Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-11

way was the event OF their placid days
except when some of the officers would
come from either of the neighboring
posts and spend week with her and
Hal. From being delicate, consump-
tive child, Mrs. Hal had developed into
buSom woman with exuberant
health and spirits. Life to her might
have some little monotor~, but few
cares; many placid joys. but only one
great dread-Indians. John Folsom,
her fond father-in-law, was man all
the Indians trusted and most of them
loved. Hal Folsom, her husband had
many trusted and devoted friend
among the Sioux, but he had also enc
mics, and Indian enmity like Indian
love, dies hard. AS boy he had some
times triumphed in games and sports
over the champions of the villages. AS
youth he had more than once found
favor in the dark eyes that looked
coldly on fiercer, fonder claimants,
and one girl of the Ogallallas had
turned from her kith and kin and
spurned more than one red lover to
seek the young trader when he left the
reservation to build his own nest in
the Medicine Bow, and they told
story as pathetic as that of the favor
lite daughter of old Sntogaliska, chief
of the Brule Sioux, who pinned and died
at Laramie when she heard that the
soldier she loved had come back from
the far east with pale-faced bride.
There were red men of the Ogallallas
to whom the name of Hal Folsom was
taunt and an insult to this day, men
whom his father had vainly sought to
appease, and they were Burning Star,
the lover, and two younger braves, the
brothers of the girl they swore that
Hal had lured away.
South of the Platte as it rolled past
Frayne and Laramie, those Indians
were bound by treaty not to go. North
of the Platte Hal Folsom was warned
never again to venture. These were
the stories which were well known to
the parents of the girl he wooed and
won, but which probably were not full
ly explained to her. Now, even behind
the curtain of that sheltering river.
with its fanking forts, even behind the
barrier of the mountains of the Medi-
cine Bow, she often woke at night and
clutched her baby to her breast when
on the wind There was no woman in
Wyoming to whom war with Red
Clouds people bore such dread posi-
bility as to Hal Folsom's wife.
And so when Marshall Dean came
riding in one glad June morning,
bronzed, and tanned and buoyant,
and tossed his reins to the orderly
who trotted at his heels, while the
troops dismounted and watercd at the
stream, Mrs. Folsom's heart was glad
dened by his confident and joyous
bearing. Twice, thrice he had seen
Red Cloud and all his braves, and
there was nothing, said he, to worry
about. ugly, of course they are; got
some imaginary grievance and talk
big about the warpath. Why, what
show would those fellows have with
their old squirrel rifles and gas-pipe
Springfelds against our new breech-
leaders? They know it as well as we
do. It's all a bluff, Mrs. Folsom. You
mark my words" said he, and really
the boy believed it. Frequent contact
in the field with the red warriors in
spires one with little respect for their
skill or prowess until that contact
becomes hostile, then it's time to keep
every sense on guard and leave no
point uncovered.
But what if the Indian bureau
Should let them have breech-loaders?
she anxiously asked. "You know that
is Red Clouds demand
"Oh," said Dean, with confidence
born Of ineNperience in the bureau
ways, "they wouldn't be such fools. Be
sides, if they do" he added hopefully,
you'll see my troops come trotting
back full tilt. Now, I'm counting on
good time at Emory, and on bringing
your sister and mine up here to see
you"
"It will be just lovely said Mrs.
Hal, with woman's natural but I'M
spoken comparison between the sim
plicity of her ranch toilet and the
probable elegancies of the young la
dies eastern costumes. They'll find
us very primitive up here in the noun
tains, I'm afraid; but if they like
scenery and horseback riding and fish
ing, there's nothing like it,"
"Oh, they're coming sure. Jessie's
letter tells me that's one of the big
treats Mr.. Folsom has promised them.
Just think, they should be along this
week, and shall be stationed so near
them at Emory-of all places in the
world
''How long is it since you have seen
Elinor-'Pappoose,' as your sister
calls her" asked Mrs. Hal. following
the train Of womanly thought then
drifting through her head, as she set
before her visitor a Drumming goblet
Of buttermilk. i !,