The record-union., 1898-07-10
A Wall FROM THE DESERT.
An Indian Agents Daughters Let
ter to Her Eastern "PaI.o


A pretty girl whose father was last
year appointed to an Indian agency
about 5000 miles from the National
Capital, and couple of hundred miles
by stage and blackboard from any
where else, has not found happiness
at her new home, as evidenced by her
letters to her sworn chum at home:
Dear Old PAL" her last letter reads,
when, oh, when are you going to put
yourself at the head of that rescuing
expedition you suggested and come out
here? If you don't arrive here very
quickly, bring two or three real, live,
sure-enough men persons along with
you; I'll marry pas teamster, and then
you'll feel sorry that you didn't brave
everything and rush out here to my re-
lief, even If 1T is seventeen miles the
other side Of sunset. The teamster is
making all colors of eyes at me, as
my little brother says, and Teddy also
says that the teamster stands to go
fiat broke in buying silver braid for his
sombrero, and in extensively rigging
himself up in general, if I don't soon
capitulate. The teamster hasn't as yet
said word to me-of course not-but
the poor big muff-he is frightfully
good-looking, too, the impudent thing
is forever and ever eyeing me when I
am out on my 'errands of mercy
around the reservation. He'll get me,
If you don't watch out! Besides pa
he's the only white man within about
million miles. Of here, and, even if he
does eat chile con carne with a bowie
knife, why, goodness gracious me, he's
man for all that, and for all that!
But, oh, just to have one fleeting
glimpse of man, even if he didn't
nave any more of a biceps than Aunty
Cynthia, with clean f1nger-nails, and
patent-leather shoes, and that close
shaven look, and we'll, even that to-
baccoey smell! Minnie, please, please
forward me Immediately a consign-
ment of such, subject to inspection and
approval, with invoice for same, c. O.
-. You recall the state of frenZied ex-
citement we used to attain at the sea-
side, and how we'd do up in our best
organdie bibs and fuckers on the Sat-
urday afternoons when the beauteous
Willies with the blue-and- ribboned
straw hats were expected in patches
and slews and droves. But the seaside
was nothing to this! I believe I could
even be civil to a Spaniard out here
now, even If he was garlicky. =
My 'errands of mercy are booted,
spurred and plumed tours around the
reservation, in the best clothes l can
buy, beg, borrow or steal. for the hap
piness of making the Indian young wo-
men who have been to the Indian girls
school jealous! Yes, that, and nothing
more! I confidently expect them to
assassinate me any time, / just pile
on everything I've got, and then go and
see them. See? They look me over,
and then you ought to see their eyes
CLEAN! They are all crazy for finery,
you know, these girls who have been
East, but the poor, funny things have
got about as much idea Of taste as that
girl who used to live next door to us
In Washington. Oh, the color COM
binations they achieve in their Sunday
go-to-snake- dance clothes! They all
hate me impartially and profoundly be-
cause I'm so pretty and have such nice
clothes, and because the bucks twist
their heads around to look after me
when 1 pass. So, II you read Of my
being ambuscaded and shot all to moth
ing with poisoned arrows In the hands
Of these girls, why, you needn't be one
bit surprised, that's all! The truth is,
I'm not pretty any more at ALL The
desert winds have just ruined my skin
and, oh, Min, come and take me out
OF this, or I'll just croak!"-Chicago go
Inter- Ocean.