Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-09
The Station Master at Longley.

Why am l so bald then! Ah friend
you may we'll ask. Men do not usually
lose their hair so early in life; and my
scalp was polished, in this shining fash
ion, some fifteen years ago. 1t took only
one grim nights work to do it all.
A story? Yes, comrade, there is a
story about this same poor bald pate OIL
mine and, if you wish to hear it, will
tell it you. 1t is an old story now, and
over familiar to our friends about here
for I fear have gabbled it somewhat
too often when the bottle has been going
round but as you never heard it before,
you will find it new. The up-train is
not due for a full hour yet and perhaps
my story may help as well as anything
else to kill time. Fill your glass then,
and draw nearer to the fire for that
drifting snow outside does not make this
winter night too warm.
You say you knew at once, when first
you saw me that had served. Well,
no doubt the soldier who has been in ac-
tive service always bears stamps of his
profession about him. / have smelled
powder on more than one field. l was
nine years in the -th Fusilers. / serv-
ed in Canada; and, after reaching the
grade of sergeant, | was dangerously
wounded in a rencontre with the Caffres
at the Cape, and was sent home with a
pension. I h restoration Of health
brought back my constitutional antipathy
to idleness; and after knocking about
in sore discomfort for some time, at last
succeeded in procuring occupation as
ticket-clerk at the Longley station on this
line.
You don't know the country about
Longley No. You lose nothing there
by; for a more miserable district of bleak
hills and wild barren moor is not to be
found from this to John oGroats and
the population, rude and churlisb, are as
little attractive as the country they dwell
in.
Among the few acquaintance I made
during the one year l spent there was a
young fellow named Carston, the son of
a wealthy sheep farmer, who lived some
six miles from the station. A clever
fellow he was--the real manager of the
farmland on market days, and such
like, he was a frequent traveller on our
line. Young Carston and | had come to
be great friends, and more than one
pleasant holiday spent with him (for
even we railway officials have holidays
now and again) up among the hills, bleak
and barren as they were. l dwell upon
all this (rather tediously, perhaps) be-
cause it is to Frank Carston | owe this
bald crown.
1t was a cold, cherries winter eve
ming, as l stood upon the platform wait
ing for the mail train from the north,
which was a little behind its time.
There was no passenger from LongIey
the train would not wait two minutes, and
my work would be over when it had
passed on. Twas pleasantly anticipating
a quiet night by my own fireside, with
hot cup of tea and the London morning
paper, when the train came dashing in
and pulled up with a shrek, and head
was thrust out from one of the carriages,
while the familiar voice of my friend
Carston hailed me.
Ned, old fellow he said, as l hurried
up to him, 4 want you to do me a great
favor. You see this bag; it contains
-wo hundred sovereigus. Tomorrow is
and l got this cash for the old
nan this morning. You know the craze
le has for paying in gold. l am going
through to London on urgent business,
md what l want you to do for me is to
axe charge of the money and this letter.
md carry them out to our place. Get
my sort of conveyance and drive out
lon't mind the expense-I'll settle all
hat. know that as friend, you'll do
his carefully for me. Tell father I'll be
lone tomorrow night, if possible ,
OFF went the train, and before could
liter word was left alone on the
'latform with the heavy bag of gold in :
ny hand. The commission with which
had been so unexpectedly instructed
vas a very disagreeable one that bleak :
winter night but it would be churlish to
isappoint friend. l went to my lodg-
ngs, got some tea, loaded small double
arreled pistol Gan unusual precautiOn {
by the thought of the gold), ,
ut it in my pocket, and wrapped my r
reat coat round me. It was no easy
hing TO get carriage, fly, or gig in a Y
tile place like Longley at that hour v