Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-19

a self-constituted martyr, since she was under no official restraint-Nan-
 etc Flower, lowering ever about the
 litter bearing that sullen and still de-
 liant brave, whose side she refused to
 leave.
 Not until they reached, Fort
 Frayne; not until the surgeon, after
 careful examination, declared there was no need of taking Moreau into
 hospital-no reason why he should not be confined in the prison room of
 the guardhouse-were they able to induce the silent, almost desperate
 girl to return to her aunt. Not until Nanette realized that her warrior
 was to be housed within wooden walls whence she would be excluded, could Mrs. Hay, devoted to the last, per
 suade the girl to reoccupy her old room and to resume the dress of civilization. Barring that worsted
 hood, she was habited like a chief
 tain's daughter, in gaily beaded and
 embroidered garments, when recap
 tured by Blake's command. Once
 within the traders door, she had shut
 herself in her old room, the second
 floor front, refusing to see anybody
 from outside the house, unless she
 could be permitted to receive visits
 from the captive Sioux, and this the
 major, fintily, forebade. It was
 nightfall when the litter-bearers
 reached the post, Hays rejoicing
 mules praying unmelodious ecstacy at
 sight of their old stable. It was dark
 when the wounded chief was borne
 into the guard-house, uttering not
 sound, and Nanette was led within
 the traders door, yet some one had managed to see her face, for the story
 went all over the wondering post that
 very Dight-women fitting with it from door to door-that every vestigc
 of her beauty was gone-she looked
 Ut least dozen years older. Blake,
 when questioned, after the first rap
 lure of the homecoming had sub
 sided, would neither affirm nor deny. 'She would neither speak to me nor harken." said he. whimsically. ..rhe
 only thing she showed was teeth ana
 temper"
 Two days after the safe lodgment
 of Eagle Wing behind the bars, the
 telegrams were coming by dozens,
 and one week after that deserved in-
 carceration. Fort Frayne heard with
 mild bewilderment the majors or
 der for Moreau's transfer to the hos pital. By that time letters, too, were
 beginning to come, and, two nights
 after this removal to the little room
 but lately occupied by Lieut.. Field this very Thanksgiving night, in fact s-the single sentry at the door stood attention to the commanding officer who in person ushered in a womanly form enyeloped in hooded cloak, and with bowed head Nanette Flower passed within tbr guarded portal, which then closed behind her and left her alone with her wounded brave.
 Just as tattoo was sounding on the infantry bugle, Esther Dade sat read ing fairy stories at the children's bedside in the quarters of Sergeant Foster, of her fathers company. There had been Thanksgiving dinner with Mrs. Ray, an Amazonian feast since all their lords were still away on service and Sandy Ray, and Billy, Jr., were perhaps too young to count. Dinner was all over by eight o'clock, and, despite some merry games. the youngsters eyes were showing symp- toms of the sandman's coming, when that privileged character, Hogan. Rays long-tried trooper now turned major domo, appeared at the door, way of the little army parlor. He had been bearer of lot of goodies to the children among the quarters of the married soldiers, and now. would Mrs. Dade please speak with Mrs. Foster, who had come over with him, and Mrs. Dade departed for the kitchen forthwith. Presently she re- turned. I'm going back awhile with Mrs. Foster" said she. She's sitting up tonight with poor Mrs. Wing, who" But there was no need of explanation. They all knew. They had laid so recently their wreaths of evergreen on the grave of the gal lant soldier who fell, fighting at the Elk, and now another helpless little soul had come to bear the buried name, and all that were left for mother and babe was woman's bound less charity. It was Thanksgiving night, and while the wall of the be- reaved and stricken went up from more than one of these humble tene- ments below the eastward bluff. there were scores of glad and grateful hearts that lifted praise and thanks giving to the throne >1n high, even though they knew not at the mo- ment that they. too. might, even then. be robbed of all that stood be- tween them and desolatiOn. Once it happened in the story of our hard fighting. hard used little army that 3 bevy uf fair young wives. nearly half a score in number in all the bravery of their summer toilets. sat in the shadow of the flag. all smiles and gladness and applause. joining in the garrison festivities on the na- tons natal day. never dreaming of the awful news that should fel them ere the coming of another sun: that one and all they had been widowed more than a week; that the men they loved. whose names they bore. lay hacked and mutiIated beyond recog- milton within sight of those very hills where now the men from Frayne