The Opelousas courier., 1898-08-20
4 TALE or ARMY LIFE.

ing from a tall flagstaff on the parade
ground at Fort Bufo"d, swa9sd grace
fully in the afternoon breezATh
small expanse of turf that sloped do>S
to the swiftly-rolling Missouri wa
dotted with trim buildings which hat
seemingly won a martial appearance
from their occupants. Achill was no
ticeable in the air, though June
reigned, and countless mosquitoes
reigned also, lowering in dense swarm:
over the willows near the rivers edge
mosquitoes whose spiteful sting was
altogether out of proportion to theil
size. Even the stoical indians from
the eros 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.
Hitler and thither, across the pa.
background, figures in blue were NOV
ing slowly-soldiers with the dull,
apathetic co%untenances cha%racterizing
SO many troops upon the northwestern
frontier. But today there was a bright
cning of faces, a quickening Of steps,
for the s'down-river" had brought let
ters from the States and home.
An unusually generous mail, too.
Several men laughed when they saw
lack Brayton with a deeper bronze on
his cheeks and a letter in his hand.
He had never been known to receive
one since the coming of the company
to Fort Buford. He was a 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 futtering 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 nov 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
and pushedt the back of his hand across
his deep-set eyes.
IT don't know rightly what I'll do"
he began, desperately, and then he
Strengthened up as a comrade ap-
preached, laughing.
"Lots of news, Zack?" he queried
in a teasing way.
The man looked at his interlocutor
with a dazed expression.
"How's all the folks?" persisted the
soldier.
A puzzled expression settled on
lack Brayton's face. He dug one
foot doggedly into the turf. 'tIt
warn't her fault-never!" he NUT
tered.
soho! It was a lovers quarrel,
hey?" duizzed the soldier.
.sNo; it warn't no quarrel" fefcely
replied lack, and then he as suddenly
strobe away.
Ten minutes later lack Brayton
stood more awkwardly than ever be-
fore the highest authority in the fort.
That officer had received pleasant
news from home, and he unbent his
military dignity to a surprising degree
and was chatting merrily with several
subordinates.
Swell, my MANI" was his remark
when Zack's presence was noticed.
The private saluted awkwardly. He
began to speak in a low, hesitating
voice.
"Beggin' yer pardon, colonel, but
I've got a word I'd like to say-least-
wise, if"
sTalk 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-
thence.
A dull wave Of color arose in the
private's face. He had never seemed
81 oopJnraruf~ ouLrrc,l
my wife," he began, huskily; "she
is sick, an I 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 half
The requests we shouldn't have a sol
lier left on his post. Don't you see,
ny good fellow"
eyes, sir" replied lack, simply.
When he was clear Of the quarters
Ne leaned against a post as if needing
support of some sort. Yet lack was
] strong man certainly.
The soldiers quizzed him q good
leal, in a rough manner, at mess, about
1is love-letter. He, did not utter a
word in reply, but there was an un-
usual look Of determination settling
Town upon his uncouth features, form
ng into hard lines they had never no.
iced before.
The days at Fort Buford are long in
tune. There is no evening.
In this high latitude the sun cheats
you out Of the evening hours and sets
It nearly 10 o'clock. A detachment
If troops were assisting the staam hoa+