The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1900-09-20

thsn, ~ hoEi atQut ihfee niles iron "
tosp. snd Foit Wsilses vas two miles q
tsnt.
Alihsi iinc the teri vss two eompat
posi, ssfrisoued by bsiwefu one snd Ia
h1airfd soldiers. all told. The baildin,
we're arranged eompsciy, the only foes
be feared being ladisps. snd there sei
water tspks thai we're always kept allOt
lee. 10 time Of ,rouble the Sioux misl
cone and cut of the water supply iroi
the river.
The scenery 10 this portion Of hsoss
can be pictured pretty accurately by
straight line drawn scross sheet OF blso
paper, vita the labels "skyr and 'lsni
shove and below Il. There vas tree, o.
proptistely asmed Lone Tree, four mile
from Wsllsce; and visible for many mile
10 every direction. II was beacon.
guide, bsrtiuser Of hope TO every citizei
and to every traveller II lold the point
OF the compass by day as the North Sta
does by night Lonely and desolste, /
stood on the vide prairie, friend to al
and beloved by all, after fashion. witt
never so answering rustic from any kir
dred cotton wood.
10 view OF these natural advantages - OF
the lack OF them the social life OF Wal
lace was limited. TIE ladies OF the garri
son exchanged patterns aud recipes, and
the oflisers amused themselves as best they
could. and hoped and prayed for march
ing orders that did not come.
What was eupboniously called "The
SkunkkilI Club" included oil the officers
from the fort and all the leading citizens,
While il does not sound promising, ii
was real boon. for its meetings, which
were held months. we're the sole "func
tion" OF the town. On that occasion the
the msn who could not show the pelt OF
at least one OF these ohickeu-lbieves paid
for al oyster supper for the remainder.
The oyster, the little canned cove oyster,
was. In those dark and mythical ages, the
greatest delicacy known 10 the Western
palate.
Among the Nlmrods OF this club was
quiet. middle aged man named Wheeler.
Probably bis first name had originally
been Asa. but it bsd long since degenerst
ed into "Acy.' He had served as govern
ment scout. and ii was generally held that
what be did not know about horses, "crit
turs" and Indians was not worth knowing.
Acy seldom spoke OF any Of bis expert
ences. snd was altogether uucommunics
live. except when be was With two or three
of the garrison children, who seemed to
have found their way to his heart through |
lis pony's stomach, The pony was pret
y bay mustang, With black points and an
appetite for sugar, She had re
DICED In the name OF Bet until the majors
laughter had re.christened her "Tweet.
,esri," and prevailed on Acy to accept
he change.
Sweetheart knew more than most men,
o Acy said, and no one cared TO contradict
lin. She could trail him like dog. she
ould fnd her way in the darkest night,
be never stumbled into prarie-dog holes,
I'D she could scent an Indian five miles
way. Acy had probably never read the
.rsb's address to "My beautiful my bean
iiull' but when % Essterner offered 10
ny the little mare, be said, curtly,
tranger. Q man don't sell his whole ismi
:. and walked away. bis arm over her
eck.
Aey was foreman OF the Allen CLARK
lock ratch, fifteen miles from Wallace on
.ose Creek, and the foreman 1t was bis
usiness to conduct the ronnd. ups. The
sslsllss and Sioux we're threatening an !
n,bresk, and it was important to get the
title branded. Otherwise they might be
smpeded aud many yesrling would 80 to
veil the ranks Of the other herds. To
sther with eight cowboys and four wsg
,s, covered and containing tho supplies
. several weeks. Acy set forth on round
D. Nothing occurred for the FIRST week. .
hey we're forty miles from the fort. and
ID heard no more about the alleged 10
sn troubles:
One afternoon as Acy rode slowly along, =
Ie OF the boys came 10 for instructions,
ID IS he logged beside the bay pony, be .
served her quick, irritable motions. 81
Your beast is powerful fractions, Acy, =,
said, ss she stopped and snor,ed uness V
!, her soft, velvet muzsle tsitching as il
e scented danger. "
Acy nodded. and turning in his saddle, 'e
oked sesrchinsly over the bare. brown U
,ip. There wss absolutely nothing 10 v
,ht except 9 few cattle, bis own men, u
d miles OF sage brush, buffalo grass and "
I'D. y
| reckon she's got nerves, continued the "
" boy, All women hss EN-. Nothing VI
0 matter With her Just plain nerves. o.
Acy got down and unssddled. There W
su't The smallest crease 10 the blanket. 81
to strand 10 ihs double rope cinches 70
been twisted. :"
dont know be said, bo. II there sin't 30
jisos within ten miles, i've the 6rst time nc
ever fooled me The pony muzzled 10
sheefiDs . little. and be combed o1i
forelock with bis brown hand. Sho, ST.
', little IN, be sai,, kindly, can't ye pr
me sbou, ~ va
is nothing but nerves. repeated the th
sboy, hsrhly. All tensile critters are DC
Ee. sci
fou msy kagw e heap sbost woman ,h
Is, srsxered Acy, dryly, bat that's no se'