The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-24
SAINT PAUL. MINNESOTA THURSDAY FEBRUARY a. 1859

lord help u.s." said the good old deacon,
"to think Of the changes! Well" be add
ed resignedly, its what we oil must come
TO-" II was plain that the elder was fairly
puzzled.
Il never thought till lately" pursued the
cripple, that ! should be obliged to tell my
name to my old companions and friends.
Look at me again"
"No. no" muttered the man in the red
shirt, sudibly; one look day at that fsl.
low is as much as can comfortably stagger
under"
But the store keeper, taking step or two
forward, gazed into the ugly mans face for
q moment with an eager air, and said
Neighbors, it's Ben IArkins."
Ben IArkins" said the deacon, why,
we heard you were dead"
"You will hear that again soon," said
the new conner, and it will be true story
then"
There was an awkward pause for the
old friends Of the poor man, with oil their
curiosity, had native delicacy which re.
strained their questions. But the western
man, who now saw him for the first time,
was wholly free from any such embarrass-
ment.
stranger" said he, 4" amt much given
to pumping man against his will, but
should ike to know how you came so, just
to keep out Of such scrape myself"
al came ir here this evening" said the
ugly man, on purpose to meet as many of
my old acquaintance as could, and tell
my story. knew should have to tell it
some time or other, and | want to have it
over, to feel that my misfortune is known,
and that am free from questions"
He shifted his seat, a. il to obtain an ca
sier position, and continued Those OF you
who saw me couple Of years since, will re-
collect that was then, as had been for
many years previously, warm and active
politician. Now that have come home to
die among you, it seems Of little moment
who comes out the winner in these doubtful
races but then 1t was different thing TO
me, and / believe never was wanting in
any service which my party asked Of me,
from the time Of the election Of the good
old General Harrison, who ia, ] trust, in q
OStSSi PiOtS tuuu w ulC uOWs
Amen J" said the red shrted man, sol
emnly.
When emigrated to Ohio, two years
snce," continued Larkins, 81 carried my
enthusiasm with me, and became pretty well
known in the section OF country about the
village of W, where settled. You
must remember, at least oil Of you who read
the newspapers, that our last gubernatorial
election was an unusually exciting one. /
belonged to one OF the State general com
mittees, and as the returns on election day
came in by express, We began TO grow fair
ly wild. We had beforehand made all the
necessary arrangements to have the earliest
authentic news Of the result posted of 10 the
New York papers, and | had agreed 10 see
that certain budget oi returns which we
expected to receive during the evening,
some thirty miles distant, by the railway, az
soon a. it arrived, and had chartered an en-.
gine, which was TO be in readiness at eleven
o'clock that night.
Well, the budget came promptly at the
time, and the news was quite a. favorable
as we desired, and much more 70 than we
expected. suppose it was this fact that
80 suddenly determined me TO carry the 10.
telIigence on myself At any rate, hastily
resolved TO go on the locomotive, and seizing
the returns, ran down TO the depot, where
the engine was fired up and wbistling its
readiness for a start.
Il was bat the work Of q moment TO per.
suade the engineer 10 take me with him, for
the fireman was nowhere TO be found, and
the engineer had resolved to run over the
track alone. volunteered at once TO assist
him az well as could, and Immediately
mounted the engine.
II was dark and Wild. though warm
night, and everything gave indication Of an
approaching storm. Feariully black clouds
we're rolling up in the sky, and, what wS
rather q singular phenomenon st that season
Of the year, the lightning WAS flashing viv.
idly, and the thunder was mutteripg as in q
summer shower But the exci,emen, Of
success bsnished every sensation Of fear
from my mind We both knew We bad the
right Of way, and 20 fer a. human ingeDu.
i'y aDd foresight could protect as, there vss
20 danger 10 running at the speed which steam
could drive "a. Careful men had. during
the day been sent forward 10 se that each
switch was in its place the night train
from B was 10 wait for our arrival
the road was reasonably straight and az
cept the ordinary dangers from detective
rails or aIs're~s. ve had nothing to sppre-
bend.
II Was thirty miIes, o. ! mid, to b.
What time can yoo make II IN :" said | 70
the Engibesr. a. 60, spon the platform
With him. ] once ran over ths rosd 10 three
quarters Of On hour With 90 engine, replied
be. Make IL in bali IN hour THE time snd
will give yoa twenty dollars" eyied I.
Every minute . worth fortune" must
have besn in.sne. The fash Of victory. stsr
% many weeks Of enihusisssic struggle, had