Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-10

ret, whe had cut their way through with Lieut.. Dean and were safe inside the stockade, though painfully wound ed. This appalling story the girls heard with faces blanohed with horror. Passionate weeping came to Jessie's re- lief, but PaPPoexe shed never tear. The courier's dispatches were taken in to the colonel, and Folsom, trembling with mingled weakness and excite ment, followed.
 It was an impressive scene as the old soldier read the sad details to the rapidly growing group of weeping women, for that was Emory's garri- son now, while the official reports were hurried on to catch the general on his way to Cheyenne. Some one warned the band leader, and the musicians marched away to quarters. Some one bore the news to town, where the flags over tho hotel and the one newspaper office were at once lowered to half staff, although that at Emory, true to official eti- quette and adision, remained until further orders at the peak, despite the fact that two of the anhihilated companies were from that vAry post. Some one bore the news to Eurleigh's quarters at the depot, and, despite assertions that the major could see no one and must not be agitated or disturbed, disturbed and agitated he was beyond peradventure. Excitedly the sick man spraRg from his bed at the tidings of the massacre and be- gan penniRg a lettor. Thea he sum- raoned a young clerk from his office and told him he had determined to get up at once, as now every energy of the government would doubtless be put forth to bring the Sioux to terms. It was the young clerk who a few weeks back had remarked to fellow employe how ''rattled' the old man WAS getting. The majors doctor w2s not about. The major began dictat- iEg letters to various officials as he rapidly dressed, and what happened can best be told in the clerks own words: For a man too sick to see anyone two hours before," said he, the major had wonderful recuPera- tive powers, but they didn't last. He was in the midst of letter to the chief quartermaster, and had got as far as to say: The dep1orable and tragic fate of Lieut.. Dean points, of course, to the loss of the large sum intrusted to him. when l looked up and said: Why, Lieut.. Dean ain't dead, major; he got in all right and he stared at me a minute as if l had stabbed him. His face turned yellow-white and down he went like log-had 8 fit, I s'pose. Then I ran for help, and then the doctor came and hustled everybody out"
 But not till late that night did these details reach "Old Pecksniff'' at the post. A solemn time was that veteran having, for many of the wom- en were almost in mysteries and all were in deep distress. Two of their number, wives of officers, were wid owed by the catastrophe, and one lay senseless for hours. It was almost dark when Mir. Folsom and the girls drove homeward and his face was lined and haggard. Pappoose nestled fondly, silently at his side, holding bis hand and closely scanning his features, as though striving to read his thoughts. Jessie, comforted now by the knowledge that Marshall was rapidly recovering, and the words of praise bestowed upon him in the colonels letters, was nevertheless in deep anxiety as to the future. The assurance that the Sioux, even in their overwhelming numbers, would not attack a stockade, was not suf fcient. Marshall would be on duty again within very few days, the colonel said. His wounds would heal within the week, and it was only loss of so much blood that had prostrated him. Within a few days, then, her loved brother would be in saddle and in the field against the Indians. Who could assure her they would not have another pitched battle? Who could say that the fate that befeu the gar rison at Warrior Gap might not await the troop when next it rode away? And poor Jess had other anxieties, too, by this time. Loomis was burA- ing with eagerness for orders to lead it instantly to join the field column, and importuned Col. Stevens, even in the midst of all the grief and shock of the early evening. Almost angrily the veteran colonel bade him attend to his assigned duties and not de- mand others. ''C". troop should not with his advice and consent be sent north of the Platte. First thing you know, sir, after they've got all the troops up along the Big Horn you'll see the Sioux in force this side of the river, murdering right and left, and not company to oppose them. No, sir, more than enough of that troop have already been sacri- feed! The rest shall stay here"
 And well was it, for one and all, that Old Pecksniff" held firm to his decision. It was one of his lucid in tervals.
 Late that evening, after ten o'clock, there came the sound of hoofbeats on the hard road and the crack of a long-lashed mule-whip, and the fort ambulance clattered up to Folsom's s gate, and the colonel himself, his ad- jutant by his side, came nervously up the gravel walk. Folsom met them at his door. Instinctively he felt that