The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-12-16

4 l.
cause, for these savage bands
would make incursions into the
settlements, now and then, and
perpetrate much irreparable mis-
chief-burning houses, destroying
stock, killing men, and carrying
the women off into captivity. To
protect the settlements against
these bloody visitations, that FORM
idable organization, from early
times so famous In Texan frontier
history, was called into existence.
The business of this dashing troop
of armed horsemen was to scour
perpetually the wilderness in front
of the advanced settlements, to
chastise and drive away the saw
ages. The encounter between
these rangers" and the Indians
were frequent, and often not lit
tie desperate and bloody.
1t was natural that man of Tom
Woffing's makeup should find
congenial fellowship and employ
ment ia the ranks of band like
this, and so he early enlisted and
became a Texan "ranger His
courage, sagacity and actual suc-
cess as an Indian fighter, at once
secured his promotion to the
chief command of the company.
Under the leadership of Tom
Voting the "rangers" at once en-
tered upon an unexampled career
Of conquest. Tom never lost an
with the savages; and
when once in the field, he never
without some trophy Of
as bow and quiver,
an Indian pony, a belt with toma-
hawk, and such like, OF which he
had rightfully, according to the
rules Of war, despoiled the fallen
enemy. On more than one of
,hese return trips, he was known
% bring along with him, a human
scalp. or two; but these, he pro-
he did not himself lift from
he pate OF the fallen foe; but that
le only took Them from the dead
,hief's belt; that while they testi-
led very well to his own valor,
hey had no just tendency whatev-
If to convict him Of disgraceful
avagery. His fame as an Indian
lighter, spread far and wide, and
cry quickly. His name was on
very body's lips; every tongue
raised him. By the women and
hildren especially, who had suf-
cred SO much from Indian scares,
70 was revereAced as the guardian
city of the settlement.
Little streams sometimes spout
D from the earth's surface at spots
issevered by many miles Of inter-
ening space, and they flow, and
Low, till they meet, mingle their
1aters and are lost in each other.
,uch we're the lives of Tom Voting
nd Maude Langfeld.
Miss Maude Langfeld was a ma
i've of Virginia. Her father, Mr..
leo. Langtield was manof high
ocial standing, and honorably
with some of best FAM
lies both in the United States and
England. He had revolutionary
blood in his veins, and was a fair
ample of the old dominion aristoc-
acy. He had once been a man of
lmple means and political in
iuence. He served two terms in
he state Legislature, and was for
many years the judge Of the county
iourt. But fortune had at length
upon him; his political
popularity had vanished and his
state had become reduced to a
ew quarter sections of Indifferent
and, some live stock and score
II two of negro slaves, which, as
were really improbable
because of want of ground upon
which their labor could be utilized.
lie therefore determined to bid
dieu to his native state 90 to
'exas and embark in the cotton
ulture.
Maude was Mr.. Langfeld's only
hild. She was nearing sixteen
ears OF age at the date of her
ather's removal to Texas. A
andsome brunette; born aristo-
rat; good-natured, vivacious, in
in thouoht and action.