The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-12-30
MD, DECEMBER

the suffers stock were canned goods of
enormous price. But the sutler and his wife
agreed to take care of the girl at an ex-
pense to John Saxton that was little less
than frightful. He bore it heroically, how
ever-money being far more plentiful than
any other desirable thing-durins the two
weeks that ensued until Johns regiment
was ordered back to Knoxville.
The day after the arrival of the regiment
at Knoxville Sergt Saxton found himself
promoted to be a second lieutenant, the
command having lost heavily in the cam
paign. Many vacancies had occurred among
the officers, and the regiment, which had
veteranized," very much needed filling up.
So, added to Johns honors, was detail to
so home on recruiting service.
Samantha was now as healthy girl as
there was l.. East Tennessee, and che was
exceedingly pretty, withal. Besides, she had
good native wit and as much cultivation as
the country hools of her region were able
to give girl of her years.
quite alone in the world, to his Illinois home,
where his old father and mother and his
two young sisters welcomed her with cor
dial hospitality and informally adopted her
as one OF the family.
Of course, lmpressionable and romantic
J John Saxton fell in love with the girl. and
went back to the army with his recruits
and cherished promise from his war-waif
that she should await his return, whole
hearted, as to others. So John was happy
and faithful.
He joined his command at Chattanoos,
end went safely through the campaign in
Georgia until the very last battle about At
lanta, which was that of Jonesboro, COM
paratively skirmish, but there John re-
| ceived a mimic in the left arm, which, how
ever, only put the stricken member in a
sling, but it placed John hors du combat and
| sent him home on furlougn until the wound
should heal.
Meantime Samantha's beauty and vivacity
had made her a much-sought belle of the
| countryside, and John was aware of pang
when ne found that she was not near SO af
| fectionate as when he went away.
On an adjoining place was darkskirned,
| handsome fellow, working as farm hand,
Who had already begun to dread the coming
| cold weather, for he had been born and
raised in the ardent climate of Porto Rico.
Moreover, this handsome young West In
| dian, with the musical name of Jose Rodri-
glez, had become deeply enamored Of the
| tronze-haired Tennessee girl, and she re-
| turned his passionate suit with such fervor
that when Jose took his departure for his
home in the far-away Gem of the Antilles"
| Samantha's place in the Saxton household
became vacant. She went with him, and
John was left with great blank place in his
| loving soul to mediate upon the paucity of
| gratitude and the enormousness of fickleness
in the maiden heart-so far as he was in
| formed.
This was the only girl John ever loved,
but in the years that came he found one
| that he loved with better reason, and he was
| glad that the other affair turned out as it
| did.
II was homely," said John, "and growing
BALD already, and SO didn't suit poor little
Samantha, but hope she will be happy"
| John succeeded to the ownership of half
of his fathers farm, and thriving village
grew upon one of the quarter sections Of the
| two sections that were willed to his sisters,
who are yet wholesome matrons in the vii
lage, wives of well-to-do merchants there,
and mothers to many cousins of the Saxton
progeny.
and he was brought up half town boy and
half farm boy-an excellent combination,
foI many reasons.
| John, Jr, went to Cuba with the first
volunteer troops that were sent by om
'Uncle Samuel" to teach the Spaniards
| some lessons in humanity He seemed born
to repeat his fathers course in many ways
and to improve on il in others, for he. too
was sergeant who brilliantly won shoulder
straps of single bars. He got his, however,
at Ell Caney. Moreover, while on detail
with detachment near Ponce, Porto Rico,