The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-05
FAIR, BUT FALSE.

Some years ago I was called by telegram
to northwestern Nebraska The last 200
miles of the journey we're over a new rail
road. 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
rowarIess. You can perhaps imagine the
relief felt when by the dawn of daylight
I saw Long Pine, the railroad terminus.
I was forced to pass the greater part Of
the night in the one hotel, where drunk
en- contractor was making merry for
large assembly Of delighted auditors.
was but too glad 20 exchange the hotel
parlor for the car, where / did not hope
for anything but repetition Of my former
ride.
was gratifed to find the car almost
empty. Some half dozen men were doz-
ing in various parts, and near the front
espied a little figure curled I'D on seat
that looked suspiOieusly feminine despite
the jaunty masculine headgear that
adorned the closely clipped brown locks.
wondered why one SO young was trav-
cling alone and unprotected, and, ponder
ing upon the subject, 1 sank into much
needed slumber. When awoke, it was
broad daylight AL were astir, and saw
in the subject Of my speculation charm
pretty face and dainty air.
Before I could put into execution plan
of forming her acquaintance man ap-
preached her. He was a fine looking speci-
men of the genuine cowboy, though had
not then learned to recognize SO unmistak-
ably the members of that fraternity as 1
have in later years. His broad sombreFo
shaded a pair of deep blue eyes. and
heavy reddish brown nnustache but partly
hid 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 few moments, and he with
drew. She seemed much better pleased
than he, and a few moments later she
came to me and began to chat in the most
friendly manner. My curiosity regarding
the child, as I mentally termed her, seemed
in q fair way to be satisfied. for she was
eager to talk as I to listen, but before the
forenoon passed I ceased to regard her as
a child or inexperienced.
''That fellows nane,' she said to me,
els Brown. Did you notice that gold ring
on his little hnger2 That is my engage
menb ring. I sent it back to him. They
said he took on awful when he heard that
was married"
Married. exclaimed in astonishmenk
eyes. I was married last Sunday. My
husband is q 8O1015E az the IOEG.
"BRt you look so youngP' I said.
ooh, I'm 1sr' replied the girl 81 work
ed in Sioux City until six weeks ago I
heard they paid SO much better wages at
the fort that I went up there. got &C
quainted with Brown and promised to
marry him, but he had to so out on the
ranch-he's a cowboy, you knoW-and
got acquainted with Saddler. He wanted
me too. And-I don't know as ke's bit
hoftar than F3R9vgw l757f Won qea he was
right there, and Brown wasn't, 50 mar
ried him. Ee don't make as much money
as Brown. He only gets s19 q month from
the army and what he can make running
a faro bank. That's a good bit, but I
made him promise to leave the army if I
married HIM
But he can't leave said I.
"Oh, he'll desert, - said my childish in
nocent unhlnshiRsly.
but If they catch hiTn?" said L
"Hed have to Finish his term in LeSVen-
worth, that's all But, then, they won't
find him. AS soon as get back we're 60
ing to St. ice TO start a saloon. There's
money IN that, I tell you, and III risk
their catching him.
"Where are you going nowP'' ventured
to inquire.
"I'In going after my little girl, . she an
swered promptly 1--WE been married be-
fore and have a little girl years DID,
did not express my surprise this time,
but I 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 bOacders, q man as old as dad, said:
Como, go with me, Lily, and the old vvom-
an shan6 whip you any more So went.
We were married and began keeping house
for ourselves. lie was pretty good to me
fo T1uh- he rot
because didn't know how to take care of
it, and whea it was 3 months old he took
it away from me and took it to his folks
in Sioux City When I found out where it
was, ran away from him and went there
to work. I finally found where my baby
was and I saw her three times, but 1 new
er could get my hands on her. Shes such
a pretty little thing! I guess she's got a
good home, and they're good to her, but
she's my baby Saddlar gave me the
money to see the thing through, and I'm
going to have her by fair means or foul. "
I did not and could not wish the young
mother success in her undertaking.
Several times during the day Brown
stopped to chat a moment with his ex-
6ancee and enoe succeeded in drawing her
away for little private conversation.
"He asked ne, 3" she said on resuming
her seat by me, ''lf was leaving Saddler.
He'll be glad to get me yet. Pm sorry for
him, but L m not to blame. Sadd16r was
there, and he WASH t. 1 couldn't marry
them both. -
Later Brown left the train, and at Ere
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 informa-
ton of her further 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 be