scandalized¡¡at¡¡the¡¡naive¡¡air¡¡of¡¡camaraderie¡¡with¡¡which¡¡Mrs¡£
Lascelles¡¡received¡¡his¡¡attentions¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡Peter¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little
disturbed¡£¡¡¡¡Only¡¡Lascelles£»¡¡delighted¡¡with¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡animation£»
and¡¡pleased¡¡at¡¡her¡¡success£»¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡her¡¡with¡¡unqualified
admiration¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡so¡¡satisfied¡¡with¡¡her¡¡improvement£»¡¡and
so¡¡sanguine¡¡of¡¡her¡¡ultimate¡¡recovery£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡justified¡¡in
leaving¡¡her¡¡with¡¡her¡¡brother¡¡and¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡Omaha¡¡by¡¡the¡¡regular
mail¡¡wagon¡¡next¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡danger¡¡to¡¡be¡¡apprehended¡¡in¡¡her
accompanying¡¡Peter£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡a¡¡full¡¡escort£»¡¡the¡¡reservation
lay¡¡in¡¡a¡¡direction¡¡unfrequented¡¡by¡¡marauding¡¡tribes£»¡¡the¡¡road¡¡was
the¡¡principal¡¡one¡¡used¡¡by¡¡the¡¡government¡¡to¡¡connect¡¡the¡¡fort¡¡with
the¡¡settlements£»¡¡and¡¡well¡¡traveled£»¡¡the¡¡officers'¡¡wives¡¡had¡¡often
journeyed¡¡thither¡£
The¡¡childish¡¡curiosity¡¡and¡¡high¡¡spirits¡¡which¡¡Jenny¡¡showed¡¡on¡¡the
journey¡¡to¡¡the¡¡reservation¡¡was¡¡increased¡¡when¡¡she¡¡reached¡¡it¡¡and
drew¡¡up¡¡before¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡agent¡£¡¡¡¡Peter¡¡was¡¡relieved£»
he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡anxious¡¡and¡¡nervous¡¡as¡¡to¡¡any¡¡instinctive¡¡effect¡¡which
might¡¡be¡¡produced¡¡on¡¡her¡¡excitable¡¡nature¡¡by¡¡a¡¡first¡¡view¡¡of¡¡her
own¡¡kinsfolk£»¡¡although¡¡she¡¡was¡¡still¡¡ignorant¡¡of¡¡her¡¡relationship¡£
Her¡¡interest¡¡and¡¡curiosity£»¡¡however£»¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡abnormal¡¡in¡¡it¡£
But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡produced¡¡upon¡¡THEM¡¡at¡¡her
first¡¡appearance¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡braves¡¡gathered¡¡eagerly¡¡around¡¡her£»
and¡¡one¡¡even¡¡addressed¡¡her¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡guttural¡¡tongue£»¡¡at¡¡which¡¡she
betrayed¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡alarm£»¡¡and¡¡Peter¡¡saw¡¡with¡¡satisfaction
that¡¡she¡¡drew¡¡close¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Knowing¡¡that¡¡his¡¡old¡¡interpreter¡¡and
Gray¡¡Eagle¡¡were¡¡of¡¡a¡¡different¡¡and¡¡hostile¡¡tribe¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡miles
away£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡his¡¡secret¡¡was¡¡safe¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡he¡¡simply¡¡introduced
her¡¡as¡¡his¡¡sister¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡presently¡¡found¡¡that¡¡the¡¡braves¡¡had
added¡¡to¡¡their¡¡curiosity¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡suspiciousness¡¡and¡¡sullen
demeanor£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡resign¡¡his¡¡sister¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of
the¡¡agent's¡¡wife£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡prosecuted¡¡his¡¡business¡¡of¡¡examination
and¡¡inspection¡£¡¡¡¡Later£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cabin£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡met¡¡by
the¡¡agent£»¡¡who¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡with¡¡difficulty¡¡suppressing¡¡a¡¡laugh¡£
¡¨Your¡¡sister¡¡is¡¡exciting¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡sensation¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you
know¡¡that¡¡some¡¡of¡¡these¡¡idiotic¡¡braves¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Medicine¡¡Man¡¡insist
upon¡¡it¡¡that¡¡she's¡¡A¡¡SQUAW£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡you're¡¡keeping¡¡her¡¡in
captivity¡¡against¡¡your¡¡plighted¡¡faith¡¡to¡¡them£¡¡¡¡¡You'll¡¡excuse¡¡me£»¡¨
he¡¡went¡¡on¡¡with¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡recover¡¡his¡¡gravity£»¡¡¡¨troubling¡¡you
with¡¡their¡¡dd¡¡fool¡¡talk£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡won't¡¡say¡¡anything¡¡to¡¡HER¡¡about
it£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡you¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡know¡¡it¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡your¡¡position
among¡¡'em¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡their¡¡confidence£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡know
how¡¡easily¡¡their¡¡skeery¡¡faculties¡¡are¡¡stampeded¡¡with¡¡an¡¡idea£¡¡¨
¡¨Where¡¡is¡¡she¡¡now£¿¡¨¡¡demanded¡¡Peter£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡darkening¡¡face¡£
¡¨Somewhere¡¡with¡¡the¡¡squaws£»¡¡I¡¡reckon¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡might¡¡be¡¡a
little¡¡skeered¡¡of¡¡the¡¡braves£»¡¡and¡¡I've¡¡kept¡¡them¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡SHE'S¡¡all
right£»¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡only¡¡if¡¡you¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡here¡¡long¡¡I'd¡¨
But¡¡Peter¡¡was¡¡already¡¡striding¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thicket
of¡¡cottonwood¡¡where¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡ripple¡¡of¡¡women's¡¡and¡¡children's
voices¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡penetrated¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡found¡¡his¡¡sister¡¡sitting¡¡on
a¡¡stump£»¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡a¡¡laughing£»¡¡gesticulating¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡young
girls¡¡and¡¡old¡¡women£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡tightly¡¡swaddled¡¡papoose¡¡in¡¡her¡¡lap¡£
Some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡already¡¡half¡¡mischievously£»¡¡half¡¡curiously
possessed¡¡themselves¡¡of¡¡her¡¡dust¡¡cloak£»¡¡hat£»¡¡parasol£»¡¡and¡¡gloves£»
and¡¡were¡¡parading¡¡before¡¡her¡¡in¡¡their¡¡grotesque¡¡finery£»¡¡apparently
as¡¡much¡¡to¡¡her¡¡childish¡¡excited¡¡amusement¡¡as¡¡their¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was
even¡¡answering¡¡their¡¡gesticulations¡¡with¡¡equivalent¡¡gestures¡¡in¡¡her
attempt¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡trying¡¡amidst¡¡shouts¡¡of¡¡laughter¡¡to
respond¡¡to¡¡the¡¡monotonous¡¡chant¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡women¡¡who¡¡were
zigzagging¡¡a¡¡dance¡¡before¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡gayly¡¡striped¡¡blankets
lying¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡the¡¡strings¡¡of¡¡beads£»¡¡wampum£»¡¡and¡¡highly
colored¡¡feathers¡¡hanging¡¡from¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flickering¡¡lights
and¡¡shadows£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡innocent¡¡and¡¡even¡¡idyllic¡¡picture£»¡¡but¡¡the
more¡¡experienced¡¡Peter¡¡saw¡¡in¡¡the¡¡performances¡¡only¡¡the¡¡uncertain
temper¡¡and¡¡want¡¡of¡¡consecutive¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡playing¡¡animals£»¡¡and¡¡the
stolid¡¡unwinking¡¡papoose¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sister's¡¡lap¡¡gave¡¡his¡¡sentiment¡¡a
momentary¡¡shock¡£
Seeing¡¡him¡¡approach¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡him£»¡¡the¡¡squaws¡¡and¡¡children
slinking¡¡away¡¡from¡¡his¡¡grave¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡had¡¡such¡¡a¡¡funny¡¡time£»
Peter£¡¡¡¡¡Only¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡they've¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡men¡¡or
women¡¡with¡¡decent¡¡clothes¡¡before£»of¡¡course¡¡the¡¡settlers'¡¡wives
don't¡¡dress¡¡much£»and¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡they'd¡¡have¡¡had¡¡everything¡¡I
possess¡¡if¡¡you¡¡hadn't¡¡come¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡they're¡¡TOO¡¡funny¡¡for¡¡anything¡£
It¡¡was¡¡killing¡¡to¡¡see¡¡them¡¡put¡¡on¡¡my¡¡hat¡¡wrong¡¡side¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡try
to¡¡make¡¡one¡¡out¡¡of¡¡my¡¡parasol¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡like¡¡them¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡better
than¡¡those¡¡gloomy¡¡chiefs£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡them¡¡almost¡£
And¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡Peter£»¡¡somehow¡¡I¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡known¡¡them¡¡all
before¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡those¡¡dear¡¡little¡¡papooses£»¡¡aren't¡¡they¡¡ridiculously
lovely¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡only¡¡wish¡¨she¡¡stopped£»¡¡for¡¡Peter¡¡had¡¡somewhat
hurriedly¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡boy¡¡from¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡restored¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the
frightened¡¡mother¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡singular¡¡change¡¡came¡¡over¡¡her¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡she
glanced¡¡at¡¡him¡¡quickly¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡she¡¡resumed£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡heightened¡¡color£»
¡¨I¡¡like¡¡it¡¡ever¡¡so¡¡much¡¡better¡¡here¡¡than¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fort¡£¡¡¡¡And
ever¡¡so¡¡much¡¡better¡¡than¡¡New¡¡York¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡wonder¡¡that¡¡you¡¡like
them¡¡so¡¡much£»¡¡Peter£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡so¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Don't¡¡be¡¡angry£»
dear£»¡¡because¡¡I¡¡let¡¡them¡¡have¡¡my¡¡things£»¡¡I'm¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡never¡¡cared
particularly¡¡for¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡such¡¡fun¡¡to¡¡dress¡¡as
they¡¡do¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Peter¡¡remembered¡¡keenly¡¡his¡¡sudden¡¡shock¡¡at¡¡her
precipitate¡¡change¡¡to¡¡bright¡¡colors¡¡after¡¡leaving¡¡her¡¡novitiate¡¡at
the¡¡Sacred¡¡Heart¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡do¡¡hope£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡went¡¡on¡¡eagerly£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡we¡¡are
going¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡here¡£¡¨
¡¨We¡¡are¡¡leaving¡¡to¡morrow£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡curtly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡find¡¡I¡¡have¡¡urgent
business¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fort¡£¡¨
And¡¡they¡¡did¡¡leave¡£¡¡¡¡None¡¡too¡¡soon£»¡¡thought¡¡Peter¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Indian
agent£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡faces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dusky¡¡chiefs¡¡who¡¡had
gathered¡¡around¡¡the¡¡cabin¡£¡¡¡¡Luckily¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡their¡¡cavalry
escort¡¡rendered¡¡any¡¡outbreak¡¡impossible£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stoical
taciturnity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡race¡¡kept¡¡Peter¡¡from¡¡any¡¡verbal¡¡insult¡£¡¡¡¡But
Mrs¡£¡¡Lascelles¡¡noticed¡¡their¡¡lowering¡¡dissatisfaction£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡eyes
flashed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡wonder¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡punish¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡simply¡£
For¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡after¡¡their¡¡return¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡allude¡¡to¡¡her¡¡visit£»
and¡¡Peter¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡her¡¡late¡¡impressions¡¡were¡¡as
volatile¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡childlike¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡devoted¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡his
government¡¡report£»¡¡and¡¡while¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡up¡¡his¡¡communications¡¡with¡¡the
reservation¡¡and¡¡the¡¡agent£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡present¡¡domiciled¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡the
fort¡£
Colonel¡¡Bryce£»¡¡the¡¡commandant¡¡though¡¡doubtful¡¡of¡¡civilians£»¡¡was¡¡not
slow¡¡to¡¡appreciate¡¡the¡¡difference¡¡of¡¡playing¡¡host¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of
Atherly's¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡position¡¡and¡¡even¡¡found¡¡in¡¡Peter's¡¡reserve¡¡and
melancholy¡¡an¡¡agreeable¡¡relief¡¡to¡¡the¡¡somewhat¡¡boisterous¡¡and
material¡¡recreations¡¡of¡¡garrison¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡gentle¡¡check¡¡upon¡¡the
younger¡¡officers¡£¡¡¡¡For£»¡¡while¡¡Peter¡¡did¡¡not¡¡gamble¡¡or¡¡drink£»¡¡there
was¡¡yet¡¡an¡¡unobtrusive¡¡and¡¡gentle¡¡dignity¡¡in¡¡his¡¡abstention¡¡that
relieved¡¡him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡attitude¡¡of¡¡a¡¡prig¡¡or¡¡an¡¡¡¨example¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£
Lascelles¡¡was¡¡popular¡¡with¡¡the¡¡officers£»¡¡and¡¡accepted¡¡more
tolerantly¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wives£»¡¡since¡¡they¡¡recognized¡¡her¡¡harmlessness¡£
Once¡¡or¡¡twice¡¡she¡¡was¡¡found¡¡apparently¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡the
gesticulations¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡¡¨friendlies¡¨¡¡who¡¡had¡¡penetrated¡¡the¡¡parade
ground¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fort¡¡to¡¡barter¡¡beads¡¡and¡¡wampum¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡colonel¡¡was
obliged¡¡at¡¡last¡¡to¡¡caution¡¡her¡¡against¡¡this£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡found¡¡that¡¡in
her¡¡inexperience¡¡she¡¡had¡¡given¡¡them¡¡certain¡¡articles¡¡that¡¡were
contraband¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rules£»¡¡and¡¡finally¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡them¡¡from¡¡an¡¡intrusion
which¡¡was¡¡becoming¡¡more¡¡frequent¡¡and¡¡annoying¡£¡¡¡¡Left¡¡thus¡¡to
herself£»¡¡she¡¡relieved¡¡her¡¡isolation¡¡by¡¡walks¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡precincts¡¡of
the¡¡garrison£»¡¡where¡¡she¡¡frequently¡¡met¡¡those¡¡¡¨friendly¡¨¡¡wanderers£»
chiefly¡¡squaws¡¡and¡¡children¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡she¡¡was¡¡again¡¡cautioned¡¡by¡¡the
commander£»
¡¨Don't¡¡put¡¡too¡¡much¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡those¡¡creatures£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Lascelles¡£¡¨
Jenny¡¡elevated¡¡her¡¡black¡¡brows¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡up¡¡her¡¡arched¡¡nose¡¡like¡¡a
charger¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡old¡¡women¡¡and¡¡children£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said
loftily¡£
¡¨But¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡colonel¡¡gravely¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡a¡¡horrible¡¡thing¡¡to
think¡¡of£»¡¡but¡¡these¡¡feeble¡¡old¡¡women¡¡and¡¡innocent¡¡children¡¡are
always¡¡selected¡¡to¡¡torture¡¡the¡¡prisoners¡¡taken¡¡by¡¡the¡¡braves£»¡¡and£»
by¡¡Jove£»¡¡they¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡like¡¡it¡£¡¨
Thus¡¡restricted£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Lascelles¡¡fell¡¡back¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡attentions¡¡of
Lieutenant¡¡Forsyth£»¡¡whose¡¡gallantry¡¡was¡¡always¡¡as¡¡fresh¡¡as¡¡his
smart¡¡cadet¡like¡¡tunics£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡took¡¡some¡¡rides¡¡together¡£
Whether¡¡it¡¡was¡¡military¡¡caution¡¡or¡¡the¡¡feminine¡¡discretion¡¡of¡¡the
colonel's¡¡wife£»to¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡amusement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡officers£»a
trooper¡¡was¡¡added¡¡to¡¡the¡¡riding¡¡party¡¡by¡¡the¡¡order¡¡of¡¡the¡¡colonel£»
and¡¡thereafter¡¡it¡¡consisted¡¡of¡¡three¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡night£»¡¡however£»¡¡the
riders¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appear¡¡at¡¡dinner£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡considerable
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