The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-10-22
BY MAHLIN GEARHART.
ma N ~ - N "a E IA n IA IA

times into the mining towns of the
North, where the breath from the
smelters destroyed every vestige Of
vegetation; sometimes to the towns
that nestled high up the mountain
sides and shivered with their summer
frosts and biting winds from the snow
fields around them. Only last year
Copperville had been frightened by
the coming Of the purple train," for
so it was called.
That night Miss Elizabeth sat alone
on her little front porch and watched
the moon come slowly up from behind
the great mass of the Wahsatch
range, and sail off into the blue vault
above, and as she watched she thought:
eyes, I'll do 1t. 1t can't do any
harm. 1t If falls into Billy's hands,
| he'll understand what it means. If it
someone's heart, and the other will
just excite little curiosity. Five
years ago, day after tomorrow, got
off the train here, and Billy went up
north. The lilac train went just
ahead Of his, and picked up one Of
the blossoms that had fallen when they
were loading and handed it to him.
don't know why I did it. Billy had
never asked me for promise Of any
kind, but read something in his eyes,
all that year when was boarding at
his mothers. No, don't know why
did it, but when I handed him the
blossoms 1 said, I'll wait for you, Bill
ly, for years, If it is necessary and
then I turned and fled to the waiting
room, and his train was just starting,
so he could not answer, but I know
his heart"
An impatient crowd of people had
been standing in the rain since early
morning, expecting momentarily to
hear the whistle Of the engine that
would bring the lilac car into the
Butte station. The noon whistles
sounded; still no evidence of the COM
ing of the purple train; still pour
ing rain, and still waiting mass Of
people; - :15-12 :30-a whistle and
the crowd began to surge forward.
Into the station the engine painted,
and with q shout the anxious, weary
walters welcomed the men who stood
on the platforms with arms full Of
blossoms.
''Throw them this way, pardner."
"Give us q few over here" "Don't for
get us. We can't get any closer" Such
| ~, &1,o% oky ri
Gus quarters as men, women and chill
dren reached and scrambled for the
flowers that came pouring upon them.
Coming with quick step down one Of
the streets was man roughly dressed
in miners garb, and close behind him
another clad in neat brown business
suit.
"Now, I do wonder If am too late
for the lilac train?" soliloquized the
man in the lead. "'Twill be the first
one I have missed since came into
Montana. Five years ago she gave me
blossom that had fallen when they
were loading the lilac train, and then
she said to me, Tll wait for you, Billy
She read in my face what I did not
have the manhood to tell her. She
must have been sorry for me then, but
afterward she grew sorry for herself,
I suppose, for she didn't answer that
letter I wrote as soon as / got here
telling her how gladly I would work
now, knowing that she was waiting
for nae. Well, she had to wait long
time, for luck was against me right
along; but didn't care, since she was
waiting for me after all. And now il
only I could send her message saying
T am coming, Billy it would be worth
all these years of work and dfscour-
agement. I've seen people from there
many times since, but they didn't know
that I knew her and I never asked
about her-I was afraid somehow, OF
what they might tell me, till about q
month ago when the Sweet Lilac be-
gan to show rich streaks. All, l am
not too late" for he had come in
sight Of the car, and in another mo-
ment he and the man in brown, who
had kept even pace with him for q
block or more, were grasping fran.
tica1ly at a large bouquet that came
over the head of the crowds within
easy reach Of them.
"There, stranger" exclaimed the
miner, II beat you on that catch; but
there are enough here for two, so I'll
cut the string and 'divvy' up, as we
say in camp"
"You are generous, SIR" answered
his late rival, land I will gladly pay
you any sum you may name for my
share of them. Ny little sick daugh
ter"
"Little sick daughter? Well, now
do you think I'd sell you few flowers
for her? Besides, money is nothing tt
Inc. Have you heard of the Sweet
Lilac mine that I sold yesterday fol
STE, 0O0-what's this?" And lifting 6
tiny tintype that had been fastened in
among the stems, he gazed into the
face that spoke back to him, with 6
look Of love he only could read. I'm
waiting for you, Billy" were the words
he saw family scratched beneath the
face, and turning to his wondering
companion, he said, as he held the en-
tire bouquet to him:
"Just give me one spray Of the flow
| ORC Strappar and Won can have all the