The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-10-02
FAIR, BUT FALSE.

the night in the one hotel, where u drunk
en- contractor was making merry for
large assembly of delighted auditors.
was but too glad to exchange the hotel
parlor for the car, where l did not hope
for anything but arepetition of my former
ride
1 was gratifed to find the car almost
empty. Some half dozen men were doz-
ing in various parts, and near the front
espied little figure curled UP on Il seat
that looked suspiciously feminine despite
the jaunty masculine headgear that
adorned the closely clipped brown locks,
wondered why one so young was tray
cling alone and unprotected, and, ponder
ing upon the subject, sank into much
needed slumber. When / awoke, it was
broad daylight All were astir, and saw
in the subject OF my speculation a charm
ing little girl, possibly 10. She had very
pretty face and dainty air.
Before l could put into execution plan
of forming her acquaintance man APP
preached her, He was fine looking sreci-
men of the genuine cowboy, though had
not then learned to recognize so unmistals-
ably the members of that fraternity as
have in later years. His broad sombrero
shaded a pair of deep blue eyes. and a
heavy reddish brown mustache but partly
mid mouth that betOkened steady deter
mination and an unyielding will He adj
dressed my pretty girl as an old acquaint-
ance.
An earnest conversation passed between
them for a few moments, and he with
drew. She seemed much better pleased
than he, and few moments later she
came to me and began to chat in the most
friendly manner. My curiosity regarding
the child, as l mentally termed her, seemed
in fair way to be satisfied, for she was
eager to talk us l to listen, but before the
forenoon passed l ceased to regard her as
child or inexperienced.
"That fellows name," she said to me,
sis Brown Did you notice that gold ring
on his little finger? That is my engage
ment ring. l sent it back to him. They
said he took on awful when he heard that
was married"
Married. exclaimed in astonishment
Eyes. was married last Sunday. My
husband is a soldier at the fort
"But you look so young" / said.
ooh, Pm 1872 replied the girl "Iworl1-
ed in Sioux City until six weeks ago. l
heard they paid so much better wages at
the fort that went up there, got ao-
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 He 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't make as much money
as Brown. He only gets Sl3 month from
the army and what he can make running
faro bank. That's good bit, but
made him promise to leave the army if l
married him.
But he can't leave" said /.
ooh, he'll desert, said my childish in
nocent unblushingly.
"But if they catch himY' said l.
| 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 60
ing to st. Joe to start a saloon. There's
money in that, 1 tell you, and I'll risk
their catching him.
"Where are you going nowP" l ventured
| to inquire.
"Im going after my little girl, she an
swered promptly. GIVE been married be-
fore and have 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.
II had stepmother, " she said, land
she was awful mean to me. One day one
Of our boarders a man as old as dad, said:
Come, go with me, Lily, and the old wom-
an shan't whip you any more So l 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 didn't know how to take care of
it, and when it was 3 months old he took
it away from me and took it to his folks
in Sioux City. When 1 found out where it
was, l ran away from him and went there
to work finally found where my baby
was, and l saw her three times, but new
er could get my hands on her She's such
pretty little thing l guess she's got q
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. "
did not and could not wish the young
mother success in her undertaking.
Several times during the day Brown
stopped to chat moment with his ex-
11ancee 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. I'm sorry for
him, but I'm not to blame, Saddler was
there, and he wasn't. couldn't marry
them both"
Later Brown left the train, and at Ere
mont l saw the last of my pretty little
Lily.
In after years my mind often reverted &c
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 informa-
ton of her fl, ,ner career.
Saddler and his pretty wife did indeed
go to St Joe and keep saloon. They had
no child with them, and 1 was glad to b.,
lieve that her errand to Sioux City was up
successful In less than year big, hand
some man named Brown appeared upor
the scene A month later, by accident Of
course Uncle Sans officers were upon the
deserters track.