Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-07-01
"DOwN-RIVER.''
A TALE or iRNY IRE


The starry emblem of freedom, fi0at-
ing from tall flagstaff on the parade
ground at Fort Bufo d, swayed grace
fully in the afternoon breeze. The
small expanse Of turf that sloped down
to the swiftly-rolliug 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 yentres 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 q
"down-river" boat.
Hither and thither, across the pa
background, figures in blue were NOV
ing slowly-soldiers with the dull,
apa.hetic countenances characterizing
30 many troops upon the northwestern
frontier. But today there was bright
ening Of faces, a quickening OF steps,
for the 'down.river" had brought lot
ters from the States aud home.
An unusually generous mail, too.
Several men laughed when they saw
lack 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 tall, awk-
ward fellow, one Of those shambling
men who suggest some mistake on the
part O. nature in choosing material too
hastily. He stood now inst 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 1t indis'
tinctly:
"You and me amt so much to
each other as husband and wife
oughter be. II we had, you wouldn't
never have gone away. I've kept 81
lence 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 1t
won't be long--and there's little Jim
aud the baby"
He stopped suddenly and crumpled
the pitiful scrawl in his brawny fist
and pushed the back of his hand across
his deep-set eyes.
az don't know rightly what I'll do, ;"
he began, desperately, and then he
Strengthened up as comrade APP
preached laughing.
"Lots Of news, Zack?" he queried
In teasing way.
The man looked at his interlocutor
with dazed expression.
Flows all the folks" persisted the
soldier.
A puzzled expression settled on
lack Brayton's face. He dug one
foot doggedly into the turf. 'It
warn't her fault--never" he NUT
tered.
"Oho! II was lovers quarrel,
hay?" quizzed the soldier.
"No; il warn't no quarrel" fiercely
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 hi,
military dignity to surprising degree
and was chatting merrily with several
subordinates'
"Well, my man?" was his remark
when lacks presence was noticed.
The private saluted awkwardly. He
began to speak In low, hesitating
voice.
"Bsggin' yer pardon, colonel, bu,
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-
thence.
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 I lowed maybe you had q
wife, colonel, an you'd know low
"Where is she?"
"Bacx in Missoury."
Sand you want q furlough? IT.
impossible, SIR. II we needed hall
the requests We shouldn't have sol
der left on his post. Don't you see,
my good fellow?"
s.yas s;r ~ repIied Tack. eimply.