The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-04-15
CHAPTER v.
A Disaster on the Road.

A Disaster on the Road.
To me she was merely a woman
whom 1t had become my duty to pro-
tect. and whatever of chivalrous feel
ing may have held toward her was
based upon nothing deeper than this
knowledge. She had come to us unde-
sired and in darkness. her form en-
veloped in cavalry cloak. her face
shrouded by the night. AS to wheth-
er she was young or old I had scarce
means of knowing. saving only that
the tone Of her voice and the graceful
manner Of her riding made me conf
dent that she had not lost the agility
Of youth. But beyond this vague i'm
preston lit was little more). and q
feeting CLEAN Of the starlight in her
eyes as she faced me in anger, was
as totally unaware of how she really
looked as though we had never met.
Her very name was unknown to me.
Who was this Major Brennan? Was
he father, brother or husband? and
was her name Brennan also? For
some reason this last possibility was
| repugnant to me. Yet ! knew not
why.
you ride as though born to the sad
de-" l said pleasantly; and although
| | spoke low, we were SO close to-
gether that my voice carried distinctly
| to her ears I'VE have been suffi-
GENTLY conceited to suppose that to
be an accomplishment peculiar to our
Southern women"
Il have been accustomed to ride
since childhood" she replied rather
shortly, and l was conscious Of re-
straint in her manner far from pleas
ing. Yet l ventured upon one more
effort at conversation.
is Major Brennan an officer on
Sheridan's starr"
II was not aware"-and l could not
mistake the accent of vindictiveness
in her voice-"that prisoners were
obliged to converse against their
will"
Il ask your pardon. I am sure" l
returned soberly. But my question
was not altogether an idle one L
have CHANGED to meet several Of
General sheridan's STAFF. and thought
possibly Major Brennan might have
been of their number. Seeing that
we must associate for time, nat
urally felt 1t would prove pleasanter
for both of us II we might discover
some mutual tie"
There was no response.
The road we were following here
took sudden trend downward. and
We could tell from the sharper ring
OF the hoofs. and the splitting Of flinty
sparks beneath us, that we were
among rocks once more. Then our
horses suddenly splashed into water.
and | held them up long enough to
drink. felt thirst strongly myself.
and slipping out of the saddle filled
my canteen.
Would you care for a drink" |
asked, stemming the stream to reach
her side. and holding the vessel with.
In easy grasp of her hand.
actually believe her first impulse
was to refuse haughtily this proffered
civilitX from an enemy OF her coun.
try. but the deep sense of need con.
quered her to accept the offering. An.
other hill followed. and then another,
and finally we swept swiftly down a
long slope densely bordered by trees
and with irregular piles, Of rock up
rearing ugly heads on either. hand.
caught a swift glimpse Of rough
log house on the right, so set back
among trees that | half doubted it's
real existence. when-there was a
slip. the crunching Of stone. a long
stumble forward that fairly wrenched
my hand loose from the woman's rein,
and then. hopelessly' struggling to re-
gain his feet. my horse went down
with a crash. head under. and | was
hurled heavily forward upon my face.
Craig startled at the sudden crash be-
hind him, spurred hack to learn the
full extent OF my disaster. by this
time | had regained my feet.
I'm all right, | think. sergeant"
said hastily. but the sorrel has brok.
en- her neck"
He began to swear at our Ill luck,
but | stopped him with gesture he
knew better than to ignore.
Enough of that" | commanded
sternly. bad fortune Is seldom bet
tered by hard words. First OF ALL
help me to drag this dead body out OF
sight"