Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-06
A Daughter 9! the Sioux
By GEN. CHARLES KING.
1902, by The Hobart Company.

And though his favorite comrades at the post were captains like Blake and Billy Ray, married men both whose wives he worshipped, the ma 1 jor's rugged heart went out especial ly to Beverly Field, his boy adjutant, lad who came to them from West Point only three years before the autumn this story opens, young fellow full of high health, pluck and principle-a tip top soldier, said everybody from the start, until, as {, Gregg and other growlers began to declaim, the major completely spoiled him. Here. three years only out of military leadingstrings, he was a young cock of the walk. "too dam independent for second lieutenant" said the officers club element of the command, men like Gregg, Wilkins, Crane and few of their following "The keenest young trooper in the regiment" said Blake and Ray, who were among it's keenest captains, and never cloud had sailed across the serene sky of their friendship and esteem until this glorious September of 1sS- when Nanette Flower, a bril- liant, beautiful brunette came a visi- tor to old Fort Frayne.
 And it was on her account the major would, could he have seen the way, said no to the adjutant's request to be absent again. On her account and that of one other, for that re- quest meant another long morning in saddle with Miss Flower, another long morning in which "the sweet est girl in the garrison" so said they all, would go about her daily duties with an aching heart. There was no woman at Fort Frayne who did not know that Esther Dade thought all the world of Beverly Field. There was one man who ap- parently had no inkling of it-Beverly Field himself.
 She was the only daughter of a veteran officer, captain of infantry, who at the age of 50, after having held high command in the volun- teers during the civil war, was still meekly doing duty as a company officer of regulars nearly two decades after. She had been carefully reared by a most loving and thoughtful mother, even in the crude old days of the army, when it's fighting force was scattered in small attachments all over the wide frontier, and men, and women, too, lived on soldier ra- tions, eked out with game, and dwelt in tents or ramshackle, one-storied huts, built by the labor of troops" At 12 she had been placed at school in the far east, while her father en- ioyed two years tour on fecruiting service, and there, under the care of a noble woman who taught her girls to be women indeed-not vapid votaries of pleasure and fashion, Es- ther spent five useful years, coming back to her fond fathers soldier roof a winsome picture of girlish health and grace and comeliness-a girl who could ride. walk and run if need
 
 and sew, cut, fashion and make her own simple wardrobe; who knew al- zebra, geometry and "trig" quite as well as, and history, geography and grammar far better than, most of the young West Pointers; a girl who spoke her own tongue with accura- cy and was not badly versed in French; a girl who performed fairly we'll on the piano and guitar, but who sang full-throated, rejoiceful, exulting like the lark-the soulful music that brought delight to her ageing father, half crippled by the wounds of the war days, and to the mother who so devotedly loved and carefully planned for her. Within a month from her graduation at Madame Piatt's she had become the darling of Fort Fravne, the pet of many a household. the treasure of her own. With other young gallants of the garrison. Beverly Field had had been prompt to call, prompt to be her escort when dance or drive, ride or picnic was planned in her honor, especially the ride, for Mir. Adjutant Field loved the saddle, the open prairie or the bold. undulating bluffs. But Field was the busiest man at the post. Other youngsters, troop or company subaltern.. had far more time al their disposal. and begged for rides and dances, strolls and sports which the post sdjutant was generally far too busy to claim. It was Esther who brought lawn ten his to Frayne and found eager pupils of both sexes, but Field had been the first to meet and welcome her: had been for a brief time at the start her most constant cavalier. Then. as others began 10 feel the charm of her frank. cordial. joyous manner, and learned to read the beauty that bsamed in her clear, truthful eyes and winsome, yet not beautiful face. they became assiduous in tgrn-two of them almost distressinFly so-snd she could uotwound them byrefussls. Then cam. fortnirht in which her father sat ss a member of a court martial at old Fort Laramie. where were the band, headquarters and four troops of the -th. and Captain and Mrs. Freeman who were there stationed. begged that Mrs. Dad. and Esther should come and visit them during the session of the court There would be all manner of army zsities and a crowd of Outsid. of- 6cers. and. as luck would have it. Mr. Field was ordered thither as a wifne.. in two important eases The