Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-05-27
"DOWN-RIVER.e

A TALE or AMY ltrF.

small expanse of turf that sloped down
to the swiftly-rolling Missouri was
dotted with trim buildings which had
seemingly won martial appearance
from their occupants. A chill was no.
ticeable in the air, though June
reigned, and countless mosquitoes
reigned also, lowering in dense swarms
over the willows near the rivers edge
mosquitoes whose spiteful sting was
altogether out of proportion to their
size. Even the stoical Indians from
the Gros Ventres village, two miles
north, just over the boundary line in
Montana, were visibly affected by
these ubiquitous pests and waved
eagles wings before their impertur-
bable grave faces as they stood upon
the banks while a cargo of military
supplies was being unloaded from a
"down-river" boat
Hither and thither, across the pa
rade- ground, figures in blue were NOV
ing slowly-soldiers with the dull,
npathetic countenances characterizing
no many troops upon the northwestern
frontier. But today there was bright
ening of faces, quickening of steps,
for the "down-river" had brought let
ters from the States and home.
An unusually generous mail, too.
Several men laughed when they saw
Hack Brayton with deeper bronze on
his cheeks and letter in his hand.
He had never been known to receive
one since the coming of the company
to Fort Buford. He was n tall, awk-
ward fellow, one OF those shambling
men who suggest some mistake on the
part of nature in choosing material too
hastily. He stood now Just outside
the gymnasium, the letter huttering in
his grasp, the torn envelope crushed
in one strong hand. He had read it
over twice and was beginning at the
first page again, mumbling it indis-
tinctly:
"You and me amt so much to
each other as husband and wife
oughter be. If we had, you wouldn't
never have gone away. I've kept 81
lence a long time, waiting for you to
say you cared, but you don't say that
yet; and now it's my cough and the
strange feelings all over me that
makes me write. The doctor says it
won't be long-and there's little jim
and the baby"
He stopped suddenly and crumpled
the pitiful scrawl in his brawny fist
md pushed the back of his hand across
his deep-set eyes.
81 don't know rightly what I'll do, "
he began, desperately, and then he
Strengthened up as comrade ap-
preached, laughing
'Iots of news, Zack?" he queried
in teasing way.
The man looked at his interlocutor
with dazed expression.
"How's all the folks?" persisted the
soldier.
A puzzled expression settled on
Zack Brayton's face. He dug one
foot doggedly into the turf. ''It
warn't her fault-neverl" he NUT
tered.
"Ohol 1t was lovers quarrel,
hey2" quizzed the soldier.
''No; it warn't no quarrel" tiercely
replied Zack, and then he as suddenly
strobe away.
Ten minutes later Zack Brayton
stood more awkwardly than ever be-
lore the highest authority in the fort.
That officer had received pleasant
news from home, and he unbent his
military dignity to surprising degree
and was chatting merrily with several
subordinates.
"Well, my man?" was his remark
when Zack's presence was noticed.
The private saluted awEwardly. He
began to speak in low, hesitating
voice.
"Beggin' yer pardon, colonel, but
I've got word I'd like to say-least-
wise, if"
"Talk to your captain, interrupted
the officer, recalling his dignity now.
He was tired of hearing complaints,
and there had been too many of late.
''Not as I'd oughter bother you, sir; (;
but the fact is"
"Well, speak out; what is it?" said
the officer, with some show Of impa-
tience.
A dull wave of color arose in the
private's face. He had never seemed
SO ponderously awkward.
"My wife," he began, huskily; "she
is sick, an l lowed maybe you had a
wife, colonel, an you'd know how
"Where is she?"
"Back in Missoury."
"And you want a furlough? It's
impossible, sir. If we needed hsSs
the requests we shouldn't have a 81
dier left on his post. Don't you see,
my good fellow?"
"Yes, sir" replied Zack, simply.
When he was clear of the quarters
he leaned against post as if needing
support of some sort Yet zack was
strong man certainly.
The soldiers quizzed him a good
deal, in a rough manner, at mess, about
his love-letter He did not utter a
word in reply, but there was an un-
usual look of determination settling
down upon hisuncouth features, form
ing into hard lines they had never no
ticed before.
The days at Fort Buford are long in
June. There is no evening,
In this high latitude the sun cheats
you ont OF the evening hours and sets
at nearly 10 o'clock. A detachment
of troops were assisting the steamboat
roustabouts inunloading military sup,
plies. At dark, flambeaux were far
ing from the boats guards, by the
light of which they completed theil
labors. Then the bluecoats marched
back to the barracks, preceded by !
train of government wagons.
A few roustabouts, huddled upos
the boiler-deck, were grumbling unit
edly about some triAe, as Missour
river roustabouts have a habit o
doing. The night became very darl
at last so dark that even had ont
been looking in that direction h,
would not have noticed a man VIII,
erept out of the willow-bog and, step
ping cautiously into an Indian ''bup {