The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-02-18


soldiers in the field, and still the sur
geon left in charge at Frayne refused to
believe the rumors and hastened to for
bid that any one should speak of them
where they could reach the ears of the
household of Farrar, for the croakers
told Of fell disaster and Of the death Of
the last soldier of that honored name.
But bad news travels fast, and the
direful tidings reached Lucretia Fen
toms ears while Kitty still slept the
sleep OF the young, the innocent and
unsuspicious, and what Lucretia knew
she could never conceal. The morning
gun had failed to wake Wills dainty
ladylove, the trumpets rang no reveille,
for there was no garrison to rouse, and
only one trumpeter remained to sound
the calls. but people were up and asti1
and hurrying from house to house long
before the usual hour, andh Marjorie
Farrar, watching by the bed&de of her
stricken daughter, heard with straining
ears the excited tones of the servants at
the back doors and but FOR Helen Daun-
toms vigilance would herself have gone
to ascertain the cause. Stipulating that
her friend should not go down stairs,
Helen had fastened forth, finding their
own kitchen deserted, and, as the colo
nel's house was but few rods away and
Lucretia was there at the gate in vehe-
ment recitative with Mrs. Amory and
certain of the younger bellies of the gar
rison as listeners, Helen fastened thith-
er, only to see the party scatter at her
approach. This in itself was ominous,
but it was no time for hesitation. Some
of the party were evidently in tears.
The old chaplain was rapidly approach
Ing from his quarters on the westward
side; the doctor, fieldglass in hand, was
studying the snowy expanse to the north
from the edge of the bluff. With him
stood the sergeant of the guard, and an
other noncommissioned officer was has
tening toward him up, the sentry post
Of No. 5. It was to them she appealed,
and in their faces she read the first in
timation Of i'll news.
The doctor turned as though he had
been expecting her and held forth his
hand. II am glad you are here, !" he
said, 'for have reason to disbelieve
the news that has been frittering in ever
since dawn, but I wish it kept from
Mrs. Farrar as long as possible.
Helen's face had turned white as the
snow. He saw it and drew her arm
within his own. 'Stragglers from Big
Roads band say-those that were left
at Trooper creek, at least-that there
was fight last night. Part of the vii
lage was captured and part Of the band
broke through and got away. The In
dians claim to have killed several of
our people, but they are the biggest
boosters on the face Of the globe. The
cowboys over yonder believe it, because
they hate Fenton and che Twelfth and
wouldn't be sorry to have them worsted,
because that would bring on big war
and lots Of troops. We would have heard
it by this time in some way had there
been serious disaster. -
'But, doctor, Miss Fenton and others
with her fastened away when they saw
me coming, and they were in tears
ooh, they've got hold of some silly
story that the servants have been CAB
bling and that I've tried to test, that
Farrar is among the injured. It all
comes from that vile roost over there, -
said he, scowling Indignantly at jim
town. ''No, don't you give way, Mrs.
Daunton, he continued as she seemed
to SILVER and tremble. II shall need all
your strength if there be trouble COM
ing. But, if my opinion is not sufi-
Gent, let me tell you what Captain
Leale thinks. He says that the Indians
wouldn't fight in the dark except at
long range, and the story is that Will
was tomahawked. Keep everything from
her, therefore, for the present. Colonel
Fenton will be here by noon.
"Keep everything from her, doctor!
A mother reads faces as you do books.
No one can conceal from Mrs. Farrar
that ill news is in the air and that it is
Of her boy. Is there no way we can find
the truth? Anything almost would be
better than suspense!''' she cried with
breaking voice.
II know Of none, my poor friend, J"
he gently answered. Cali over there at
the settlement is riot and confusion.
They believe everything and know moth
ing. It may be hours before we can get
details, for the Indians say the fight
took place away in among the hills
through Elk Springs canyon, over 30
miles north of us, and the telegraph
line from Laramie to the old post fol-
lows the stage road from Fetterman far
to the east. IF any reports, however,
have got in by way Of Laramie, they
would surely have been repeated up
here for our benefit.
And just then man came hurrying
to them from the line Of officers quar-
tiers. It was Leale's attendant. 1.-THE
captain says, sir, that he thinks if you
wire through Laramie they will be hav-
+ ing news by this time at Buffalo or Nc
Kinney stage stations.
s'That was like Leale, +" thought the
! doctor, land he must have heard she
was here with me. - cts worth try.
ing" he said aloud. "Will you go with
me to the ofice?"
81 must. I cannot return to her with
such news as I have heard. And SO to.