Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-02-10
The Mania
Weird Story of a Man
Who Must Move On.
BY F. A. mitchell

VS. ahu SSNtitd III attAiiSch. Auh
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
wandering disposition. Not satisfied
to remain In Atchison, l went to To-
peka. But | was not satisfied there Ell.
Their and concluded to go down to San,
Ia Fee, n. Nj. 1t was on this trip that
| received a shock that sent me back
to my home In Ohio. where I have
lived ever since, my desire for wander
Ing about the land having been entire.
ly eradicated.
| could have gone south In a stage
coach, but there was money to be
made in those days in shipping goods
into the heart of New Mexico. and l
determined to take a 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. | had money and credit
together to buy three wagons, with the
teams to haul them. ! nd 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 a
total loss, the man driving 1t being
drowned. | had pluck enough to go
on with the remaining wagon. and If
1t had not been for what I'm going to
tell you might have continued to be
a wanderer to the present day.
One evening | camped on the bank
of the Rio Grande. There was a
branch wagon road running for a
short distance parallel with the road
| was on and half mile away. | had
fed my stock. eaten my supper and
was smoking my pipe. feeling mighty
lonesome, The night had come on, and
there was a moon. three-quarters full
shining through dreary. misty atmos
phere.
1t was the kind of night to bring on
depression of spirits, and | felt such
depression stealing over me. My eff
forts to throw it off were in vain. Oh,
why, | asked myself. did | leave a
comfortable home to camp alone in
such dead place? | felt that | was
In wise from which | could not es.
cape | had been born a wanderer, |
would live a wanderer. | would die a
wanderer
While | 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 a wag-
on, which seemed to come from the
other road listened, and, sure
enough, there was that familiar creak.
only In this case it 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 a hard
time doing it. for presently she broke
down, and | could hear. that she was
crying.
Al this 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 wagon standing stock still
J one hind wheel In a hole up to the hub
1t was the sorriest looking vehicle
ever saw. Every bit of paint had been
worn or washed off 1t. and the cover
was rotten and full of holes, the whole
looking as If 1t We're ready to fall t.
, 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 woman-s
young woman apparently, though since
her face was covered with her hands
couldn't tell her age
"Cheer up, young woman | said
I'm ready to help you. What are you
doing here alone without man, drfy
Ing a team and wagon at this time OF
night?'
The only reply | received was 9
: moan. | went TO her and took heI
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 In pair of f1aring eyes
, though there was something uncanny
! about them. The hands I took II
mine were ICY but the night was chill
,, and the poor girl was thinly clad In
, deed. her apparel correspondent will
the rest Of the outfit
} was so moved by the pitiful sigh
that put an arm about her. She le
her head fall upon my shoulder anf