The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-02-14
An Irreparable Damage.
[Originnl.l

running filtration with second neu-
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 flattered. But no ono
ever thought Of loving the lady except
her husband.
There were together at a 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 embarra ssing 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 lovely girl in the east, who
absorbed his whole heart.
At West Point cadets are trained in
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
off womans 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 till 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 the
command and 60 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 1t a let
ter to Mrs. Downing. In 1t he took Oc.
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
MS acquaintances and friends. The
courier who carried the report and the
letter was killed on the way. His body
was found, scalped, but he had been
plundered of everything he wore or
bore.
A few days later Ewers Joined Ma
jOr Owning, and the major resolved to
| uttutaa tuG luultHS. but tlit lHtllituS
came upon him before he was ready.
A hard fight followed, which resulted
In the Indians being driven off, 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
his back, an Indian over him raising a
tomahawk to cleave his skull Spring
Ing forward the major caught the
dian with his revolver. The arm was
broken-indeed, 1t was so nearly sew
cred that for time there was no hope
Of saving It,
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
his achievement and referred in glow
ing terms to bis having saved the life
Of Lieutenant Ewers at the expense Of
nearly having lost an arm. Downing
colored and said that he did not regret
having saved a life, but he did regret
that that life could not have been 9TH
sr 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
hcer
Ewers wrote his fancee an account
of the affair, which might have been
accepted could 1t 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 re-
jected.
Ewers' resignation was accepted. and
he went-no one knew where. Certain
ly he was never seen again in the Unit
ed States. His fiancee 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 oc-
Cured, Major Downing was made lieu
tenant colonel and placed in command
of the post where his wife had ruined
Ewers. One day friendly Indian
chief sent to the post number of arti
cles that had been taken from the
whites during long period. Among
them was bag of written documents
of different kinds. There were govern
ment and army dispatches and private
letters.
Major Downing examined them Der.
sonally and among the letters came
upon one addressed to his wife. She
had partly convinced him that Ewers
had forced his attentions upon her, but
there had always been some doubt In
his mind. After celebrating whether
he should give the letter to his wife or
read 1t he decided on the latter course
He read what Ewers had written Mrs
Downing complaining of her conduct
and telling her of his engagement 70
another.
Major Downing sent the letter to the
girl who was to have married Ewers