Year: 1869

A STORY OF LIFE ON THE FRONTIER.


A storm had ragged all day the bel
b. lowing blast carrying with it dirt and
fine articles of sand. until the cloud
was not only binding, but till it was
next to impossible for human being
to venture from under cover without
havingt very flesh lacerated or peel
ed from his bones. Tents lay scatter.
ed and rent in every direction, and
even some of the 'tdobie" quarters
had even beeen leveled with their
mother earth. Indeed, Fort >edgwick
presented much such an appearance as
might have been expected had band
of Sioux Indians made successful as
sault upon the place.
I AS the darkness came on the wind
ceased to some extent, and then a
steady storm set in, almost as terrible
as was the sand tempest of the dav.
1t was densely dark, and this darkness
was favorable to the movements Of a
savage band. who had lurked in a
shallow ravine l.ehind the bluffs, back
about two miles from the Platte river.
The bugles at the fort had just
sounded the tattoo and taps, when one
of the hand referred to arose from his
PROSTATE position, and, as he did so,
gave vent to q course and mocking
lau h.


Immediate ely after a small light
shot up. He ignited a match for the
purpose of lightlog his pipe, and the
brief fame, hs he protected it from
the wind with his fur cap, revealed
lis features. He was hideous in the
extreme: and although painted il e a
savage. it was easy for an eXperi,nc-
ed eye to d tet.t the fact that he was
-nntso.- Then His voice and words
W :e another proof, for turning round
lie spoke thus:


~ en-, you will understand that
cur work must be quickly performed.
AT the fir alarm thu ST. have de-
sign, will dash into the quart ermas-
te the sutler and The c. mmi ~sary's.
| have busineSs at the commandant's S
quarters, and this 1 shall perform
alone. shall lie successful !; and if
YOU are not equally so tile fault will he
Your owI NOT miIe. In all cases OF
this kind you must resolve that you
will succeed or die, and then you will
never know the meaning of failure.
Come, and be cautious y


Some twenty o" thirty dark forms


rere seen to arise as if out of the


pund, and then they silently took
way down the bluffs toward the
fer.a1dSoon, however. the band seEla
rat ID land every one of the number
proc> ed d onward. singly. Those who
mad received their instructions from
the mastertspirit simply contented
themselves with gaining certain posi-
lions, and avoided every sentinel.
Not so with the e'leader.


When this person had arrived with
in hundred yards of the hospital. he
paused and stood silently surveying
the camp. Here and there were dim
lights, but barracks and tents general
" were wrapped in gloom. After
time the man muttered:


Everything favors me tonight,
and 1 feel like tiger. o, shah l
succeed! IF I do not, death will be
the only thing which will prevent me.
Do love that girl? scarcely know
l have strange feelings when in her
presence. Something of the past
comes up before me; but the recollec-
ton is Ike a dim dream. / am puz-
zled. Many is the time / have felt
an inclination to spring upon her,
even as the tiger would upon the
young fawn, and rend her into pieces
and then 1 felt lain as though / must
fold her to my breast and weep Curse
upon it-what is this !? Hand me if
l d mt think that tear drop has al
r ady started from my eyes and dam
pened my cheek Pshaw! Mad Le-
on, the renegade weep! Preposter-
Gus. 1t is only melted ice drop
melted by its cnntact with my warm


h elk But never shall n,u heart be
ne ed


slowly did the renegade now ad-
vance, and as lie approached the hos
pital he crouchsi lower and lower,
until he actually erawled upon his
belly like a serpent. Now he reached
the building, and then he clung close
ly 10 the val $, still retaining his pros
trate position.


1t was bRI q moment after that a
football was heard, and guard passed
the vii ain who was not discovered.
The soldier was closely wrapped in
his great coat, while he carried his
carbine in such manner as to protect
it from the damp lie did not dream
that even death was lowering so near
him. n moment after 1fe turned, and
then pauseG exactly at the place where
the renegade saas lying. But quick as
the lightaing's flask he was hurled to
the earth, and the dark monster was
upon his breast. y sharp cry arose,
anil then it became a death-wail mer-
ging into a moan and silence, for
tu se knife was plunged into the quiv-
er ng breast of the guard, and his life
gushed forth with his crimson gore.


The murderer had clutched the
thro 1t of his victim in order to pre-
vent any outcry from the dying man,
and had only partially succeeded. He
now ralsed his heal and listened at