Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-08-22
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
His Guardian Angel.

"There are some things a man
never tells his wife," said John as
he gave the tip of his half.smoked
cigar flip with his little finger.
" The ayes have it," replied his
friend, with sarcasm.
" l don't mean it in the sense that
you do; | mean things of an inno-
cent nature"
"Why didn't you say so, then ?"
After pause, John began to tell
his story; it was true, he said, and
the stern look on his face forbade
further levity.
" l went in 1880 to Prescott, Ari-
zona. l know now that went to
make an ass of myself, but thought
then / was coming back with slath-
ers of money. There were three
kinds Of business done there then,
ranching, mining, and gambling,
and wasn't good for any of these
so | concluded to come home
There was a fellow, named Berry,
from Cleveland, who had been i'm
the Territory long enough to get
about fifteen thousand dollars salted
down, and he said he would come
to the States with me. There was
no railroad there then, so we took
the stage, by way of Phoenix, to
Maricopa, riding for two days and
one night.
We gat to Maricopa about three
thirty in the afternoon. There were
two ways of getting East from here,
one was to go through to San Fran
cisco, and then take the Central and
Union Pacific. The other way was
to leave Maricopa by train, go to
Deming, then take q stage there,
and ride about forty miles, striking
u railroad there, saving probably
thirty dollars in money and four
days in time. OF course, Berry and
1 chose the quicker route. We
bought our tickets and got our trunks
checked by way of Deming. The
telegraph operator told me there
was trouble sometimes on the stage
route after leaving Deming, passen-
gers getting held up but there had
never been any one hurt.
The train lay there at Maricopa
half an hour for supper. Berry and
were walking on the platform,
smoking. Our trunks had been put
aboard, and so Berry said, Lets
get aboard, jack 1 threw away
my cigar. 1t was just twilight, and
the lamps were lighted on the train.
Berry told me to 60 aboard; that he
was going to get glass Of beer; so
he went out Of sight. 1t lacked ten
minutes Of starting time. l went
toward the car, and just before / got
to the steps l saw standing on the
second step my little girl My
God! / can remember how l felt
nowI l thought-just as a man will
before reason stops him-that she
had come out West to get me, and
that her mother was in the car wait
ing for me to come in. But when l
got rid of that thought, realizing
that they were at home in Rhode
Island, I shivered from head to foot
and grew icy cold. There on the
step stood little En-. She hadn't
any hat on. The light from the sta
ton lamps shone across her yellow
curls and lighted up her face; she
was deathly white, and oh! looked
30 strangely sad. Her arm was
thrown out, barring the way into
the car; the sleeve Of her little dress
had slipped up her arm and lett IL
bare. ] looked at her, and smiled
sadly, but she never smiled Dack;
She raised her little arm and pointed
down the track, which curved lit
tie lust ahead Of the station, ana
SLOWLY shook her head from SIDE 10
aide, her face growing awful In It's
solemnity. A.
Just then a man went toward the
steps, mounted them, went through
the place where my child stood, ana
when he disappeared inside the car
abe was not there! Berry came OUT
If the dining. room, and said, Heiio'
thought YOU was aboard Ihen
added- WHAT'S the matter?' kindly
and in concern.
" .pm sick, Berry. / can't 90 on
tonight, ,,,,,. room
He took me INTO the S,, 80
nd GOT me seat and drink Oh
hrandv. and then, like first-rate
Eaiiow, lust as he was, had our trunks
toren off, and by request our ticKeIS
we're taken back and money returhea, I y.
We stayed all night at the hotel, as As
,hey called it. 1t would be a shan'y
in the East. J.. nod tele.