The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-06-24
SHE signs FOR A LOVER.
Thirty Years Ago She Said Good
by, but Waits for Him Yet

Shortly after o'clock last evening
says the Manchester IN. H. Union, a
woman took up her position near the
southeast corner of the passenger sta
ton. She was not far from so years OF
age. Her form was bent, her hair was
silvered with years of anxiety and her
face was wrinkled and careworn. Her
round gray eyes were deep set, and
seemed weary with constant watching.
The woman's complexion must have
been of the farest blonde type years
ago, as it was still white and we'll pre-
served considering her years. She was
clad in a dress of dingy, dark brown
material. Closely wrapped about her
shoulders was a rusty plaid shawl, and
upon her head rested a hat OF faded
black material of style, or rather lack
of style unknown to the women of the
present day. In her clasped hands she
grasped well-worn leather travelling
bag. The sun was almost an hour from
setting when she took up her position.
1t had sunk into the west and twilight
had long given place to darkness when
she ceased her weary vigil and sadly
turned away.
And not last night alone was the wo
man at her post. She has been there
night after night, not for weeks and
months only, but for long, weary years.
The frost and blizzard of winter has
given place to the sunshine and flowers
OF spring and the seed time has been
succeeded by the harvest many times
since she took up her station in almost
the self same spot that she did last
night. Babies have been corn, passed
through their infancy, enjoyed the pas
times and sports of childhood, grown
through youth to maturity, married
and seen children of their own come to
gladden. the homes which they have
made, since this woman first began her
weary viglls.
Nearly thirty years ago this woman,
then young and fair. was courted and
admired by many. But upon one she
fixed ner affections, and through all. the
years that have since interviewed she has
remained as constant as the needle to
the Polar star. Her lover followed the
sea as a means of livelihood, and
one day he left her and went away on
voyage. Before he left they had
phghted their faith, and when he re-
turned from his perilous journey in the
glad springtime, when the buds bios
somed and the birds carrolled, and all
nature seemed to rejoice, he was to lead
her to the altar. But when the spring
came her sailor lover did not return,
and no message came to explain his
absence. Whether disaster or death |
prevented, or whether he had proved |
false and pertidious is not known, but |
he never came back. The grief and dis |
appointment caused the woman a long |
and when her bodily ills were |
healed, her mind, alas, were deceased. |
She became possessed of the hal!uclna-
ton that her lover was coming rick, !
and as soon as she was able she vent |
TO the railroad station to greet rim |
home, and almost every day since, win
ter and summer, spring and autumn, in |
Fair weather and foul, she has been here |
Oh the same errand. She is very retiring |
n her disposition and seldom ever fire.
luents the waiting rooms or usingles
with the crowd upon the platform, but |
lust outside the station shs takes up
position where she can see the trains as
hey draw in and there she waits and
Y ats in win Eagerly she scans the
ace of each stranger who passes her
way, but when anyone addresses her,
Which is seldom, she stares at them
and makes no reply. When
he last train mad come and gone for
he night and the employees about the
tation are eXtinguishing the lights, she
generally walks YEARLY away, only to
elurn and resume her vigil on the sue
eeding day. Since she began waiting
he population of Manchester has
doubled and trebled, score of trains
low come where three or four came
ormerly, the oil lamps have given place
0 gas and gas in turn to electricity, a
has been born and grown to
nanhood and womanbood. But seem
ngly taking no note of the passage of
ime, the poor creature daily seeks the
ailway station, and will probably con-
niue to do so until disease and death
hall release her from her self-imposed
ask.