Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-17
LEMONFINGERS.

Five years ago was telegraph clerk at New
stone station. ! had a week Of day duty, and
aweek of night duty, alternately. Christmas
eve had come round, Of all nights in the year.
and there had found myself coopcd up as
usual, in the little office; two great staring in
struIncnts in front Of ne, tlaring gaslight
overhead, and a well hcapcd crate by my side;
not forgetting three volume novel to assist
me in Willing away the long dark hours
The night messages at NcwStonc were never
very numerous. There were rarely ever any
for private people; they referred mostly to
the business Of Tie railway company. That
evening | felt very low-spiritcd. Il went
against the grain to work on Christmas eve,
when everybody else scemcd to be keeping
holiday, and enjoying themselves. Cary and
] had been engaged about two years and for
any prospect Of marriage We might be en-
gagged for twenty years longer. Mr.. LancaS-
ter, Cary's father, was tradcsman in good
way Of business, and naturally refused to let
his daughter marry fellow who was getting
only seventy pounds year. lie several times
advised Cary TO give inc up; but. a. she would
not do that, he contcntctl himself with forbid.
ding me the house; trusting IL time and dis.
tancc-IOr they lived several miles from New
stonc-to aid his cause.
htCW StIAt bi1uCASlCT uIWUyB IUVItSu
number Of young pcOplc to his house on
Christmas eve, and pictured them there,
dancing; Cary fitting about in her white mus
lin dress, with the very ribbon round her waist
that had given her only month before
Would any thought Of my miserable self ever
cross her mind as she moved among the CAV
fcompany? Perhaps my dctestcd rival, Binks
the draper, might be dancing with her, and
pressing her waist with his arm at that very
moment. Thought not calmly to be borne :
so away l went on the platform Cor change of
| scene.
4 clear, starlight night, with a keen breeze
that whistled shrill and dry through the tclc-
graph wires above my head, and brought to
my ears the faint sounds, made soft and sweet
by distance, of the Christmas walls. Lam
terms, fitting like tire-flames among the wag-
Ons in the station-yard; horScs,s, uncouth
shouts Of men, and wild shrieks from distract.
ed locomotives, that seemed tearing, mady up
and down, merely to keep themselves in
glow on such bitter night, and not because
they had anything particular to do. So into
the office again, with numbed fingers, glad Of
such haven
The long dark hours sped slowly; each hour
chinked out by the valOrous little clock in the
corner. Midnight came and went; one o clock,
two CLOCK, three O'clock. had grown tired
Of the charming heroine, and had again be-
come weakly Respondent on the subject Of
Binks, when | was reused by the quick tin
klc of the electric boil. "A private message
"Mr. Kerf, Ironville, to Mr.. Darke,
80, High street, Newstone.
Lemonfngers starts by the mail tonight
All Cerene. Take caro- of the black dwarf :"
Twas accustomed to queer messages, but
this was the oldest had seen. spelled it
over twice, to sec that had got it down cor
recty, then copied it out on one of theprint-
ed forms; signed it; entered at the foot the
time had received it-three forty -fve-and
placed it in an envelope.
Number thirty.nine High street was the
residence of Mr.. Breem, the tailor, and was
only five minutes walk from the station. Mr.
Breem generally had apartments to let, and
Mr. Darke was probably a lodger. Having
locked the door, / proceeded at . rapid trOt
towards Mr. Breem's. / concluded that Mr.
Darke was Snowman, and that somebody
was sending him dwarf-perhaps giant al
sO-but certainly dwarf, to put in his cara
van. There was light in the second floor Of
number thirty-nine. WasMr. Darke waiting,
expectant Of q message? 1t looked like it.
gave loud knock, and stepped back to
note the effect. The light in the second floor
was not moved, but tho window was opened,
head popped out and a gruff voice de-
manded:
"WhO's there?"
Does Mr.. Darke live here?"
"What do you want to know?"
I've got telegraphic message for him "
Ugh l. AL right Wait moment
A very .gruff voice, certainly. Next mo-
ment the door was opened, as Ear as the chain
would admit and great muscular hand was
thurst out. ...,
Hand it here, " said Mr.. Darke.