The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-10-03
BY n. S. CANFlELD
CHAPTER VII.

Of1AF len VII.
Seminole Scouts of the Southwest.
Next afternoon, just as the sun. a
fiery red, was rushing to its rest be-
hind the far Mexican mountains, the
watchers at the rancho, looking east
ward, saw suddenly outlined against
the sky a troop of horsemen with a
solitary figure we'll to the front. They
were five miles away when they swept
over the brow Of the hill, but in that
clear air 1t was plain to see that they
were riding two abreast at a long
swinging trot. Even as they showed
they melted into the slope beneath
them and became indistinguishable
Twenty minutes later they came once
more into view. their pace unchecked
q regularity unbroken. Five min
utes afterward the long roll Of the
noofs came to the ear and then showed
plainly beyond the arroyo, before they
plunged into Its ravine to the cool,
clear water beneath. AS they splashed
through, paused for their horses to
drink and then came up the incline,
Lois. peering through a window, saw
that the man in front was short and
ieshy, with a resolute yet merry face;
That the men behind him were tall and
powerful and swart of visage and that
all were clad in dusty blue. She did
not then, nor for some time after
ward, know the cause of the visit, but
she recognized them as cavalry regu-
lars and her heart beast fast to see the
precision of their movements and their
stern. ~soldierly bearing. The troop,
twenty-five in all, halted at thirty yards
distance and saluted. The men then
rested at ease in the saddle while Rob-
ert Harding swung himself down and
came forward with a smile. He was
met halfway by Glynn, who shook his
hand heartily and said:
Prompt Is ever, captain. It's a
Jewel you are"
"Of brightest ray serene" Harding
answered, shaking hands vigorously
with the others, to all Of whom he was
known. my men may have the old
quarters, ! presume"
"Of course" answered the host.
THE house Is ready for them and the
sergeant knows where it is. Order
them to break ranks when you please"
Harding gave a brief command and
d men swung to the southwark,
where q ground OF outbuildings stood.
Fifteen minutes later the horses had
hoan fafhorod and RcN ~ra 49,
hres were going. Harding, in his
worn uniform. looked dusty but busi-
ness-like among the d~ress-coated men.
He did not think to apologize for his
costume. He knew the customs of
Balconies rancho well, but he wa in
the field. not In barracks. He was
shown to . room by Glynn himself,
who treated him with the respect and
cordially due a tried oficer., There he
dashed some water on his face and
hands. ran q clothes brush over and
around his portly body and announced
himself At and hungry. They repaired
to the drawing room. Lois could not
have explained the thrill she felt when
he was introduced, but it was due to
the fact that after weeks anon men
Of another nation she was now In the
presence Of one who wore the uniform
q her own. She was glad to see that
In ease Of manner and gentleness OF
bearing he was in no wise inferior to
those representatives OF the best blood
OF the mother country. Harding was.
indeed, much Of a. man Of the world.
While his fifteen years Of service had
been PASSED In the main On the from
tier. ne knew courts and camps and
cities, was az familiar with London
and the continent az the Englishmen
themselves and had, besides, a wide
knowledge Of his own land. For aye
years he had been in command Of a
company Of Seminole scouts at Fort
Clark. and from Ell Paso to Browns
VILE was known Of all and feared nv
the evil dOer. He was still under
forty and unmarried, with a gray. SOL
dierly temper. an apparent immunity
from fatigue and q courage that occa-
sionally rose to . sublimity OF reck-
lessness. He took her in to dinner
and, hungry as he was. found little
time to eat no constant was their talk
OF places In their own loved land. so
ardent their glorifcation OF It, so In
sistent their belief that while England
might be good America was far better
Allyn caught an inkling Of their talk
and announced with a laugh that it
we'll for all OF them to keep 81
lence while the Yankees had their in
nings.
1T won't last long. you know" he
said. but it'll be deadly while 1t does"
When the party had reassembled in
the drawing room. Harding said to
her:
Would Q like to see the Semin-
oles, Miss English? I think they are
we'll worth looking at"
She thanked him and the entire
party strolled to the camp. Supper was
over and the soldiers were stretched
about in unconsciously picturesque
attitudes. They rose to the salute as
their oficef appeared. then sank back
~ LMA = = 80 %. - -K4HAEMM - A