The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-12-01
Asssssssssss3ssss3ssssss
ODE Queen
oft. Concho
exsssessesSssesssEesssst'
A. b. c. in Southwest Texan.

N&EGGeEFEENttG
A. d. C. in Southwest Texan.
An old man with silvery locks
stood on the banks of the beauti.
full Concho, where the great power !
house is located, which furnishes
water and light to the city of San
Angelo.
/ was waiting for the afternoon
eastbound train, and to pass the
time away. strolled down to where
he was. The first frost had fallen
and few leaves we're drifting
along on the bosom of the rip
pling waters. Now and then a
pecan would fall from the sway
ing limbs overhead, and go plump
into the stream. 1t was picture
of autumn, of those melancholy
days which are the saddest of the
year.
As approached, the old gentle
man said good morningl" in a
kindly manner. After saluting
him we drifted in a conversation.
He said: "No, | don't live here,
only in memory, Ny home is far
away where the Wabash winds
its blue waters through the cold
soil of the north. Thirty-three
years ago l was soldier in Fort
Concho. All, how time speeds by
as if on the wings of an eaglel |
was young man then; my life
was full of hope. Now | am old
and feeble, and yet it seems as
but Yesterday"
The tears began rolling from
his pale blue eyes. and | sat down
near the bank of the stream and
thumped pebbles into the water
while he talked on.
eyes, he continued, lone
moonlight night, thirty-three
years ago / was right here, and
she-the morning star of my life
was with me. West Texas was
not very we'll civilized then. The
Indians made occasional raids,
and ever and anon some good
man was left stiff and stark for
the wolves to prey on. But | was
not scared. / loved Maggie and
she loved me, and we thought but
little of danger.
1t was in the middle of May. A
severe Thunderstorm ragged in the
forenoon and some rain had
faller, but the sun sank behind
the Twin Mountains to the ives,
without q cloud to veil it. The
evening cannon sent its ringing
echo up and down the river, anc
Old Glory, which floated from Q
great pole in the center of the
parade grounds, was lowered fol
the night.
Maggie and / came down here
for d boat ride. On the way W.
gathered some little wild flowers
/ never saw prettier night. Th'
full moon came up out OF thu
east and sprayed the ripplin!
waters with it's silvery ray. Thu
hooking birds sang sweet songs t.
one another from the tree top
above, and the soft zephyrs tina
kissed our brows, were cool ant
as fragrant as the dew-ladel
breezes from Florida orang
in blossom.
I was happy, no bird of para
disc could have been happier. w
talked of love. Our counting day
began away back in Indiana, be
fore her father was transferred t
the Department of Texas, but tn
longer we were together the bette
: l loved her. And while time ma
rob me of my youth and vigor
{ while it may to some extent dc
stroy my memory, / never hav
and never shall forget how swee
she looked, with her eyes cas-
: down on the little boquet of will
flowers that she held in her hands
: 1t has been my opportunity to Sc
3 many of the grand pictures mad
: by the worlds famous artists
3 But Maggie, poor, lost darlingl
: have never seen anything half 4
3 sweet, or half so pretty.
Z We talked on, so full of life
: yet near the abyss of death. |
an instant there was a might
: roar of water up the river
: knew what it meant and turne
3 the boat to the bank. | struggle
: with superhuman strength. BIZ
. in vain. That wall of angry watt
: rushed upon us, the boat cal
3 sized and we were separated-yt
: separated forever. | made viii
: and desperate lunges towards he
but my God ! each time the Cruz
4 waves carried her farther away.
II saw her face once in the brigf
l moonlight; she seemed to sml
H and say good-by, / never gay
II up, but fought with the ma
II waters until they carried me OF