The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-12-17
ON THE TOANO GRADE.

| lain anu uuIuU anu cOlu as uealn
itself lay the dry mesa. 1t was late at
night. The coyotes had ceased to
howl The owls no longer gave forth
their dismal boots. No breath stirred
the leaves OF the dry greasewood and
sage. The cold stars shone out as they
only shine through the rare, clear air
of the desert. The slim horn of a cold
moon, dropping down over the far
away buttes, glinted the wheel-worn
edges of two steel rails that ran away
into the blackness on either side of the
spot. Near the railroad track stood a
ghostly telegraph pole, and its wires
also ran away into the blackness. If
there were any sounds at all in the
air they came from these wires But
they must have been mere whisper
ings, for the man who lay awake un-
der them heard them not.
The man was frfghtfully, strainedly
awake. But by his side. and under
the same blanket, lay another who
was sound asleep.
to sleep, and sleep soundly, if he must
needs lie out on the desert under the
stars. 1t is an awful thing for such a
one to be cursed by sleeplessness at
such time and in such place.
The horrible stiffness, the dunn bness
of nature weighed upon the wakeful
man, who lay there upon his back
looking up at the myriad eyes that
peeped through the dark roof of the
world. He felt the oppressiveness of
it all as keenly as he felt the mum bing
of the chill nj ght air.
He turned on his unyielding bed of
sand, and heard the crackle OF sage
twig under his body. A pistol shot
would have sounded no louder to his
overwrought ear. Why did the sound
not awaken the sleeper at his side? If
only he would awake, or even turn.
But, poor, tired man, he had tramped
many long mile over the burning
plain, through alkali-dust, and by sage
and cactus wastes. Let him sleep.
The sleepless one raised his hand to
his face, on which the skin was tightly
drawn. How hot the unwinking eve
of heaven had blazed upon him throu Oh
the day. 1T seemed to have scared his
cheek and forehead.
God! If | had but one glass of rum
one glass;" he groaned, half aloud
| e,
made himself to see clearly why he
had become so dependent upon fiery
fluid for his piece of mind. 1t was the
thirst-the cursed thirst - that had
built itself up within him out of the
very elements with which he had
! thought to appease it. And the cOnse-
| quence of that thirst! His mind ran
back to his home. How she must hate
| him that patient wife, who had borne
with him SO long! Did she? Was it
hate that blazed from her eyes when
they had that final quarrel and he had
| left her, never to return? He could
not bring himself to think that it was.
He was so frightfully alone--so much
in need of being in some ones kindly
thoughts that
The man at his side did turn at last
But he settled down at cnce to peace
full slumber He had not awakened.
| If he only would awake, his CHEEKY
Irish banter would make the night less
hideous for time, perhaps; but let
him sleep. He should not trespass on
his good nature by arousing him. AL
| though only an acquaintance of a day,
he had, in his genial Celtic way, been
more than kind. He had given most
unworthy man food from his slim store
and now he was sharing with him his
poor, thin blanket. An unworthy man
yes, most unworthy. Had he not
| left his wife to shift for herselfp Had
he not wholly deseyted herp Yes. Dut
she no m fa loved aisiin. He had been
such pes upon ier-such burden.
She was better off without him-far
better. The immoving tide of this
heavy thought bore down on him more
| than all the oppressiveness of the night
silence of the desert, more than that
| fearful thirst. 1t was better that she
should live without him-far better.
| He was unworthy. How cut off he
seemed from the whole world, The
| little warmth he felt from the mans
body lying by his side made its i'm
press on his mind.
And she had leaned on him. Per-
haps she did still, in way For might
back? 1t was not likely that she ever
dreamed he was a thousand miles
away. What were thousand miles,
aftei all? He had not been long in
passing them over. 1t would not take
long to retrace them.
With these thoughts tingling in his
brain, he could no longer lie there. He
must be up and in motion.
So he arose and lamely made his
way to the railroad track, LEAVING his
friend of day to sleep it out alone.
He stepped between the rails and halt
ed there, facing the telegraph pole.
To the right, was the way of the free
man, without wife or home. 70 the
left, the way led back to her.
Il have almost killed her by my
recklessness, he thought; why should
| 60 back to complete the job?"
He glanced over his right shoulder.
But that may mean the same thing.
She is alone and helpless. Still to 60
back means-God!" he sobbed; "why
| can't be manP"
His eyes sought the stars.
Eyes, can be-"
He took off his hat and raised high
his hand. Then he spoke, while vet
looking up, and the still night air
heard his words:
81 swear that hereafter | win hold
my desire for drink in check, and hat
| | will strive to make myself wor .hy of