Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-02-08
THE SILENT ESCORT.

n
There was a simmer of crimson light
in the sky as he rode along. Sitting
square and deep in the saddle, with M
attitude that changed little as his horses
gait varied from lope to trot, from trot
to walk, or from walk to lone, his eyes
fixed straight ahead, the scout rode, alb
solutely alone.
Solitude and silence had been his por-
ton 50 much that language was to him
a curio-a rarity--a luxury. He seldom
heard the sound of human voice, and
when he did he listened deeply and an
SWered deliberately, for his supply OF
speech was not great
As he rode there came q scream from
afar. overhead-a shrek, screech. But
lie did not look upward
lie knew the voice was the voice of Il
rifle ball. high in the air. Man and horse
lay Gown and waited. Neither moved
but both watched.
On the brow of little KNOLL far away
he saw bush wave too fast 1t was
far away, but he leveed his rifle and
fired.
Then horse and man arose as if by mu-
tual understanding, and, turning from
the knoll he rode, the report of the guns
behind him merely urging him to hasten
He was not afraid. He was not exeit-
ed.
lie did not expect to die; he did not ex-
peCt to live.
Late that night he reached the post,
delivered his orders, and turned to 90
The captain stopped him
Meet anybody on the way over?" he
asked
The scout looked hard as if digestins
the query. Then he thought. At last he
answered:
Only some Indians"
How manyy'
six ~ 'i'' 'o0"'' NO"
"On the warpath?' asked the captain
The scout looked troubled. as though
bored by the questions
They fred" was all he said.
Now, then, the war was on in earnest
But the scout ever after avoided the cap
tain MS man who talked too much.
In the grounds non-cOmmissoned Off.
GERS passed to and fro, bent on the du
ties of the day. New recruits were being
drilled, slngly and in squads Now ana
again stiff young lieutenant crossed 70
the officers quarters, or bent on inspeC.
ton, went through the form of eXamin,
ing quarters to see whether 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 your
Inc scout remained immOvahle for q
few seconds. Then he turned to the mos.
senger and looked him squarely in the
eye In moment he recovered his
| speech.
"Helr'
That was I'll. Then he arose, delhi
erately dressed, drew ON his long boots
! buckled his belt with the ammunition
and revolvers in place, and stalked to
| quarters. The orderly halted him at tho
| door
Colonel wants me-" he said.
lie passed in. The colonel ignored the
! lack OF salute, for the keen-eycd MAJ
| before him was not soldier, but a ci-
! villain employc. Then he said:
There Is Il woman here. the wife OF
! Lieut.. laSpcr, who is wounded Mt the
ferry She wants to join her husband
! Hou must guide her over"
The scout looked half terrified.
! woman" he asked The question
| had a world of meaning, for the colonc
Knew of the hostiles Oh the road. the
dangers of the trail itself, it's double
| dangers for Il woman. He nodded.
Bad" said the scout
Cant be helped" said the colonel.
The scout stood still n moment Thei
he turned and walked out AS he reached
| the parade ground he saw Il woman be
|
vived his memory.
In few minutes he was back at the
| colOncIS quarters, his horse saddled, hi.
| blankets rolled behind the cantle, tn,
| rifle slung by the horses side the riatt
coiled carefully over the saddle post.
Tell him I'm ready" he said grufill
to the orderly. The soldier turned in dis
gust. He was not used to unceremoni
Gus orders, But the scout was impene
| tr1hle. so the orderly went
| When the scout was ordered in he saw
/ 4 little woman wearing n short ridir.
/ habit. He looked ut her iudifercntlv
The colonel spoke. saying he was tn,
best scout ~ the post, and she might fee
safe with him.
I feel il" she said.
The scout broke silence. "Rettcr no
go. he said.
%, | must" was her answer.
They ro0e away together. All til,
night long they rode. hating during tn,
daN. On the third morning. as the won
nm was about to lie down for a few
hours rest the scout arose, as one VIII,
was about 20 deliver 90 Grafton.
Only six miles" he Sald.
rear OF the hoStileS mad forSaken her
ana they rode rapidly ON. Indifferent
ailke 10 the whistle of the bullets. tn,
wells, of the braves, and the efforts o
Smal parties OF bucks to head them of
Closer and closer To the camp. and then
MS the sentry challenged. the scou
turned and let the woman r.dc ahead.
lie faced the hostileS for a moment
Then, he looked around and saw m,
guard. rush forth and welcome the faint
ing WlIc. The dancing braves iarrpd ol
his sight, He turned hack to where IN,
woman had entered the camp, and thel
The officer Of the guard almost huge,
hum. Men gathered about him 'Th.
Gan,a'n claSped his hand The woundc,
The talk annoyed him.-philadclnbi,
Times. ''''''