Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-19
PATHOS IN THE WILDS.
Weary Watching for One Who
Came Too Late.
The Romantic story OF Beautiful Young
Woman Who Haunted the Railway sta .
tIOD at San Marcos. Tex.-Her
UntImcIy Ffte.
[san Marcos Cor. Ny. Journal,


For several months past the hangers -on
around the depot have seen handsome
young woman come down the road 70 tho
depot just before the semi-daily arrival of
the San Antonio train. The train having
stopped at the station she woull scan each
passengers face. always with discomfort,
and then walk slowly away with averted
face.
When first noticed she attracted much
attention by her elegance of dress and
manner. She registered at the leading ho-
tel as Mrs. Bush, and told the clerk joyful
ly that she was expecting her husband
from San Antonio by the next days train.
On the following day she was promptly
at the station and met her first disappoint-
ment- She met the evening train on it's ar
rival and was again disappointed.
3" don't see why he doesn't coma," said
the lady to the hotel clerk: "but perhaps
be was detained by important business.
He will surely be here tomorrow"
Two weeks went by, but the expected
ono never Jumped from the platform
Of the train TO greet the faithful
little woman who trudged to the depot in
rain and against the chilling northers that
besnn to sweep down from the hills.
The lady went from the leading hotel to
sccond-rate house nearer the depot. and
as the weather grew colder it was noticed
b. the l0ungers that she had discard od her
sacque and was not so well dressed as she
was at first. Curiosity about her died
away aud she attracted no more attention
than the one hack driver who was no more
regular in his trips 10 the station than was
che.
Mrs. Bush evnded public notice, only ap-
pearing on the street TO meet the train or
10 dispose of rinket or dress to the Shy
lock Of the town. AS month after month
slipped away the long weary time told
heavily on the deserted bril6. for such
she described herself to be. She lost the
bright air and jaunty step. and os late has
only been able to drag herself to the depot.
She grew despondent an toll a woman in
the poor loising-house to which she was
finally driven that she could not keep up
the strain much longer.
Within the past week OF two the strange
lady has gone to the depot when she
should have been on a sick bed. A deep
red spot on either cheek burned brightly
In tho snowy whi eness of her face. She
wrapped thin shawl over her ill-clad
shoulders. Even the shawl was a loan
from the poor woman in the house. the
only friend the deserted wife found during
her stay.
In the fall OF sDow. heavy for Texas,
which kept nearly everybody indoors, the
unhappy bride ploddcd to the station at
tie schedule time for the arrival Of the
train. The cars were delayed by the
snowfall and she waited three hours in the
cold station, which is destitute OF heating
facilities. Her thin shoes had lony been
worn out and she had no protection from
now.
The station agent told the forsaken wife
that the train would be late and she had
better go home. This she refuse to do.
He may come by this very train" she
said, "and what would he say if L was not
here to meet him?"
lie was not on the train and she went
away mechanically. It was probable that
she was not disappointed, as hope had ap-
parently died within her. She was SO ac-
customed to going to the station that she
started from the houss without knowing
time, and instinct and habit did nos fail
her, and she arrived every day on the ex-
act minute, as the station agent said.
The train arrived from San Antonio yes
terday on time, and as the conductor
stepped of he said:
"Why, where's the woman!~
The loungers looked around in astonish-
ment
II thought something seemed odd,D said
the hack driver.
The woman made more of a sensation by
her abrupt absence than she did by her
diurnal presence.
When it was learned that she had really
disappeared the whole town became in
terested in her case. 1t was proven that
she did not leave town by any conveyance.
and the belief is strong that she drowned
herself in the pools Of the San Marcos
River.
As the noon train from San Antonio
pulled up at the station to-day fine-Iook-
ing man jumped from the platform of the
smoking car and glanced expectantly
around the station
''Hack. sir;" asked the cabby.
''No; / wns looking for my wife, replied
the gentleman, and he described ninutely
the long and patient watcher.
"You have arrived too late, sir,D said
the station agent sternly. "She has
haunted this place for months and
drowned herself yesterday"
The husband was grief-striken. He said
he had a good excuse for his long absence,
but he would not tell his story.
- an n -. -.