Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-12-21

Cdue6 " COlu ploih' OAei HNA -
sion was music; and her time was
mainly divided Detw zen her prac-
uce anu her open all amusements.
Next TO ner privilege at the plano,
she priced the chance OF being out
about the premises interesting her
self with thOse matters generally,
which are usually lett to the care
OF domestics and hIred hands. She
liked much TO feed, curry and
caress the horses; and a cnance tor
a iaunt on horseback was TO her
always an occasion tor high spirit
ual exaltatlun. 1t was TO crafty
this propenslon in his daughter,
that Mr.. Langfeld provided for
her a fine young horsei with bride
and saddle. Along with this out
fit. too, there was wanting nothing
OF unseled caparIson which, in the
mind OF parental pride, could add
the least mite To the charms OF
feminine equestrianIsm. Maude,
TO be briei, was an angel at The
piano, and a fearless beauty on
horseback.
Mr.. Langfield located his new
home far out on the frontier, al
lured thither mainly by the cheap
ness, as we'll as the richness, ot
the soil which he wished TO cultl-
vate; Just the very region mostly
menaced with Indian incursIons,
and of which Tom Voting and his
rangers" were the commissioned
guardians. The Langfield family
In that wild region OF boots and
spurs, was something oi phenomi-
non. The "LaDgfield house" had
a degree of old Virginia polish and
pretension about 1t, that made II
stand out somewhat like a beakon
light In a land of shadows. The
hospitality of the Langfeld home
soon made it a place OF universal
attraction, and the charm seems to
draw upon none with greater force
than Tom and his ranger band.
Tom was always specially welcome
because Mr.. Langheld himself,
like all the rest OF the settlers,
had learned to feel peculiar sense
of safety when Tom was about.
Besides, there was another magnet
in the Langfeld home, which soon
began to draw; and Capt. Voting
fell so far under its influence as to
spend much of his precious time
under the roof of he old Nirginian.
Maude was not long III begin
ming To think well of the magnIti-
cent Capt. Tom Voting; though
she never said 50, except in the
twinkle of her beautiful eyes, the
peculiar mOdulations of voice, anc
her many graceful efforts to en-
tertain him upon every other SUBJ
iect in the world but love. Tom
had fought many battle with the
Indians. and was never beaten.
but at last he was capture
Maude loved music, and so did he;
if not for its own sake, at any rate
for the musicians; anyhow, Tom,
music, and Maude, were trio
that were often found mOnOpOliz-
ing the luxuries Of the Langheld
parlor. They both liked outdoor
life; they both liked horses; and
both had a natural relish for the
of horseback riding
Now and then Captain Tom would
lead out Ham and Lightioot,
THAT was what Maude called her
beautiful bay with a view to
iaunt; and Maude was seldom dis
posed to decline the invitation.
The captain in his best suit of
ranger uniform and Miss Maude
in her queenly riding habit, gal
Ioping off side by side on gay
curviting horses, presented a most
unique ald attractive spectacle.
On one of these occasional jaunts
there occurred an incident which
will do to relate.
Two hostile bands OF Indians
had, some days before, met on the
plain Just outside and beyond the
boundary of the settlement, and,
as usual, fought a bloody battle.
As a result of the fight, one Of the
party was driven TO
the necessity of choosing between
death at the hand of the viotors
and a chance to save his life by
fleeing into the confines OF the
white settlement. He chose the
latter expedient; the dreadful fame
of the rangers" deferred pursuit,
on part of his enemies and for
many days he had skulked in the
woods awaiting an opportunity to