The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-09
THE DESERTER.


road. l was the only woman aboard the
train and was compelled to share the one
car with a lot of rough men, who swore,
drank and smoked until the air of the car
was suffocating. The conductor regretted
the state of affairs, but declared himself
powerless. You can perhaps imagine the
relief felt when by the dawn of daylight
l saw Long Pine, the railroad terminus.
was forced to pass the greater part of
the night in the one hotel, where drunk
en- contractor was making merry for IA
large assembly Of delighted auditors. l
was but too glad TO exchange the hotel
parlor for the car, where l did not hope
for anything but u repetition of my former
ride.
| was gratifled TO find the car almost
empty. Some half dozen men were doz-
ing In various parts, and near the front l
espied little figure curled up ON "A seat
that looked suspiciously feminine, despite
the jaunty masculine headgear that
adorned the closely clipped brown locks.
wondered why one 30 young was trav-
cling alone and unprotected, and ponder
Ing upon the subject | sank into much
needed slumber. When | awoke II was
broad daylight. All were astir, and saw
in the subject of my speculation a charm
ing little girl, possibly 3. She had very
pretty face and dainty air
Before could put into execution plan
OF forming her acquaintance man ap-
preached her He was II fine looking spec
linen Of the genuine cowboy, though | had
not then learned to recognize 50 unmis-
takably the members of that fraternity as
have In later years. His broad sombrero
shaded IA pair Of deep blue eyes, and a
heavy reddish brown mustache but partly
hid Il mouth that betOkened steady deter
mination and nm unyielding will He ad-
dressed my pretty girl as an old acquaint-
Rnce. An earnest conversation passed be-
tween them for few moments, and he
withdrew. She seemed much better pleased
than he, and a few moments later she came
to me and began TO chat i'll the most
friendly manner My curiosity regard
ing the child, as mentally termed her,
seemed in a fair way to be satisfied, for
she was eager TO talk Hs | to listen, but be-
fore the forenoon passed ceased TO regard
her as a child or inexperienced
"That fellows name" " she said TO me,
"is Brown. Did you notice that gold ring
on his little linger2 That is my engage
ment ring. sent it back to him. They
said he took ON awful when he heard that
was married"
"Marredp l exclaimed in astonish-
ment.
ayes, was married last Sunday. My
husband is n soldier mt the fort. "
"But you look so youngp' said.
"Oh, I'm 49," replied the girl. ~
worked in Sioux City until six weeks ago.
heard they paid so much better wages at
the fort that went up there l got ac-
quainted with Brown and promised to
marry him, but he had to go out on the
ranch-he's cowboy, you know-and |
got acquainted with Saddler. Ho wanted
me, too-and-I don't know as he's bit
better than Brown but, you see, he was
right there and Brown wasn't, SO l mar
ried him. He don make as much money
as Brown. He only gets Sl3 a month from
the army and what he can make running
faro bank. That's good bit, but Imade
him promise to leave the army if married
him"
"But he can't leave" said I.
ooh he'll desert" said my childish in
pocent unbushingly.
"But if they catch him" " said I.
He'd have to finish his term in Leaven-
worth, that's all. But then they won't
find him. As soon as l get back we're
going to st. Joe to start a saloon. There's
money in that | tell you, and I'll risk
their catching him"
"Where are you going nowI" Iventured
to inquire.
"Tm going after my little girl, " she
answered promptly. "I've been married
before and havea little girl years old"
did not express my surprise this time,
but | doubt If any statement she could
have made thereafter would have surprised
me in the least
81 had a stepmother," she said, "and
she was awful mean to me. One day one
Of our boarders, II man Hs old as dad, said
Come, go with me, Lily, and the old
woman shan't whip you any more So
went. We were married and began keep
ing house for ourselves. He was pretty
good TO me until the baby came. Then he
got mad because | didn't know how to
take care Of it, and when it was 3 months
old he took it away from me and took II
to his folks in Sioux City. When found
out where it was, l ran away from him
and went there to work. | finally found
where my baby was, and saw her three
times, but never could get my hands on
her. She's such pretty little thing.
guess she's got u good home, and they're
good to her, but she's my baby. Saddler
gave me the money to see the thing
through, and I'm going to have her by
fnir means or foul"
did not and could not wish the young
mother success in her undertaking.
Several times during the day Brown
stopped to chat n moment with his ex-
fancee and once succeeded in drawing
her away for little private conversation,
"He asked me-" she said on resuming
her seat by me, "if was leaving Saddler.
He'll be glad TO get me yet. Pm sorry
for him, but I'm not TO blame. Saddler
was there and he wasn't. couldn't mar
ry them both
Later Brown left the train, and at Free.
mont | saw the last of my pretty little
Lily.
In after years my mind often reverted to
my trip to the frontier and in connection
with it thought Of the child that met
on the train and wondered what her after
life had been.
At last accident brought me iuforma-
tlon of her further career.
Saddler md his pretty wife did indeed
go TO St, Joe and keep n saloon. They
had no child with them, and was glad Ia
believe that her erraud to Sioux City was
unsuccessful. In less than year big,
handsome man named Brown appeared
upon the scene. A month later, by acci.
dent of course, Uncle Sans officers were
upon the deserter's track
When the prison doors closed behind the
deluded man, our Lily, fair but false,
was free, and she and Brown were wed. -
Philadelphia Times
oil all. E,,n n,anIn