The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-25

of wind from the southwest caused the
sentries to cast quick look at the
heavens for signs of the threatened
storm. Only those on guard details
were doing duty. 1t was a holiday at
the post and the soldiers sat around the
tables in their company quarters and
told stories of Thanksgiving days of
the past when the feast was celebrated
under the home rooftree, thousands of
miles from the burning mesa.
In the officers quarters preparations
We're going forward for the Thanksgiv
ing hop which was to take place in the
evening after the dinner had been dis
cussed by the post commandment and
his officers. Social events at Wingate
were as few and far between as al any
isolated frontier post, and the hop had
been the subject of much discussion fer
weeks. The ladies had ball gowns sent
on from the east to lend warmth of
color to the occasion. The bandmaster
lad rehearsed an orchestra chosen from
the band in programme of dance
Music. The great hall of the post had
been decorated with green boughs,
trailing vines and sprays Of evergreen.
The floor was waxed 10 perfection by
the quartermaster. Nothing was lack
ing 10 make che post hop a brilliant
event
Adjutant's call for parade was
sounded half an hour earlier than usual
that evening that time might be af-
forded the officers to dress for the hop,
and the ceremony of parade was cut
short a Jrlfie by Colonel Hunt, The gal
liant commander of the Seventh cavalry.
An hour after the troops were dismissed
TO quarters the officers began as
senrbling near headquarters in dress
uniform, drawing On white gloves or
smoothing the wrinkles in those in
dispenSable adjunctS 10 an officers at
tire. They were impa tent for the first
strain of music which should announce
that the grand march was to begin.
Those lucky enough TO escort ladies to
the affair stroiled along officers row
to present themselves to the ladies and
the orchestra hurried 10 the nall and
was posted in the balcony. Slowly the
officers and their ladies began to arrive
in the hall. Colonel Hunt strolled in
with the wife of one of his captains
hanging upon his arm and her husband
following close behind with the daugh-
ter of the major. The field and staff
officers followed with other ladies. the
luckless bachelors. who came alone,
trooped in, pulling their mOHstact1es,
and bowling right and left to those
seated about the hall. Colonel Hum
gave 4 signal to the bandmaster, the
was on.
Reminds me of old West Point
days" whispered Lieutenant Brainard
to Colonel Hurt when the two met af-
ter the first dance. BY George, 1t
makes me feel like a yearling, the
music and the waxed floor and the
pfegty girls and all that"
Not much like arctic hunts for the
north pole, Ell, Brainard?" responded
the colonel, and the lieutenant who
Greeley to the "farthest
north" shievered a biz as he smiled
back a reply. The next moment he
claimed the hand Of a promised part
ner for a quadrine and walked with
stately tread TO his place in the figure.
Though The night was cool the dancers
were heated, and the windows were
raised that the south wind might blow
across the ballroom. The music fioated
out in rollicking strains 20 where
sentry stood in the shadow leaning
upon his saber, his thoughts far away
in the town hall of little place IN
Illinois where he once capered through
a quadrille with the prettiest- girl in the
state, where he was as welcome as was
Colonel Hunt at the Wingate hop. The
step of the corporal of the guard
awoke him to duty, and New Mexico
and she present, and he slowly saunter-
ed along his post
The quadTille ended as gayly as did
every quadrille that was ever played,
and the laughing women were escorted
to seats by the officers, who begged for
more dances. The cotilion was next
on the programme, and Colonel Hunt
was to lead With the pretty wife of
Lieutenant Fuller upon his arm the
coninandant stepped out upon the floor
and the dancers followed. The music
sounded merrily across the ballroom
and the dance began. But the first
figure was not ended when more music
stole upon that same south breeze and
was waited through the open windows,
the mellow notes of a trumpet and II
was sounding officers call. Officers
cali in the midst OF the Thanksgiving
hop, Officers call when the whole post
was on holiday 1t was like the sud
ding supper.
Few of the women heard. Every
officers wife and daughter knew that
call, knew every call, indeed, that came
from the guardhouse, but there was
talking and laughing and music in the
ballroom, and their ears were not keen
for interruption. But Colonel Hunt
heard. Ee knew.
I'VE will stop a little if you please"
said the colonel to Mrs. Fuller, escort
ing her to seat IF you will excuse
me, l will try to finish our cotilien
some other time" And bowling low he
was gone. The woman looked around
the hall in surprise. Not an officer re-
manned. There had been hurried bows,
murmured apologies and a scurrying
of feet and Glazing of saber scab-
bards, and they were left alone. The
nscsic stopped with a clash, the few
civilians in the hall gazed about in
blank wonder and. with half formed
inquiries on their lips, While the ladies
began 10 gather up their wraps and
start FOR their quarters. The post hop
was over.
Down at the guardhouse Colonel
Hunt was questioning a courier who
leaned upon the saddle of his quivering
horse and answered the commandment
in jerky sentences as he gasped Sov
breath. He had ridden with the speed
OF the wind for many. many niles over
the rough country his mind fun of his
story, his heart torn with agony, lest
he be too late. He came from Keem's
canyon he told Colonel Hunt The Mo
Qui Indians were on the waTpath. Ha-
be-mah was leading 500 braves on a
tour of carnage. The school at the
canyon had been burned and settlers
had been murdered. Ha-be-mah threat
ened to murder more. His braves were
inhamed against the whites, and their /
lust for blood increased with each muir
der. Help was wanted quickly or it /
would be of no avail.
Colonel Hunts gray brows were
closely knitted while the courier was |
talking. lie was revolving rapidly in +
his mind a plan of campaign. He /
thought of the great stretch OF country I
that lay between Wingate and the Mo- /
qui country, eco miles away, of the /