The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-12-08

ie galloped back to Fort Brady he was
uncomfortably conscious that the girl
admired him.
His wife had gone east, and he was
not the man to enter into a Irritation in
her absence. Once more he saw Peqita
at the ranch as &c rode on official busi-
ness, and once she was found lingering
around the fort rs if to get speech with
some one. Gossip filled in all the rest
1t was a lonely. out of the world post
and there had 20 be gossip about some
one or something. The major was
guyed by his brother officers about the
girl, and he knew that the rank and
file were talking, but he went his way
and said nothing. They would not
know thai he had offered to send the
girl east, where his wife or his mother
might provide for her
Then one autumn night, when the
gossip was at its height, the sentinel at
the gate suddenly called for the corpo-
raj Of the guard. 1t was dark and
gusty, with falls of rain at intervals.
but he had cadght sight of Il figure
skulking about. The corporal made Il
dash through the darkness and laid his
hands on Il human being-On woman.
1t was Pepita! Near at hand was the
pony on which she had covered a dis
lance of twenty-eight miles in the last
four hours
Il want to see the Senior Davis" she
said as the corporal demanded her
business.
'Oh, that's the game, eh?" chucklaI
the man to himself and winked at the
sentinel through the darkness.
at once, if you please"
cts coming it pretty strong. little
one, but it's not for me to interfere.
Say, Pete, if we only had Il paper TO
take this up, Ell? Prominent officer
mashed on a cussed good looking little
greaser gal-rides out to chin-chin
with her-she rides back to return his
observation-disclosures Every
thing here for first class novel"
"With death in it if you insult me
| further said Pepita as she drew Il
dagger and menaced him
"a kitten with claws, Ell: Put up
that frog sticker and come along with
me-
The girl was conducted to Major
Davis quarters and remained for half
an hour. Then she rode away She
was hardly outside the gate when Il
silent alarm brought the men out of
barracks to fall in. A quarter of an
loto no Il,
lenses and were waiting for Red Cloud
and his 600 warriors to attack. When
the rush was made the famous chief
was beaten for the first time in his
life, and there were only 4S5 warriors
to escort him back to his village. Had
be come an hour earlier not man or
woman in Fort Brady would have es-
capped the tomahawk.
1T was the little Mexican gal that
gave the reds away" explained soldier
to soldier. And the tongue of gossip
was silent.
In the morning, when the soldiers
pushed out here and there to gather
up the sulky wounded and the silent
dead, two of them came across a sight
that was not pleasant to see.
They covered the figure, beautiful
even in death, in tender but soldiery
fashion and carried her to Major
Davis quarters. Then they withdrew
and left those two alone, the tall. fair
man in his stern uniform; the tall, ST.
lent woman, with the peaceful smile
frozen on her lips. The man bent over
and kissed those lips-for the first
time.
For me it was not worth this great
sacrifice, dear child. But for my men,
and their wives and their children. it
was well done"'