The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-12-31

the suffers stock were canned goods Of
enormous price. But the sutler ami his wife
agreed to take care of the girl at an ex-
pense 10 John Saxton that was little less
than frightful. lie bore it heroically, how
ever-money being far more plentiful than
any other desirable thing-during 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 q 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 films up.
So, added to Johns honors, was detail to
so home on recruiting service.
Samantha was now as healthy girl ~
there was l.. East Tennessee, and che was
exceedingly pretty, withal. Besides, she had
good native wit and rs much cultivation as
the country hools of her region were able
to give girl of her years.
Lieut.. Saxton took Samantha, who was
quite alone in the world, to his Illinois home,
where his old father and mother end his
two young sisters welcomed her with cor
dial hospitality and informally adopted her
as one OF the family.
OF course, Impressionable and romantic
| 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 Chattanooga
/ COL H.
Georgia until the very last battle about At
lanta, which was that of Jonesboro, COM
paratively a skirmish, but there John re-
ceved mimic in the left arm, which, how
ever, only put the stricken member in a
sling, but it placed John hors du combat and
s.nt him home on furlough until the wound
should heal
Meantime Samantha's beauty and vivacity
had made her 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 dark skinned,
handsome fellow, working as a 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-
guez, had become deeply enamored OF the
tronze haired Tennessee girl, and shs 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"
Samanthas 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 heaytso 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.
81 was homely," said John, 'and growing
hald 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 vet wholesome matrons in the vii.
lage, wives of well-to-do merchants there,
and mothers to many cousins Of the Saxton
progeny.
Johns son John is gallant fellow of "a,
and he was brought up half town boy and
half farm boy-an excellent combination,
fol many reasons.
John, Jr., went to Cuba with the first
: volunteer troops that were sent by our
''Unele 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
a; FL Caney. Moreover, while on detail
with detachment near Ponce, Porto Rico