Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-08-09
An lrreparable Damage.

s An lrreparable Damage. {
Gs$$Ssss>sSesS>SsssSs ssss$SssssSsss4
IOriginal1
There was In the United States army
some years ago a woman who kept up
a running Irritation with second lieu
tenants fresh from West Point When
new graduate Joined she dropped the
one she had attached to her and took
up the last conner. The first felt re-
lieved, the last f1attered. But no one
ever thought of loving the lady except
her husband.
There were together at q western
post Major and Mrs. Downing and
Lieutenant -Ewers. Upon Ewers' ar
rival Mrs. Downing dismissed the
youngster in favor and took up Ewers.
This made it embarrassing for Ewers,
for Major Downing took great fancy
to him, and Ewers was IN terror lest
the wife should compromise him with
her husband. Besides, Ewers was en-
gagged to a lovely girl in the east, who
absorbed his whole heart.
At West Point cadets are trained in
a high standard of honor and chivalry.
Ewers, who was especially amenable
to such training, found himself be-
tween two fires-honor with respect to
brother officer, chivalry in warding
of w0man's attentions. Not for
worlds would he injure Major Down.
ing; not for worlds would he put a
slight upon Major Downing's wife.
Mrs. Downing kept herself within
bounds TIT her husband was ordered
off with portion Of the command to
fight the Indians. As soon as he was
gone the lady laid open siege to Ewers.
Relief came to the poor fellow in an
order to take the remainder of tho
command and go to the support Of Ma
jor Downing. On the way Ewers was
obliged to send back report Of in
formation he had gathered as to the
Indian outbreak and sent with it let
ter to Mrs. Downing In it he took &C.
casion to talk very plainly to her, tell
ing her frankly that he was engaged to
one he loved and on his return he
should expect that they meet merely
as acquaintance and friends The
courier who carried the report and the
letter was killed on the way. His body
was found, scalped, but he had beeh
plundered Of everything he wore or
bore. .-
A few days later Ewers Joined Ma
jor Downing, and the major resolved to
attack the Indians. But the Indians
came upon him before he was ready.
A hard fight followed, which resulted
in the Indians being driven of, and
the troops, having turned the scale.
followed them, burned their village and
achieved a peace. During the fight
Major Downing saw Ewers lying on
bis back, an Indian over him raising q
tomahawk to cleave his skull. Spring
ing forward, the major caught the
blow on his left arm and lhot the In
dian with his revolver. Tho arm was
broken-indeed, it was % nearly sew
cred that for time ther4 was no hope
Of saving Il.
The force had no sooner reached the
garrison than one Of the women who
hated Mrs. Downing and coveted Ew-
ers went to the major and told him
that during his absence there had been
an affair between Ewers and his wife.
The same evening, at supper held to
celebrate the victory, the commander
Of the post congratulated Downing on
bis achievement and referred in glow
ing terms to his having saved the life
Of Lieutenant Ewers at the expense of
mo- Nvv hnVy 10S<
colored and said that he did not regret
having saved life, but he did regret
that that life could not have been 9TH
or than Ewers. A hush came over the
assembly. Ewers, who was present,
arose from his seat and left the room.
The next morning he forwarded his
resignation through his commanding Of
dcer.
Ewers wrote his fancee an account
Of the affair, which might have been
accepted could it have reached her
without her mind having been previ-
ously prejudiced. The woman who had
informed Major Downing knew Of
Ewers' fiancee and wrote her an anon
ymous letter stating that her lover
was flirting with one of the officers
wives. Therefore when Ewers' letter
was received his explanation was ~
jected.
Ewers' resignation was accepted, and
he went-no one knew where. Certain
~ he was never seen again In the Unit
ed States. His hancee relented and
wished to communicate with him, but
she could find no trace Of him.
Several years after the Indian out
break, during which these events &C.
Cured, Major Downing was made lieu
tenant colonel and placed In command
of the post where his wife had ruined
Ewers. One day a friendly Indian
chief sent to the post number Of art1-
cles that had been taken from the
whites during long period. Among
them was 9 bag Of written documents
Of di&erept kinds. There We're govern