The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-03-18
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Paper MangcF.
LEMONFINGERs.

Five years ago was telegram clerk at
Newstone Station. had week of a
day duty, aud a week of night duty, al
tcrnately. Christmas eve had come a.
round, of all nights in be year, and there
/ found myself cooped as usual, in the lit
tie office: two great staring instreme0tS
in front of me, faring gashght over
head. and we'll heaped CRATE by my
side; not for getting three volume novel
to assist me in Willing away the long
dark hours,
The night messages at Newstonc were
never very numerous. There we're rare
ly any for private people; they referred
mostly, to the business of the railway
company. That evening felt very low
spirited. 1t went against the grain to
work on Christmas eve. when everybody
else seemed to be keeping holiday. and
enjoying themselves Cary and l had
been engaged about two years; and, for
any prospect of marriage, We might be
engaged for 20 years longer. Mr.. Lancas'
ter, Cary's father, was a tradesman IN
good way of business, and naturally re-
fused to let bis daughter marry fellow
who was getting only seventy pounds a
year. He several times advised Cary to
give up; but, as she would not do that,
he contented himself with forbidding me
the house; trusting TO time and distance
for they lived several miles from New
stone-to aid his cause.
vited number of young people to his
house on Christmas eve, and | pictured
them there, dancing; Cary fitting
about in her white muslin dress, with the
very ribbon round her waist that | gave
her only a month before. Would any
thoupht of my miserable self ever cross
her mind, as she moved among the gay
company Perhaps my dete.ted rival,
Bioks, the draper, ght be even dane
ing with her, pressing her waist with his
arm at that very moment. Thought Dot
calmly to be borne; SO away l went on
the platform for change Of scene.
0o A clear, starlit night, with keen
breeze that whistled sbrill and dry thro'
the teleeraph-wire above my head, and
brought to my ears the faiut sounds made
soft and sweet By distance Of the Christ.
mas waits. Lanter<, fitting like fire.
flames among the wagons in the station
yard; boarse, uncouch shouts of men, and
wild shrieks from distracted locomotives,
that seemed tearing madly up and down,
merely to keep themselves in glow on
such bitter night. and not because they
had anything particular to do. 30 into
the Office again with numbed tigers, glad
of such haven.
r. The long dark hours sped slowly; each
hour checked oct By the valorous little
clock in the corner. Midnight came and
went; one o'clock, two o'clock, three O.
clock. l had grown tired Of the charm.
ing heroine, and had again become weak.
ly dcspondent of the subject of Binks,
wbenTi vas reused BY the quick tinkie Of
the electric bell. A private message:
Mr. Korf, Ironvill, to Mr.. Darke, 81
High street, Newstone. Lemonhngers
starts by the mail tonight. All Clrene'
Take care of the black dwarf.
Il was accustomed to queer messages,
but this was the oldest l had seen. l
spelled il over twice. to see that | bad
got it down correctly; then copied 1t out
on one Of the printed forms; signed it en-
tered at the foot the time had received
it--tbroe, forty6ve and placed it in an
envelope.
Number thirty mine, High street, was
the residence of Mr.. Breem the tailor,
aud was only S minutes walk from the
station. Mr.. Breem generally had apart
ments to let, and Mr.. Darke was prosa-
bly a lodger. Having locked the once
door. / proceeded at rapid trot towards
Mr. Breem's. / concluded that Mr.
Dsrke was Snowman and that somebody
was sending him dwarf--perhaps gl-
ant also--but certainly dwarf to put ln
his caravan. There was q hight IN the
second floor of pumber thirty mine. was
Mr. Darke waiting, expecting messages
It looked like it.
I gave loud knock, and stepped back
TO note the effect The light IN the Sec