The
colonel listened to the whole story, and then told Faye that he
understood it all, that undoubtedly he would have done the same thing!
I think it was grand in Colonel Fitz-James to have been so gentle and
kind--not one word of reproach did he say to Faye. Perhaps memories of
his own wife came to him. The colonel may have a sensitive palate that
makes him unpopular with many, but there are two people in his
regiment who know that he has a heart so tender and big that the
palate will never be considered again by them. Of course the horse was
not injured in the least.
We are on the stage road to Helena, and at this place there is a fork
that leads to the northwest which the lieutenant colonel and four
companies will take to go to Fort Missoula, Montana. The colonel,
headquarters, and other companies are to be stationed at Helena
during the winter. We expect to meet the stage going south about noon
to-morrow, and you should have this in eight days. Billie squirrel has
a fine time in the wagon and is very fat. He runs off with bits of my
luncheon every day and hides them in different places in the canvas,
to his own satisfaction at least. One of the mules back of us has
become most friendly, and will take from my hand all sorts of things
to eat.
Poor Hal had a fit the other day, something like vertigo, after having
chased a rabbit.
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