Year: 1871

two brother soldiers Here's what "


got 10 say I am grie7ed.to see that tn


girl isn't certain that she likes me the bet


ter Of US two but the Lord knows | neve


want her to marry me if she don't. Nov


l propose that we both act with the utmos


fairness about the matter; and if you cal


fairly persuade her that you are a bette


man than ! am--why, then take her, o.


course, and joy 60 With you


Agreed, said 1, wringing his hand


heartily. We are friends from this hour,


propose this, he continued. II
not visit her on any Monday, Wednesday
or Friday evening you shall uot on Tues


day, Thursday or Saturday. Sunday
shall be neutral ground both parties al
I liberty to visit her if they please Thu.
we shall have a fair field, and the best
man will vin-or at least the man she
/ considers the pest. What do YOU say ?
/ The novelty Of the thing, and the perfect
candor Of the captain charmed me We
shook hands over the compact, and brought
out a bottle Of wine to cIinch it. Aud
that being Wednesday, I began the eve
ming by visiting Minnie


Well-the rivalry was kept up briskly
for over five months, during which time it
was hard TO tell which was the favored
suitor. The girl was no dirt, but sne
weuld have taken either one Of US without
hesitation II the o,her had been out Of the
way and to choose between two fellows,
both young and good-looking-if L do say
it-oither Of whom she liked we'll enough
TO marry, was no easy thing to DO. In the
end the captain prevailed. l never knew
how or why l almost believe the girl de-
cided by the toss Of copper. 1t hurt me
some, Of course; but [ bore it very well,
and made out to congratulate my rival on
his success, as / knew he would have done
if our positions had been reversed. Soon
after Captain Gross reported for duty, and
l was ordered back to Fort Belknap, much
to my relief


Just as l was riding away from head
quarters with my escort, Captain Barker
came out and detained me a few minutes
He tod me he was to marry Minnie there
at the Fort in Just three months from that
day, and wanted me to promise him sacred


y that l would be there to stand up with
him 1t was her wish also ne said


I told him 1 would come.


If you don't, he said, lifting his finger
warningly, as he shook my hand again, IT
you don't, nothing will induce me to be-
lieve that you have kept no bitterness from
this rivalry.


] think that if the good fellow had an
ticipated the pcrils that those farewell
words were to urge me into: he would have
put them less strongly


This was the first day Of July. | re-
turned to Fort Belknap, and the next two
months passed without anything unusual or
noticeable Then there was d train Of
quartermaster' stores to be escorted 10 a
post a great distance north of US, through
a country Astounding with hostile Indians
Ny company was one Of the three detailed
to guard it. We had tolerable time,
with as many as dozen fights with the
redskins, and lost eight men 1t was lad
and dangerous duty, and We were more
than four weeks performing it.


We reached Belknap on the morning Of
the first day Of October. At nine o'clock
that evening, Captain Barker and Minnie
March were to be married at Fort Hooker.


l entered the quarters and found a note
from the captain, dated a week back. In it
he reminded me Of my promise, and ear
nestly cutrcatcd ne not to break it. 1t
will be drawback to the pleasure Of the
whole affair if You are absent be con
Guided.


| took the note in my hand and went to
the quarters Of our major who commanded
here. / explained the matter to him, and
told him that I wanted to leave to 20 to
Fort Hooker Immediately.


To Hooker he echoed, in amazemont.
. 1 fancy you don't know what's happened
between here and there in your absence.
The id Iujuns are lurking all through
the woods they've waylaid aud killed
three of the men, and are up 70 all kinds
Of deviltry The colonel is about to spring
a movement on them that viii finish them
up | hope, but a present It's not safe to
ride from here there without a bigger cs-
cort than you can have from this post


IN take the risk, sir.


What, would you venture aiouey


=. | say I'm ready to risk it..


Wel I'm not then. returned major,
You'd never get there alive


You don't forbid me trying it. sir, |
hope p


That's just what do. Try it, and
lIl court martial you, if there ever
enough OF you gets back to court martial


I bowed and returned to my quarters,
saying nothing more, but thinking a great
leal. | had determined to 90 before |
asked leave; and the major refusal only
stimulated my determination. l might
ret into trouble disobeying orders but l
thought that, under the circumstances, 1
,ouId only rely on the colonel to help me
0u.


| sat down to think the matter over.
" hat the major had told me about the
Indians made me, after all, somewhat du-
oious about undertaking this risky ride.
[ had not q horse Of my own IN condition
to warrant it ; the best ones that / might
borrow had been quite used up by the late
lard service and to attempt the journey
without feet animal was folly that was
not capable Of.


thought the matter over till late III
he afternoon, and then 81 the last moment,
IN idea struck me. In one instant | re-
.olveJ how l would 60. put on ny belt
with two large rcvolvers in 1t, and walked
7ut into the stable The officers horses .
we're kept by themselves in one row OF
stalls; and pointing to one Of them, said
to the man who was just then in charge
IF them


Lead that animal out by the halter.
Take him out through the large gate, as i
YOU were going to water him


Why, sir the man exclaimed,
amazed almost beyond speech by what he
heard


Obey me- sternly Interrupted,


l walked briskly toward the gate, and
looking over my shoulder, I saw that be
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