Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-12-15
A SOLDIERS WIFE.

n moro dcsolate site for fort could
not have been selected by tho govern
ment. However, the United States gov
ernnent was not looking for beautiful
scenery when it had tho post built, but
for location close to tho treaoherous
Indian and where tho soldiers could
quickly movo to tho front.
Around tho fort stretched tho monot-
onous plains, rising and falling-the
earth's waves-in every direction until
in the distance thoy seemed to meet tho
sky. 1t was drnary, .Gesoiaatts place,
the only sign Of vegetation boing tho
sagebrush, tho grease weed and punches
: Of cactus everywhere. There were acres
Of alkali, all burning beneath tho sun
during the day and freezing beneath the
moon at night. There was no animal
life upon all tho oxpnnso Of country
either except tho prairie dogs and now
and then lean and hungry coyote.
So dismally calm was tho landscape
thai even tho buZ8ard hesitated in his
stately flight and tho little gray hawk
sailed on and on, doubtless with his
eyes closed to tho earth.
AS a general thing there was amuse-
ment enough at tho fort. Men assigned
to the post mado up their minds that
they dopended upon each othor for
amusoments, and their wivos shared the
samo belief, and then woro thoy not SOL
diers and were not tho women soldiers
wives? But Of course the little petty
jealousies and little petty quarrels orept
into that particular post just the same as
they had crept into every other post and
would continue to creep in as long as
tho government supported forts and as
long as men and women lived and
breathed, for that matter. 1t was very
lonely around the post now, for the
mon had gono to tho front. The war had
been declared. That awful speoter,
dreaded by every wife Of soldier and
longed for by tho mon, had como. There
was considerable speculation as to its
probable length and much fear that they
would not bo called out, they were SO
far removed from the railroad. Perhaps
the war department would not eYon re-
member the fort was in existence.
The women were not anxious for tho
war. Thoy know what it meant. Their
faces were very sad when tho orders
came calling out tho four troops Of cav
airy that mndo up tho post. There was
wild cheering among tho enlisted mon
down around tho stables and among the
youngsters, for each ono looked forward
and saw himself returning at least q
captain, If not q major, and in flights
OF fancy oven n lieutenant colonel. They
did not stop to think that thoy might
be mado only first lioutonants.
oil ko
too, for u few days for thoy woro so
busy assisting tho mon that they did
not think of tho long, weary days. Be-
sides, thoy really did not believe that
their husbands would sec any actual
warfare Thoy thought it would all be
over within a few weeks and then John-
ME would como marching homo, and
they would have something olse to talk
about beside tho commonplace things
Of life. But ono woman thought about
it. Sho was the vito of tho second lieu
tenant Of Troop d. They had married
tho very next day aftor his graduation
from tho Point, and his first station had
been at this lonely fort. Ho told hor to
be brave.
"You arc q soldiers wife," no said
to hor, as sho burst into tears and
buried hor face on his shoulder
aye, [ am u soldiers wife, but that
does not prevent mo from having q
heart" sho answered.
mo" ho replied, "nnd, having
brave heart, q true heart and n know
ledge that you arc soldiers wifo, you
must faco all SORROWS and trials with.
out flinohing."
The words appealed to her. Tho half
dozen other women in tho post thought
80 much Of her, q moro girl and pitied
her so that her husband should bo order.
Cd to tho front that thoy asked tho
major to assign him as tho officer In
charge Of the fort during tho absence Of
tho troops, but no begged so hard to 20
that ho was allowed to do so. Tho WON.
Oh spoke to his wife about it; told thom
what thuy had done.
"Robert wants to co." she said. "It
is the chance Of lifetime with him,
and does not his country call2"
"But your" answered ono of tho
women.
She looked her qucstionor atraight In
th8eyes.
II am soldiers wife," sho replied
proudly. .."
The rush was soon over, and tho mon
were now mounted and ready to 80.
Tho officers bade their wives goodby,
and they, too, sprang into tho saddle.
Tho bugle sounded, and tho troops took
up the march over to tho railroad Tho
women stood and looked across tho sun
cursed plain until every particle Of dust
raised by tho horses had settled, until
oil tho world appeared just as beforo,
and then each won't into her own house.
That night they gathered at tho majors
house and sat gazing out over the dark
ened plain and spoke Of the absent ones.
The loGg weary waiting had begun. il
z The loneliness was more intense than