, 1898-10-25
A SOLDIERS WIFE.

A more desolate site for a fort could
not have been selected by the govern
ment. However, the United States gov
eminent was not looking for beautiful
scenery when it had the post built, but
for a location close to the trea yherous
Indian and where the soldiers could
quickly move to the front.
Around the fort stretched the monot-
onous plains, rising and falling-the
earth's waves-in every direction until
in the distance they seemed TO meet the
sky. 1t was a dreary, desolate place,
the only sign of vegetation being tho
sagebrush, the grease weed and punches
Of cactus everywhere. There were acres
Of alkali, all burning beneath the sun
during the day and freezing beneath tho
moon at night. There was no animal
life upon all the eXpanse of country
either except the prairie dogs and now
and then a lean and hungry coyote.
So dismally calm was the landscape
that ever the buzzard hesitated in his
stately flight. and the little gray hawk
sailed on and ID, doubtless with his
eyes closed to the earth.
As n general thing there was amuse.
ment enough at the fort. Men assigned
to the post made up their minds that
they depended upon each other for
amusements and their wives shared the
Same belief. and then were they not sol.
diers, and were not the women soldiers
wives? But Of course the little petty
~jealousies and little petty quarrels crept
into that particular post just the same as
they had crept into every other post and
would continue to creep in as long as
the government supported forts and as
long RI men and women lived and
breathed, for that matter. 1t was very
lonely around the post now, for the
men had gone to the front. The wal had
been declared. That awful specter,
dreaded by every wife OF Il soldier and
longed for by the men, had come. There
was considerable speculation as to its
probable length and much fear that they
would not b. called out, they were so
far removed from the railroad. Perhaps
the war department would not even re-
member the fort was in existence.
The women were not anxious for the
war. They knew what it meant. Their
faces were very sad when the orders
came calling out the four troops of cav
airy that made up the post. There was
wild cheering among the enlisted men
down around the stables and among the
youngsters, for each one looked forward
and saw himself returning at least a
captain, If not n major, and in flights
Of fancy even II lieutenant colonel. They
did not stop to think that they might
be made only first lieutenants.
It was all excitement to the women,
too. for a few days, for they were so
busy assisting the men that they did
not think Of the long, weary days. Be-
sides, they really did not believe that
their husbands would see any actual
warfare. They thought it would all be
over within a few weeks and then John
ME would come marching home, and
they would have something else to talk
about beside the commonplace things
of life. But one woman thought about
it. She was the wife of the second lieu.
tenant Of Troop d. They had married
the very next day after his graduation
from the Point, and his first station had
been at this lonely fort. He told her to
be brave.
"You are q soldiers wife" he said
to her, as she burst into tears and
buried her face on his shoulder.
EYES, I am a soldiers wife, but that
does not prevent me from having a
heart, " she answered.
"No." he replied, land, having n
brave heart, q true heart and a know
ledge that you are a soldiers wife. you
must face oil SORROWS and trials with
out %finching."
The words appealed to her. The half
q dozen other women in the post thought
% much Of her. a mere girl and pitiod
her so that,her husband should be order
ed to the front that they asked tie
major to assign him as the officer in
charge of the fort during the absence Of
the troops, but he begged so hard to go
that he was allowed to do SO. The wom-
en- spoke to his wife about it; told them
what they had done.
Robert wants to go, she said. ut
is the chance Of a lifetime with him.
and does not his country call?"
"But your" answered one of the
women.
She looked her questioner straight in
the eyes
II am . soldiers wife, she replied
proudly.
The rush was soon over, and the men
were now mounted and ready to 20.
The officers babe their wives goodby.
and they, too. sprang into the saddle
The bugle sounded. and the troops took
mn the march over to the railroad. The
women stood and looked across the
Cursed plain until every particle of dust
raised BY the horses had settled. until
all the world appeared just as before.
and then each went into her own house.
That night they gathered at the majors
house and sat gazing put over the dark
ened plain and spoke Of the absent ones
Ths long weary waiting had beeun.
Tho loneliness was moEe intense than
.v~ n The fort. Five troopess and
l-teussnant had been left to guaxd the
n-rouerty md tho women, and they were
1be uniy sians Of life down around the
on.rtses and the stables. The lieutenant
~ orc and gloomy that he should
h.ve ham selected ~ the one to remain
behind and was not accounted
connpsny 70 the women the hrse Few
Avn bat gradually he became rscm'
~ % lis tate and ut With them ey-
~svuipa and talked q the probable
iSseS m sbssnos of the men and dis
-cs.A ~ impeobahlity u aotioA.