Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-03-29

QcEs OOCJluR LAC OTuCTS given, willie
the passengers on board the boat |
watched them with eager eyes until. |
through the falling night, they faded |
away in the darkness.
The last dangerous eddy was finally
passed, the small boat was moving
slowly but surely forward through the
sea of floating ice. just before them
the cleaning lights from the city
shone through the chilling mist
The lamps from the boats at the
landing threw out strange, ftful
glare over the cold. shimmering sur
face of the icy river that still struggled
for freedom There was an unusual
hurry and hustle all up and down the
long wharf, for the last boat of the sea-
son was about to start southwards-
A strange object, far out on the ice,
was perceived by few. It seemed
moving, slowly but surely, towards the
shore. Some paused in their hurried
movements to watch it, but time was
up, the great, proud boat must back
out and work its way down the grand
old river, away from the chilly, frost
bitten north, down to the southland,
where the song birds had long since
fastened, to sunny woods and howery
fields.
1hSf6 were Few moments OF pre-
paratOry bustling; a prolonged whistle,
that ended in a mournful wall; the
loud. clear ringing of bell. How the
great red andgreen balls of light shoRe
like demons eyes, how bewildering the
many voices.S The "All aboard" was
shouted, the gang plank withdrawn
and the great engine began to throb-
but louder than the engines working,
clearer than the resouuding bell, a
voice pierced the still, frosty air, a
woman's voice raised in sudden, be-
seeching distress. All eyes were
turned toward the little boat so near
at hand that the lights of the steamer
fell full upon it, enveioping in Grim
| son halo the upright form of a woman,
with outstretched arms, outlined
against the sky. The engine was
stopped, the lifeless giant holding its
precious freight of humanity was for
a minute motionless. The little skiff
drew nearer and nearer, so near that
the pilots words could be distinctly
heard as he shouted: "a passenger for
New Orleans
With something like muffied oath
the captain gave the necessary orders
for relanding, the gang-plank was
| thrown out, and the woman, pressing a
reward into the hands of the brave
men who had risked much for her,
was hustled aboard. Though almost
benumbed with cold, her first set was
to look over the register of passengers.
Suddenly her face frightened, her eyes
flashed triumphantly. The clerk
watched her trembling hand as she
hurriedly penciled line and requested
that it be Immediately delivered. The
note simply said: George, 1 have
come You will find me in the ladies'
| cabin
1t was after ten, and most of the pas
sengers had retired. A few young peo-
Pile still fingered around the piano.
listening to the amiable lady passenger
who is aboard all boats, as she again
sang the songs SO old to her, but new
| to admiring strangers.
The newcomer seated herself in re-
mote corner and waited. How long the
moments seemed, how discordant the
emusic sounded, how insistent the
| throbbings of the engine. She felt that
some one was approaching and her
heart beat fast, but She calmly arose
and faced her husband.
George" her voice was low and
pleading. George, 1 could not stay
there. Forgive me and say that you
| are RIdQ CnaG
1t was a cold, proud. intellectual face
that met her gaze, but handsome, one
that a woman might worship. There
was no responsive echo to her voice.
His outstretched hand, the faultlessly-
fashioned hand of a man who lived a
! purely intellectual life, met her own
with cold, lifeless clasp, while an ex-
preston of unmistakable annoyance
clouded his brow.
MARY, do you know that you have
made q fool of yourself? What do you
mean by following me around in this
way? Are you always going to be a
clog. a hindrance to me?" The sad
face dropped lower and lower, the
voice that replied was full of tears:
George, | have left all for you, ]
cannot go back"
Have paid your fare to New Or
leans?"
Mol didn't think
Never mind, L will see to it, and
very coldly the husband withdrew.
She thought he staid long, for she
was cold and very tired. She felt re,
lieved when he returned and conducted
her to his stateroom- Il will walk the
deck awhile and smoke" he said. His
voice seemed little more kind, as he
added-'Get a good nights rest and
you will feel better in the morning."
But George" pleaded the woman
as he was about to withdraw, SAY
you forgive me ofor coming, 1 was Sc
unhappy-it was so long to be sep
arated."
Yes, of course" he answered alb
l.sently, as he closed the stateroon
door.
Instead of taking a smoke he seemed
to be making hurried preparations fol
. d eparture. At the first landing made
!. by the boat one lonely passenger il
muffled cloak, followed by a servant
with baggage, left the boat
The next morning a sad, wan facs
appeared in the cabin and soon after
, the clerk handed her letter directed
by well-known hand. Alone she
opened it, and, with low cry of de
spair, read the cold, careless farewell
. and knew that she was that most pitt
full object on earth-a deserted wife
She realized at last that she had mar
ried a man whose am bition ruled hin
far more than did bis heart. He wrote