Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-22

them none whatever. To make 1t
short, the captain married her. Seem
ed like he got disregardful of every
thing, and the hunger to have a won.
an just overpowered him. She'd beer
courted by every single man for 4O(
miles around. She was pretty and full
Of fire, and they was both Of an age te
love hard, so Jefferson swore he'd
make the other women take her, but
soldierin' is heap different from any
other profession, and the army has got
its own traditions. The plan wouldn't
work.
"By and by the captain got tired OF
tryin' and gave up the attempt-just
devoted himself to her-and then we
was transferred, all but him. We shift
ed to better post, but Captain Jeffer
son was changed to another company
and had to stay at Supply. Gee, i,
was a rotten hole! influence had beef
used, and there he stuck, while tn
new officers cut him out completely
|! just like the others had done, SO was
told, and 1t drifted on that way for a
long time, him forever maxim an up
hill fight to get his wife reco'nized and
always quittin' loser. His folks back
east was scandalized and froze him
cold, CALM him squaw man, and the
story went all through the army, till
bis brother officers had to treat him
cold in order to keep enough warmth
at home to live by, one thing leadin'
/ hn -
openly. After that he didn't last long.
They made it so unpleasant that he
quit the service-crowded him out,
that's all. he was a born soldier, too,
and didn't know nothin' else nor care
Tor nothin' else; as fine man as /
ever served under, but it soured him
so that rattlesnake couldn't have
lived with him. He tried to go into
some kind of business after he quit the
army, but he wasn't cut out for it and
never made good as long as knew of
him. The last time I seen him was
down on the border, and he had sure
grown cultus. He had quit the squaw,
who was lvin' with greaser in Tue
SON.
"And do you think I'm like that wo-
man?" said Necia in a queer, strained
voice. She had listened intently to the
corporafs story, but he had purposely
avoided her eyes and could not tell
how she was taking it.
mo! You're different, but the army
is just the same. told you this to
show you how it is out in the States.
1t don't apply to you, Of course"-
"Of counsel" agreed Necia again.
"But what would happen to Lieuten-
ant Burrell if-if-well, If he should do
something like that? There are many
half breed girls, dare say, like this
other girl, or-like me.''
She did not flush now as before. In.
stead her cheeks were pale.
1T would go heap worse with him
than it did with Captain Jefferson %
said the corporal, "for he's got more
ahead of him, and he comes from bet
ter stock. Why, his family is way up. -
Il never thought Of myself as an In
dian," said Necia duly. "In this coun-
try it's PERSONS heart that counts"
THAT'S how it ought to be-" said the
corporal heartily, "and I'm mighty sor-
~ If I've hurt you, little girl. I'm a
rough old rooster, and never thought
but what you understood all this. Up
here folks look at it right, but outside
it's mighty different. Even yet you
don't half understand"
I'm glad I'm what am" cried the
girl. 'There's nothing in my blood to
be ashamed of, and I'm white in here"
She struck her bosom fiercely. "If a
man loves me he'll take me, no matter
what it means to him."
The corporal slid down from the
counter where he had been sitting.
I'm goin' to hunt up the lieutenant
and get him to let me of. Mebbe I
can stake claim and sell It,"
The moment he was gone the girls
composure vanished, and she gave vent
to her feelings.
cts a lie! It's a liew she cried
aloud, and with her fists she beat the
boards in front Of her. "He loves me!
I know he doesv' Then she began to
tremble and sobbed, I'm just like
other girls"
She was still wrestling with herself
!! when Gale returned, and he started at
the look in her face as she approached
him.
"why did you marry my mother?"
she asked. "Why? Why did you do
it?"
He saw that she was in rage and
answered bluntly, II didn't"
She shrank at this. '"Then why
didn't you? Shame! Shame! That
makes me worse than I thought was.
oh, why did you ever turn squaw man?
Why did you make me breed?"
Look here! What ails you?" said
the trader.
1--WE just begun to realize what I
am. I'm not respectable. I'm not like
other women and never can be. I'm q
squaw-a squaw!"
YOU'RE notw he cried.
mo honest man can marry me. I'm
a vagabond! The best can get is my
bed and board, like my mother"
by heaven! Who offered you that?"
Gales face was whittier than hers now.
but she disregarded him.
He can play with me, but nothing
more, and when he is gone another
one can have me. and then another and
another and another"
"That's all internal rot" he said