The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-24
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Z Some years ago ] was called BY tel,
esram to northwestern Nebraska. Tlr,
last two hundred miles Of the Journey
was oyera new railroad. l was the only.
Woman aboard the train, and was com.
PEELED to share tho one car with a lot
OF rough men, who sworc. drank and
smol,cd until the air 1.-THE car was
rurocat!ns. Tke conductor regretted
The stGtc OF affairs, but declared him,
sell ipowcrless, You can perhaps mag
Inc the relief felt when, By the dawn
of daylight, 1'saw Long Pine, the rail-
road terminus. IA.
! was forced to pass the greater. part
OF the night In tho one hotel. where a
drunken contractor was making merry
for u large assembly OF delighted audi
tors. l was but too glad 10 exchange
the hotel parlor forgthe car, where did
not hope for anything but n repetition
OF my former RIDE
was grntiflcd 10 ind the car almost
empty. Some half a dozen men were
doZing In various parts and near the
front espled n little figure curled up
on seat that looked suspiciously fenl-
inine despite tho jaunty masculine
lendgear that adorned the closely clip
ped brown locks. tSs 70
| wondered why one 80 young was
travelling alone and unprotected. and.
ponderlng upon the subject. I sank into
much needed slumber. When awokc,
was broad daylight. All were astir,
and saw In the subject OF my specula-
ton n charming little girl, possibly M
teen years OF age. She had q very pref
ty face and dainty air.
Before I could put Into execution n
plan OF forming her acquaintance. Il
man approached her. He was a fine
looking specimen OF the genuine cow
boy, thought had not then learned to
recognize 30 Enthusiastically theiNmem-
bers Of that. faterulty as l have In lat
er years. His broad, sombrero shaded
pair of deep blue%eyes, and heavy
reddish mustache but partly hid a
mouth that beckoned steady determi-
nation and an unyieldng will. He
addressed. my pretty girl as an old ac-
quaintance.
An earnest conversation passed be-
tween them for a fewamoments. and he
withdrew. She seemed much better
pleased than he, and q few moments
later she came TO me and began to
chat In the most friendly manner. Ny
curiosity regarding the child, as men
tally termed her. seemed In. a fair way
to be satisfied. for. she was eager to
talk as 1 to listenabut before the fore
noon passed ceased to regard her as
child or inexperienced.
That fellows name" she said to me.
lis Brown. Did You notice that gold
ring on his left finger? That Is my en-
gagement ring. sent 1t back to him.
They said he took on awful when he
heard that was married."
Married." l exclaimed in astonish-
ment.
Yes. ! was married last Sunday. Ny
husband Is soldier at the fort"
But You look so youngl" said.
oh. I'm eighteenth replied the girl.
Il worked in Sioux City until six weeks
ago.1 heard they paid SO much better
wages at the fort that went up there.
l got acquainted with BROWN and pro-
missed 10 marry him, but he had TO 20
out upor the ranch-he's a cowboy.you
know-and l got acquainted with Sad
Ter. He wanted me-. too. And-I don't
Know that he's bit better than Brown
but. You see, he was right there, and
Brown wasn't, SO ] married him lie
don't make as much money as Brown.
He only gets $13 month from the
army and what he can make running
faro bank. That's good bit, but
made him promise to leave the armyLif
l married. him."
But he can't leave" said ].
oh. he'll desert" said my childish
innocent. unblushlngiy.
t--.But-!f they catch him." said l.
He'd have to finish his term In
7 aap vi -, al D,,, 4 ~
won't find him. AS soon ne get back
we're going TO ST. Joe TO start saloon.
There's money in that. tel! You, and
I'll risk their catching him"
Where are YOU going now?" ven
tured TO inquire. So
I'm going after my little GIRL" she
answered. promptly. 1--WE been mar
rlcd before, and have little GIRL three
years old"
did not express my surprise this
time. but doubt II any, statement She
| could have made thereafter would have
| surprised me in the least
Il had step-mother.'' she said, "and
she was awful! mean TO me. One day
| one OF our boarders, man rs old as
dad. said: Come, go with me, Lilly, and
the old woman shan'L whip you nny
more So went. We were married and
began Keeping house for ourselves. He
was pretty good TO me until the baby
came. Then he got mad because I
didn't know how to take care OF 1t, and
when 1t was three smonths~old he took
II away from me and took II 10 his
folks in Sioux City.,-When l found out
where II was | ran away from him and
went there TO work. I finally found
where my baby was and saw her three
times, but never could get my hands
on her. She's such a pretty little thing,
l guess she's got a 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 fair means or foul"
1 did not and could not wish the
young mother success in her undertake
Ing.
Several times during the day Brown
stopped to chat n moment with his OK
fiancee. and once succeeded In drawing
her away for a little private CONVERSE
tion. 4=
He asked me-" she said, on resum-,
ing her seat by me. ..if was leaving
Saddler. He'll be glad to get me yet,
I'm sorry for him. but I'm not to Blame.
Saddler was there and lie wasn't. I
couldn't marry them both"
Later Brown left the train. and at
TremontI saw the last of my pretty
little Lily.
In after years my mind often revert
ed to my trip to the frontier, and in
connection with 1t L thought of the
child that me: on the train and Won
.dered wha her after life had been.
At last accident brought me informa-
ton Of her further career.
Saddler and his pretty wife did in
deed go to St. Joe and keep saloon.
They had no child with them. and !
was glad 70 believe that her errnnd 70