Deserted: 1898

In Short

This narrative follows the journey of Mr. Lombard and Miss Dwyer, two travelers whose flirtatious, intellectual rapport on a train from San Francisco is interrupted by a mechanical failure that strands them on the Nevada plains. Caught between the freezing night and an encounter with local Piute Indians, the pair must perform a surreal, improvisational show to ensure their safety until rescue arrives. A study in 19th-century social manners and the romanticization of the American West, the work endures as a crisp, witty observation of human nature under pressure.

The Story

The narrative centers on Mr. Lombard and Miss Dwyer, who are traveling East on the Central Pacific line. Their acquaintance, fostered during the previous winter in San Francisco, has deepened into an intense, if somewhat uneven, courtship. Lombard, confident of his influence over the spirited Miss Dwyer, frequently orchestrates their shared time, monopolizing her company and delighting in the scenery through the mirror of her reactions. However, his heavy-handed approach to romance falters when he attempts to force a declaration of love at an inopportune moment, leading to an abrupt, chilling refusal from the young woman.

Following this setback, the train halts in the Nevada desert for a minor repair. During this stop, both passengers wander away from the cars to examine the landscape. In the confusion, the train unexpectedly departs, leaving them stranded in the vast, desolate alkali plains. Lombard and Miss Dwyer find themselves forced into an intimate, forced proximity. The cold is immediate and biting, prompting Lombard to construct a crude shelter from sagebrush. Despite their earlier friction, they are tethered together by the necessity of survival. As they wait for the next train, the situation takes a darker turn when they are surrounded by a band of Piute Indians.

Recognizing that their lives depend on appearing unpredictable or "supernatural," Lombard devises a desperate plan: they will continue an impromptu, burlesque performance—dancing, singing opera, and acting as if their audience does not exist. The pair cycles through frantic songs and waltzes, their desperation hidden behind a veneer of manic, theatrical absurdity. This performance serves the dual purpose of keeping them moving to combat the freezing temperatures and successfully mesmerizing their captors, who remain baffled by the bizarre spectacle.

Finally, the distant headlight of a rescue train appears on the horizon. The tension reaches its peak as they continue their frantic exhibition until the last possible moment, before scrambling aboard the arriving express. Upon their arrival at the next stop, Jennie reunites with her sister, Mrs. Eustis, who is horrified by the potential for scandal. However, Jennie remains unperturbed, viewing the harrowing night not as a social catastrophe, but as the foundation of her future with Lombard. The story concludes with the affirmation of their engagement, turning a potentially ruinous night of exposure into a bizarre, unforgettable origin for their marriage.

How It Unfolds

The train ride Lombard and Miss Dwyer pass the time in a parlor car, engaging in witty debates about the beauty of the Nevada desert. Their conversation masks Lombard’s growing possessiveness and his desire to secure an engagement before the journey ends.

The rejection On the rear platform of the train, Lombard impulsively presses his suit, only to be met with a cold, firm refusal from Miss Dwyer. His pride wounded and his plans thwarted, he decides to abandon his trip and return to San Francisco at the next opportunity.

The accident During a brief stop in the middle of the desert, both parties step off the train to admire the scenery. A sudden, unexpected departure leaves them both abandoned on the empty, freezing plain as the train disappears into the night.

The desperate performance Faced with the threat of hypothermia and the arrival of a group of Indians, the pair turns their struggle into a surreal theatrical show. They sing, dance, and recite nonsense, hoping to confuse the onlookers until a rescue train arrives.

The resolution The rescue train arrives, and the two scramble to safety just as the situation threatens to turn violent. Back in civilization, Jennie dismisses her sister’s fears of scandal and confirms her engagement to Lombard, finding their strange ordeal to be a fortunate turn of events.

The People

Mr. Lombard is a confident, somewhat tactical suitor who views his interactions with women through the lens of social performance and calculated persuasion. He seeks to secure a sense of ownership over Miss Dwyer, though his lack of sensitivity often results in awkward, rebuffed advances. His character evolves from a man blinded by vanity and pique to one who discovers genuine courage when tasked with protecting his companion.

Miss Dwyer is a bright, observant, and strong-willed young woman who deeply appreciates the aesthetic beauty of the world around her. She wants to be courted with respect and is offended by Lombard’s "hammer-and-tongs" approach to love. While she initially maintains a facade of cool detachment, her resourcefulness during the night in the desert reveals her capacity for adaptability and her underlying affection for Lombard.

Mrs. Eustis, Jennie’s sister, serves as the representative of conventional social propriety. Her primary concern is the preservation of her sister’s reputation. She views the survival story through the narrow, anxious lens of potential gossip, highlighting the contrast between the rigid expectations of 19th-century society and the raw, unpredictable reality of the Western frontier.

In Its Own Voice

“The people responsible for the descriptions you complain of are thrifty businessmen, with no idea that there can be any possible attraction in a country where crops can't be raised, timber cut, or ore dug up.”

This observation by Lombard highlights the cultural clash between those who see the desert’s beauty and those who only value land for its economic output.

“The moonlight penetrated the loose roof sufficiently to reveal to each other the faces and figures of the two occupants as they sat in opposite corners, as far apart as possible, she cold and miserable, he cold and sulky, and both silent.”

This description captures the physical and emotional divide between the two characters as they wait in their temporary shelter.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the tension between the artificiality of social convention and the uncompromising reality of nature. The desert acts as a "great equalizer," stripping away the polite parlor-car dialogue and forcing the characters to grapple with survival. The book examines whether human connections—particularly romantic ones—are rooted in genuine understanding or merely in the performative "spoony" behavior that characterizes the period’s courtship. By placing a refined, urban couple in an environment that defies their world-view, the narrative questions how much of our identity is a performance for an audience, and how much is an innate survival instinct. It suggests that while social norms are fragile, the human need for companionship is a constant that can survive even the most desolate, hostile landscapes.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate a blend of sharp social satire and classic adventure will find much to admire here. The prose is elegant and conversational, effectively capturing the Victorian-era fascination with the "taming" of the American West. The dialogue is particularly strong, crackling with the wit of two intelligent people trying to outmaneuver one another even while freezing in the sagebrush.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes regarding gender and the treatment of indigenous populations. The narrator’s voice is unmistakably of the late 19th century, occasionally indulging in patronizing observations about "spoony" youth or the perceived "savagery" of the Piute people, which may feel jarring to contemporary sensibilities. Yet, these elements offer a clear window into the prevailing mindsets of the era.

Ultimately, the book is a brisk, highly visual experience. It feels like a miniature stage play, complete with a dramatic inciting incident and a crescendo of action that keeps the pages turning. What stays with you is the surreal image of a couple waltzing and singing opera to a silent audience of horsemen in the moonlight—a moment that feels both absurdly funny and genuinely dangerous. It is a rewarding, if brief, snapshot of a time when the frontier was still a place where anything, no matter how strange, could happen.