Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-23

1 Christmas fires were~ighted in the snowbound, frontier fort, they had laid all that was mortal of the brave, | delrded girl in the little cemetery of | Fort Frayne, her solemn story closed, on earth, forever.
 } L'ENvoI. .~.
 Nearly two years later.- with the old regiment still serving along the sto- ried Platte, they were talking of her one moonlit evening at the flagstaff. The band, by this time fixture at Frayne, had been playing delightful ] ly, and some of the girls and young gallants had been waltzing on the Rays veranda. A few new faces were there. Two faces, well known, were missing-those of Esther Dade and Beverly Field. The latter had never been the same man since the tragic events that followed SO closely on the heels of the Lame Wolf campaign. Wounds had slowly healed. Injuries, physical, were we'll nigh forgotten; but, mentally, he had been long a sufferer. For months after the death of Nanette, even when sufficiently restored to be on duty, he held shrinkingly aloof from post society. Even Webb, Blake and Ray were pow erless to pull him out of his despond. He seemed to feel-indeed he said so, that his brief entanglement with that strange, fascinating girl had clouded his soldier name for all time. To these stanch friends and advisers he frankly told the whole story, and they, in turn, had told it to the general, to the colonel commanding the reg iment and to those whose opinions ] they most valued; but Field could speak of it to none others. Frankly ! he admitted that from the moment he met the girl he fell under the in- ! fiuence of powerful fascination. 1 Within 24 hours of his return from the Laramie trip they were riding to- gether, and during that ride she asked i to be taken to Stabber's village, and there had talked long with that mag nifcent young Sioux. Later, Field, surprised her in tears, and then she told him a pitiful tale. Eagle Wing had been educated, she said, by her aunt and uncle-was indeed their nephew and her own cousin. He had been wild and had given them much trouble, and her aunt was in bitter distress over his waywardness. It was to plead with him that she, Ma nette, had gone. 'Moreau" had been taught mining and mineralogy, it seems. and declared that he had "lo- cated" most promising mine in the Black Hills. He could buy off every claim if he had thousand dollars, and the mine might be worth millions. Hay pooh-poohed the story. Mrs. Hay could not persuade him. Then Mo reau" became threatening. He would join the hostiles, he swore, if his aunt would not help him. Indeed, and here Fields young face burned with shame, Nanette told him that she understood that he, Field. was an only son who might inherit wealth in days to come, and could draw upon his father now for any reasonable sum; and, within the week of his meeting her, he was on the point of offering everything she needed, but that he disbelieved the Indians sto- ry. Then, one night, there came q note begging him to meet her at once. Sbs had dreadful message, she said, from "Moreau." The fel- low had frequently been proving about the traders during the dark hours, and now she was afraid of him, yet mus: see him. and see hin, [ at once, even if she had to ride to stabhes's camp. Fields eyes were blinded and he went Hays horses were ready beyond the corral, and she rode astride on one of Hays own saddles. They found "Moreau" await ing them at the ford, and there was scene Field could not understand, for they spoke In the Sioux language. That night it was that, all in tears at the Indians obduracy. she owned that he was her rown brother, not mere. ly cousin. and together they had all gone back toward Frayne. "Moresu' was to wait on the flats until she could return to the house. She had been stri.ing to get him to make certain promises. she said, contin- gent on her giving him something from her own means. Field said he demonstrated with her to the ut. most, but she told him no woman with Sioux blood in her veins ever deserted q brother-or lover. And SO she had returned with a packet presumably of money. and there they found the Indian clinched with Kennedy. Kennedy was rescued in the nick of time, and pledged to silence. The Indian rode away tri. umphsnt. Nanette climbed back to her window. exhausted. apparently, by her exertiOns, and Field started for his quarters, only to find the en- tire garrison astir. The rest they knew
 Asked how she came to know of the money in the traders safe. he said no secret had been made of it by either Hay or him. She had asked him lsuEhingly about his quarrel with Wilkins, and seemed deeply in- terested in all the details of subzIiern life. Either Hay or he. fortunately. could hsye made good the missing sum even had most of ii not been found amongst Stsbber's pIunder. Field had never seen her again until the night the general took him 10 confront her at Hays, and. all too late. had reafiz-d how completely she had iured and used him In priee, honor. self respect.