Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-02-26


Five years ago was tclceraph-clcrk at
Newstone Station. | had Il week Of day du-
". and a week of night duty, altcrnatclv.-
Christma.-evc had come round. of all nights
in the year. and there found myself, coopcd
Up as usual. in the little Office two great
staring Instruments in front of me. ilaring
.gaslight overhead, and Il well hcapcd CRATE by
my side; not lorgcttinga three volume novel 10
assist me in Willing away the long dark
hours.
i'hc night III S,agos at Newton were never
very numerous. There were rarely any for
private people they referred. mostly to the
business of the railway company That even
ng | felt very low-spirted Invent against
the grain t. work ON Christnas-eve. when cv-
CrvbJdy else seemed to he keeping holiday,
Nnd enjoying themselves Cary and ] had
been engaged about two years and for any
prospect Of marriage, we might be engaged
for twenty years longer. Mr.. Lancaster
Cary's father, was tradcsmun in Il good way
Of business, and naturally refused to let his
daughter marry fellow who was getting
only seventy pounds year. He several
times advised Cary to give me up but, as
she would not do that, he contentcd himself
with forbidding mo the house trusting to
time and dismnce-tor they lived several
miles from Newstonc--to aid his cause.
knew that Mr.. Lancaster always invited
A number Of young people to his house on
thriatmas-eye, and pictured them there,
dancing, Cary Hitting about in her white
muslin dress. with the very ribbon round her
waist that had given her only month be-
fore. Would any thought of my miserable self
ever cross her mind, as she moved among the
gay company? Perhaps my detestcd rival
Binks the draper, might be even dancing
with her, and pressing her waist with his arm
at that very moment \ thought not calmly
to be borne so away | went ON the platform
for change Of scene.
A clear starlight night, with a keen breeze
that whistled shrill and dry through the tel
egraph wires above my head, and brought to
my ears the faint sounds made soft and sweet
by distance, Of the Christmas waits Ian
terms fitting like tire-1ames am ong the wag.
ons in the station yard hoarsc, uncoutt
shouts of men, and wild shricks from distract
ed locomotives, that seemed tearing madly
up and down, merely to keep themselves in {
glow on such bitter night, and not because
they had any thing particular to do. So int
the Office again, with numbed fingers, glad o
such haven.
The long dark hours sped slowly; each hou
chinked out by the valUrous little clock in tn,
corner Midnight came and vent one clock
two clock, three clock. | had grown tircC
Of the charming heroine, and had again be
come weakly dcspOndcnt on the subject o
Binks, when was aroused by the quick tin
kle of the electric-bell 4 private message
"Mr. Korf Gronvile,
TO Mr. Darke, 80 High st., Ncwstonc;
Lemonfngers starts by the mail Tonight Al
Chone. Take of the black dwarf"
was accustomed TO queer messages, bu
this was the oldest had seen. ] spelled
over twice, to see that had got it down col
rectly, then copied it out on one of tn
printed forms signed it; entered at the foe
the time had received it-thrcc. tortv-fvc-
and placed it in an envelope.
Number thirtv-nino lligh-strcct, was til
residence Of Mr.. Breem, the tailor, and wa
only five minutes walk from the station
Mr., Breom generally had apartments to lc
and Mr.. Darke was probably lodgcr. lla1
ing locked the Office door, proceeded at
rapid trOt towards Mr., Breem :. | conclude
that Mr.. Darkc was a Snowman, and tn,
somebody was sending him dwarl-perhal
giant alsO-but certainly dwarf, to pit
in his caravan. There was a light in III
second floor of number thirty-nine. w,
Mr.. Darke waiting expectant of message
II looked like it.
FdNt Il lpHI hlpth' anu Nl'IIHu utth
note the effect. The light in the secor
floor was not moved, but the window WI
opened, head popped out and a gruT volt
demanded
"Who's there ?''
Does Mr. Darkc live here ?'
"Why do you want to know ,"
'I've got telegraphic message for him
Ugh All right. Wait a moment. ="
A very gruii voice, certainly Next N
mgnt, the door was opened, as far as t
chain would admit and great muscul
hand was thrust out.
Hand it here, - said Mr. Darkc
Accordingly placed the note in h- har
"Wait bit, till ! see whether any a
swers s required.
In minute OF two the window was aga
opened "No answer" and the cascm,
was slammed down, With the exception
his voice, had no more idea of Mr.. Dar
when | left number thirty-nine, than | h
when | went had merely seen the outl
Of his head when he looked out Of the W
dow. Whether he was a young man or
old man a fair man or dark man, | "
equaly Y at loss to know
lronyille is thirty-ive miles from Ncwsto
The mail train runs the distance in ratl
under an hour, and reaches the latter pl;
at halfpast five As the clock pointed
half-past five, set of for stroll up
platform, determined that if any dwarf,
giant, or other strange monster, arrived
the train, it should not depart unseen by !
half expected to find Mr.. Darkc, wait
for the train but he was not to be seen
True to its time, the train crawled slowly i
the station and, in another moment,
platform was Hooded with those strang,
a.tired individuals, whose business or pleas
induces them 10 travel by night No dwarf,
giant nor other strange monster. Only one !