Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-09-23
MICKEY DONOVAN. p"
A REGULAR IN c TROOP.

bunks for the nlgE5 when the first
sergeant entered the barrack loom
and called for P.ivate Donovan.
"Her,w answered a voice from
the lower end OF the room.
"R, port to the adiltant, mount
ed, for conrier duty as soon as you
can possibly get ready" and the
sergeant closed the door with z
bang.
The young fellow who had an
swered the serge aui ) inquiry wds
not more lhan 10, but tall and well
made. with that trim appearance
for hich the American solder is
noted. As be was rolling IA blank
ct AMI getting together the al ticles
usually required tor such duty, the
first sergeant agalu entered and
imnauently command, d him to
make haste.
Never mind any extras, Mick
eN; he adiltant seems 10 be in a
teIIiJle hurry to let you of; 50
st take an extra hundred rounds
of ammunition and enOdgh ralious
to last you for ono day, get your
horse aud report to hin a. his
quarters. The sentinel has orders
to let You in the stable to get the
animal out"
- ! right sargcnt,oli boz , said
Mickey, with an utter disregard
of The Il ference in rank that was
comm on IN The days Of frontier
serYlce.
Twenty minutes later Donovan
drew rem at the adjutant's quar-
lerS and dismOun'ed, but before lie
could lie up his horse the CoOr Op
ered, md Lieutenant Haley fp
peared.
"PIivate DonoYau, { troop, re
norfS FIR detached service, SIR
and Mickey's right hand was rais
ed to his hat Uilh military prompt
i.ude.
"Nely well, Donovan, tie your
horse to that post and come in
slde.'
When he entered the room the
lieutenant addressed blm in serious
tones: "l want to TIL yOu, DOnO.
van, that the duty You are about
to enter upon is fraught with great
danger to Yourself, and, in fact,
YOU stand a good chence OF never
relurnlne; for | want you to ride
TO the railroad with a message to
the commanding officer, who has
gone there to meet his daughter.
| have jnst received news by a
scout tLat the whole Cheyenne
naticn will probably be on the wal
path bJ day ylight tomorrow
Mickey did not vince, aud the
lieutenant went on; ''lf you sue
ceed in getting thIorgh, the gene
raj can remain there until the
mounted troops, which will lmmed
lately follow you arrive to escort
him to the post If you can get
through Dead Mans Canon very
early in The morning YOU may be
in time TO cross the open country
before the Iudians rre asllr."
1T there is such IA thing aS
reaching The place will deliver
your message to the general" said
Mickey. Auy Written message to
be carried, sir!'
Al
"Yts; here is & paper you will
deliver to General Ears, If yOI
manage TO get through, which ex.
plains your journey to him. The
train is D0t due at Rock Greek uu-
till about 10 o'clock IN the morning,
so you have time to lIde the dis
lance with a good horse"
Donovan to k The orders, placed
them in the inside pocket of his
blanket shirt, unhitcbed hls horse
aud leaped into the saddle. II .
crossed The parade at sweeping
gallOp aud IN a few minutes was
lost 10 sight in The darkness. Gen
eral Fdrr vas an officer who con-
manded the respect aud goodwill
of every man IN his regiment. His
daughter was worshlpped by all
the enlisted men because OF her
kindly wal = aud the interest she
manifested in them upon her an
NAL visits to the post She had
discovered on previous visit thst
Mickey was tue pupil Of an INTEL
lgent man in one Of the troops, aud
she at once interested herself iu
his studies, assisting him in many
a lesson while he was on duty a,
orderly at her fathers quarters.
To this Young fellow, whose on
Iy memories were of kicks and