Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-06-09
A SOLDIERS HONOR.

on the parade ground and some
officers had gathered on the captains
porch, watching them. Fort Harkei
was far out on the plains, so far that
the blue peaks Of the Rockies could
be discerned. and it was . common
hating place for emigrants, outward
or homeward bound.
Hence it caused no surprise when
q whte-topped 'prairie schooner
was seen crawling out OF the west.
In an hour it was not apparently
nearer.
"Pretty well tired out, evidently,
said Lieut.. Jayne, watching il
through his glass.
Another hour and the voyager
had not arrived, but just at twilight
the outfit appeared in the barracks
yard, q forloru and dilspidated- look
ing object. A woman sat alone on
the front seat guiding the weary
horses. Even jolly Corporal Doyle
was owed into forgetting his usual
Joke by her appearance.
"Be you alone, ma'amT' he asked.
"No, he's back in the wagon" came
from the pinched, but determined
lips Of the driver as she stepped to
tho ground. "My husband was
taken sick two days ago. / was
alone, but 1 did the best | could Tor
him. He needs care"
The men, who had half expected to
lift a corpse from the wagon, where
relieved to find it was only q sick
man, though his appearance was that
of almost dead.
Thus they came to the fort. For .
week the sick stranger fingered be-
tween life and death, and when at
last life conquered it WAS nearly q
month before strength returned
sufficiently to allow him to leave his
bed. The wife, too, was not well and
the troops saw little of their guests.
Mrs. Cumler, as she gave her
name. recovered first, and the hus-
band when he awoke one day in July
to a knowledge of his renewed
strength aroused also to the realiza-
ton Of fact which nearly threw him
into relapse.
1t came about this way. There
was wide porch with many ham
mocks outside the guests chamber
anc his bed being near the window
brought him within hearing of a
conversation.
$50 we did our best for three years,
Abnar, but it could not succeed"
Cumlsr started. 1t was his wife's
voice; but who was Abner?
"And you left New Mexico when?'
He had heard that voice somewhere.
"Three months ago, as soon as
spring came. We had raised three
crops only to see them baked by the
furnace-llke south winds, and then at
the last the baby, tco, grew weary { I
the lonely land of adobe huts and
scorching suns. We laid her IN q
pretty spot near Signal mountains,
and putting all we had into the wagon
started for Gods country 1t seems
more like home here and we will stop
now where we can find way to live.
John was taken sick on the way and
for days I struggled alone, not meet
ing a team for forty-eight hours at
time. That is oil. 1t Ii not much
like what we planned back by the
Name coast, is it?"
"No; and my own life has been as
dissimilar to my ideal. was to be
a minister, you cemember?"
"Instead l went to West Point,
then to Montana post and now for
two years have been here.'
There was sound as of woman
sobbing; then the mans voice went
on:
"But your fate has heeu harder
than you deserved, Mary. So has
Johns, and it seems to me j could
never have lived under it,"
Cumler knew now who was talk
ing. Abner Jayne and he had been
rivals for the hand of the brave little
woman he had made his wife. He
had thought sometimes that Jayne
was preferred, but finally himself was
chosen-and now they had met SO
strangely. 1t was indeed differently
planned in the days when all three
we're children in the little fishing vii
lage.
Cumler shut his eyes and stopped
his ears with bed clothing. lie lay
back among the pillows aud thought.
They were talking over the past out
there in the hammocks. Was Mary
sorry that she hae chosen Linn? Did
she wish her lot had been with the
handsome (he felt sure Jane was
good.looking) army officer instead of
with the broken-down adventurer? 1t |
had been hard life he had led her,
but somehow in spite of bimself ev.
erything had gone wrong.
AS he lay there he reviewed it all |
and cursed himself and his ''luck,"
as he called it, while the low hum of |
voices from the porch almost mad
dened him. And then pity for HIM
self followed and jealousy came in its
wake. He vowed vengeance on the
more prosperous rival--and then |
drifted off 10 sleep.
~ do not understand john" said
the lieutenant to Mrs. Cumler a few
days later, when the old schoalboy
friends had several reminiscent visits.