The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-04-12


was at the time marshal of Abilene,
Kan, very bad town, where he
had 10 bis official administration,
killed elk men in as many months.
He was compelled to do this, he
said, to restore order, as the cow
boys had taken possession of the
town, and tho good people of
Abilene had made him marshal,
knowing that be loved peace and
would have it.
Il asked him If ho had over visited
Chicago. He said lie bad, few
years before our meeting, aud then
he told me the ono geLtle romance
of his life.
Gen, Phil Sheridan and party had
engaged Bill as guide on buffalo
hunting expedition. Sheridan took
II liking to Bill aud insisted upon
bia returning to Chicago with him
and making visit. Bill came, and
remained for some time Mt SLeridau's
house. Tho first Sunday after got
to Chicago, said Bill, Sheridan said
to me that he was going to church
and would like to have me go along.
| said hadn't been to church for
twenty years, but Id just rs lief go.
so We went to the Plymouth church.
down on Wabash or Michigan ave-
nue.. The feller at the door knew
Sheridan, aud he took us away mp in
front, near the preacher. About
the time the sermon began an old,
whiie-haired man and young wo-
man came into'the pew in front of
us. / could see only the side of the
woman's face, but / felt sure | knew
her. didn't hear the sermon at all,
l just kept looking at tho young wo-
man all the time, with strnge sort
of feeling as if was haunted, aud
my thoughts kept going back to
when was boy down in La Sale
county.
We'll, when we all got up to re-
ceive tho benedietion l saw the
young woman's face, and my heart
come right up into my neck, for /
knew her. There was the only wo-
man ever loved, and ! had loved
her ever since was 6-ooy, down in
La Sale county. She was Maria
Baldwin and the old man with her
was her father. Herman Baldwin.
| won't tell you why didn't mary
her, but my love for her was one of
the reasons why / went out west.
When l saw her face and knew
who she was | just bolted down the
aisle aud out of church, aud stood
guard Mt tho door, waiting for her.
When she come out went up to her
ana said Marin, do you know me 2
Sho looked at me minute, and said.
No, sir, do not
We'll, said I, kinda braciug up,
Il am Willie Hickok.'
We'll, you should-a seen her. The
tears camo 10 her eyes, and she took
my hand in both of hers and held it,
'he told the old man " ho was, and
the old man said why, Bill, is
that you p and be shook my hand
was glad to see mo. Then both Of
them insisted on my going to dinner
with them, and / went. We talked
all afternoon and away into the night
about old times down in La Sale
county; and tell You it, was the
happiest day in my life, But /
couldn't stand it to stay in Chicago
any longer, and l started for the
west the next day..
Il was much interested in this
story resumed Mr.. Mills, for |
knew Mr.. Baldwin, and 1 felt more
kindly toward wild Bill 1 asked
him if he expected to return to the
west after his visit to Chicago. He
said no did, aud that when he left
me he would bid me good-by for
ever. He had great many desper-
ate enemies, and from his calcula
tion OF the law of chances lie could
not live more than year. He ex>
pected TO be shot aud to die With his
boots on. Sure enough, within ten
months Of the time l met him on the
train he was shot in the back and
killed in saloon ont west.-CAi-