers and the hotels thronged
with travelling statesmen. for where the
carcass is the eagles VIII lie gathered to-
| Sether ] know there is money there, for
| 1t Is sure syn Of prosperity when over
| 400 good people turn out to lecture ana
| pay 80 cents apiece for il. | was called
there by the Lamar Literary Society, which
| Is another s.gn not only of prosperity. but
| Of culture and refinement a dead or de-
| Ginning town cannot keep UP such q soa ETY.
| The public sChoo! IS blessed wi.h of
| the most earnest ard capable men l have
met with and he is handsome he
| is Jealous in his work. Professor Phillips
| made an impression upon me. The pOpu-
| laton of this growing city is remarkable
| for its high moral standard. There is not
| u saloon there nor did the jug business
| seem to be carried on. The community Is
| against it, and the young men are deeply
! interested in improving the minds and
| preserving their morals. Another railroad
| is rapidly working its way there from
| Mobile and everybody is looking up instead
| Of down. 1t is q model town. ItllisVille is
| farther north and Is another thriving town.
| 1t is an Old town with new clothes on
| and has a large trade You would hardly
| believe it, but there are more goods in one
! store there than in al the stores OF Carriers
| vile and there are several stores Of chat
! KIND. They are double stores and the goods
! are pied high up stairs ana down. Large
| saWnllls are at work in the nciGhucrhooi
and hundreds of men employed, arh at
! every station hundreds Of barrels or tar
| pontine are awaiting Shipment The rail-
! road and the people along the line seem
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27
Fay OF Ny fantasy.

In the meadow whc she dwells,
There she sings As she wings,
On her spray of lily ,"lls.
Airy, fairy grace is seen,
AS she glances through the dances
On the starry lighted green.
Forrest fay of fairy girls!
In rer eyes, sweet danger lies
When she shakes her tangled curls.
My sad heart her songs b"Guile.
As with grace the steps to trace,
She gaily trips and deiGns to smile.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27
The Little QueStiOner.

You're a dear little follow. my Little Dog
Curly,
To come and meet me so bright and early
On my way to school
Now look at me with your bright little eyes
And say do you study so 5 to grow up wise
And do you mind the rule?
Do you have a book and pencil and slate?
lido you start to school at half-paSt eight?
And always say IF you please?'
Can you spell and read and write?
And do you saJ your prayers at night
Down on your little knees?
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27

Sanie MacCorbn, Sherman, Tex-Dear
Junior: Do any of you cousins remember
the littla girl that wrote to the chidren's
page from COIbn. Ga? But | am many
miles from there now, SO | thought ] would
write and tell you cousins about my trip
here. We left Gainesville on the night OF
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27

Young men or old should not fail to read
Michigan Medicine Co.'S ad. on page 9.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-27
Grady HOSPITAL List.

Ray Albion Rowland, Bobb,tt, N. G.. 1Oc;
Alma Little. Shmck. Tex. Sc; Rebecca
Moore, Laurens, s. c.. sc: George W.
Fluker. Felixville. La. SC: Eugene Whit
NJ La Er