The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-13
JIM WAENRlGHT'S KID

CONTINUED from Page /, Section 81
now. 1 know. l have a secret, Jim,
and it gnaws to be out one day, and
hides itself the next. Many and many
aBime J have been on the point Of con-
Tossing TO you. but something held me
back was afraid you would not let
me stay with you If you knew
=" Why you amt killed any one.
KIDD 1 asked for thought he was
eXaEgeTating his trouble.
ter.
Il recoiled, hurt, shocked You
e Yes. JIM. there is no such person
to be found as my sister, Georgiana-
for I am SheH
IS You, Why, Kid, you're crazy.
- No. I'm not. Listen, Jim, and 1
will explain.
=" Ny father was always sorry l was
not q boy. Taught me bOyish tricks,
and made me learn drawing I longed
for the life ON locomotive I0Ted Il.
read about it, thought OF it, and prsyed
10 be transformed into something that
could go out on the road My heart
went out 20 YOU early in our acqualn-
lance, and one day the thought TO get
started rs a fireman with you shot into
my brain ard was acted upon at once.
After the first move there was no go
ing back. and 7 have acted my part
we'll; ! have even been a good fireman.
am strong, healthy and happy when
on the road with you. I love the life,
hard as il is. and can't think of giving
it UP. and-and you, Jim
And then she broke down and cried
as onlt a woman can.
Il took both her hands in mine and
kissed her-think of kissing your fire
man on the engiue-and told her that
we could be happy yet. Then I told
her how I had tried to get letter 70
the lost sister and how they never came
back ana were never answeTed-that I
had loved the sister and loved her. She
reminded me that she herself got all
the letters / had sent and was pretty
sure of her ground when she threw her
self on my protection.
1t was strange counting. John, there
on that engine at the front, the bound
less plains on one side. the mountains
on the other the winds Of the desert
whirling sand and snow against our 1T
tie house ana the moon looking coldly
down at the spectacle of an engineer
making love TO his fireman.
That night the Kid slept in the bed
in the house and / stayed on the en-
CINE.
When we got back to headquarters
the Kid laid off 10 go home and I made
trip or two with another fireman, and
then ] had to go to Illinois 10 fix UP
some family bUsiness-Kid and L ar
ranged that.
we met I'm st. Louis, the Kid hired
a bah dress and VIC were married as
quiet as possible. had promised the
Kid that, Tor the present at least. she
could STAY on the road with me. and
you know that the year YOU were there
] did most of the heavy firing while the
Kid did the running. We remained IN
the service for something like two
years-a strange couple. but happy IN
each others company and our work.
IT often talked TO my wife about
~ leaving the road and starting in new
where We were not known, as man and
wife. she 10 remain at home. but shs
wouldn't hear of it, asking if I wanted
an freshman for a side partner. This
came 20 be a joke with us-'When l &c
my Irisbman I will do sO-and-sO.'
"One day as our hog was drifting
down the long hill the Kid said to me
Jim, you can get your freshman; In
going 20 quit this trip
John, we both quit and went south
7 got a job in Texas and the Kid Wal
lost sight OF and Mrs. J. T. Wainrigh
appeared on the scene in a tea gown
tram anu nDu!ltee. we luEIilSNtQ
neat little den and ] WAS happy.
missed my Kid fireman. and did, in
deed. have an Irishman. Kid bad
struggle 10 wear petticOats again am
did not take kindly to dish washing
but we were happy just the same
Our little fellow arrived one sprin'
day. and then our skies were all sun
shiny for three long. happy years, un
iii one day Kid and 1 followed littl
white hearse out beyond the cypres
grove and saw the earth covered Owe
our darling, over our hopes. over on
sunshine and over our hearts.
After that the house was Ike
tomb. so still. so solemn. and at ever
turn were reminders of the little on
who had faded away like the mornini
mist, gone from everything but gu
memories-tbere her sweet little mag
was craven by the hand of love an
scared by the branding iron Of sorrow