The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-01-28
By F. A. mitchell

west and settled In Atchison, Kan.
That was just after the close of the
war between the states, and the Kan
sas jayhawkers, as the proslavery men
were called. were settling down to
peaceful pursuits. / confess was of
a wandering disposition. Not satisfied
to remain in Atchison, / went to To-
peka. But was not satisfied there eli.
Their and concluded to go down to San
ia Fee, n. Nj. 1t was on this trip that
l received shock that sent me back
to my home in Ohio. where | have
lived ever since, my desire for wander
ing about the land having been entire.
ly eradicated.
l could have gone south IN a stage
coach, but there was money to be
made In those days I'm shipping goods
into the heart of New Mexico, and
determined to take stock Of house
hold articles with me over the freight
ing road Of the period. concluded
to outfit ut Denver and went there for
the purpose. l had money and credit
together to buy three wagons, with the
teams to haul them, and hired two
men.
hadn't been out a week when one
Of the men took sick and died sudden
ly. This left me short handed. Then
one Of my wagons broke down, and
was obliged to leave 1t at a ranch on
the way. In crossing the Rio Grande
my second wagon went over a ledge Of
rock on the river bottom and was q
total loss, the man driving it being
drowned. had pluck enough to go
on with the remaining wagon, and II
1t had not been for what I'm going to
tell you I might have continued to be
a wanderer to the present day.
One evening I camped on the bank
Of the Rio Grande. There was
branch wagon road running for a
short distance parallel with the road
was on and half mile away. I had
fed my stock, eaten my supper and
was smoking my pipe. feeling mighty
lonesome. The night had come on. and
shining through dreary. misty atmos
phere.
1t was the kind of night to bring on
a depression Of spirits. and ! felt such
a depression stealing over me. My eff
forts to throw 1t Off were In vain. Oh.
why, l asked myself. did leave
comfortable home to camp alone In
I fnIt
In wise from which l could not es.
cape. I had been born a wanderer.
would live a wanderer. l would die n
wanderer.
While l was sitting there trying to
keep up my spirits by pulling Justify on
my pipe-fOr the glow of the burning
tobacco was the only cheerful thing
about heard the creaking of wag.
on, which seemed to come from the
other road. listened, and. sure
enough, there was that familiar creak.
only in this case 1t was more pro
nounced than had ever heard 1t. as
though every stick of timber. every
hub, every spoke. was loose.
Then l heard something else that
was even far more dismal than the
wagon creak. 1t was woman's voice
trying to get the team onward. and
judged that she was having hard
time doing 1t, for presently she broke
down, and could hear that she was
crying.
At this l got right up off the box
was sitting on and lit out In the direc-
ton the sounds came from. After
passing through low growth of brush
/ emerged upon the other road. and
there was a wagon standing stock still
one hind wheel In hole up to the hub.
It was the sorriest looking vehicle
ever saw. Every bit Of paint had been
worn or washed off it. and the cover
was rotten and full of holes. the whole
looking as If 1t were ready to fall to
pieces. There were two horses har.
messed to 1t. both emaciated, most of
the leather having been replaced with
rope. didn't see any human being
about till. hearing a moan. looked on
the other side of the road, and there
sitting on stump, was q woman-a
young woman apparently, though since
her face was covered with her hands
couldn't tell her age.
Cheer up, young woman" l said
I'm ready to help you. What are you
doing here alone without a man, driv.
ing a team and wagon at this time OF
night?"
The only reply / received was a
moan. 1 went to her and took her
hands from her face and looked down
on 1t. 1t was very sweet. but very
melancholy. In the faded cheeks ]
could discern traces of beauty. Beauty
there was I'm a pair Of flaring eyes.
though there was something uncanny
about them. The hands ] took In
mine were icy, but the night was chill.
and the poor girl was thinly clad. In
deed, her apparel correspondent with
the rest of the outfit
I was so moved by the pitiful sight
that I put an arm about her. She let
her head fall upon my shoulder and
wept afresh.
I desired to comfort her. but her
sobs did not cease. and | continued TO
clasp n form of marble. Her face was
toward mine. but felt no breath.
Notwithstanding her pitiful condi-
tion could but wonder what In
Il at hA wwn