Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-10-27

!, |n0ifence. dHero'

There was a simmer OF crimson ligh
in the sky as he rode along. Sittin,
| square and deep in the saddle, with al
attitude that changed little as his horse.
| gait varied from lope TO trot. from tro
to walk or from walk to lope. his eye.
liked straight ahead the scout rode. alb
solutely alone.
Solitude and silence had been his por
ton so much that language was TO hin
curio, a rarity, a luxury. He seldom
heard the sound of human voice, ant
when he did he listened deeply and an
swered deliberately. for his supply OF
speech was not great. As he rode there
| came a scream from afar overhead-a
shrek. screech But he did not loob
upward.
He knew the voice was the voice OF
Springfield ball. high in the air. Man
and horse lay down and waited. Neither
moved but both watched.
On the brow OF Il little knoll, far away,
he saw u bush wave too fast. 1t was far
AWAY, hut he ieveled his rifle and fired.
Then horse aud man arose as if by
mutual understanding. and turning from
the knoll he rode. the report of the guns
behind him merely urging him TO hasten.
lie was not afraid. lie was not eX-
cited
He did not expect 10 die He did not
expect TO live.
Late that night he reached the post,
delivered his .I,iers and turned to go.
The captain stepped him.
Meet anybody on the way oyer?" he
asked.
The scout onked hard. as il digesting
the query Then he thought. At last ne
answered:
Only some Indians
How many
WAS seveH," said the scout Now
six"
"On the warpath:" asked the captain
The scout locked troubled. as though
bored by the questions.
"They fired was all he said.
Now, then. the war was On in earnest.
But the SCOTT ever after avoided the cap
lain as man who talked too much.
In the grounds noncompissioned Off
GERS passed to and fro. bent op the duties
Of the day. New recruits were being
drilled, singly and in squads Now and
again a stiff young lieutenant crossed tc
the officers quarters or. bent on inspec-
ton, went through the form of examin-
ing quarters to see whrther the dust had
been properly brushed away and the floor
duly swept. Presently a soldier entered,
walked to where the scout lay. and said:
Colonel wants you."
The scout remained immorable for a
few seconds Then he turned to the mes
senger and looked him squarely in the
eye. Then he arose. deliberately dressed.
drew on his long boots. buckled his belt
with the ammunition and reyolvers in
place, and stalked to quarters. The or
derly halted him at the door.
Colonel wants me-" he said.
He passed in The colonel ignored the
lack of a salute. for the keen eyed man
before him was not soldier. but a civil
ian employee. Then he said
''There is woman here. the wife Of
Lieutenant Jasper, who is wounded at
the ferry. She wants to join her hus-
band. You must guide her over"
The scout looked half terrified.
"Woman?" he asked. The question
had world of meaning. for the colonel
knew of the hostiles Oh the road, the dan
gers of the trail itself, it's double dangers
for woman. He nodded.
Bad" said the scout.
= Cant be helped" said the colonel.
The scout stood still a moment. Then
he turned and walked ont. As he reach
ed the pafade ground he saw woman
before the officers quarters. The sight
revived his memory.
In a few minutes he was back at the
coloners quarters, his horse saddled, his
blankets rolled behind the cantle, the
rifle slung by the horses side, the RATA
coiled carefully over the saddle post.
"Tell him I'm ready" he said gruffly
to the orderly. The soldier turned in dis
gust. He was not used to unceremonious
OF ders But the scout was impenetrable.
So the'orderly went.
When the scout was ordered in, he saw
a little woman wearing short riding
habit. He looked at her indifferently.
The colonel spoke, saying he was the
best scout at the post. and she might feel
safe with him.
81 feel it." she said
CO." he said.
"Oh, | must" was her answer
They rode away together. All the
night long they rode, halting during the
day. On the third morning, as the wo
man was ABOUT TO lie QoWp TOT leW
hours rest, the scout arose, as one who
was about to deliver an Grafton.
s"Only six miles, he said.
Fear of the hostiles had forsaken her,
and they rode rapidly on, Indifferent alike
to the whistle of the bullets, the yells Of
the braves. and the efforts Of small par
ties of bucks to head them off. Closer
and closer to the camp. and then, as the
sentry challenged. the scout turned and
let the woman ride ahead.
He faced the bostiles for moment.
Then be looked around and saw the
guard rush forth and welcome the faint
ing wife. The dancing braves Jared on
his sight. He turned back to rhere the
woman had entered the camp. and then
her.
The officer of the guard almost Rugged
him. Men gathered about him. The
captain clasped his hand. The wounded
lieutenant now almost well, wept.
The talk annoyed Philadelphia
Times.
Docking Horses.