The mountain Democrat., 1864-07-16
AN ENc1NEER,s ADVENTURES

ton IN Poland had long been crushed: the
country was quiet, il not contented and
! was engaged as assistant engineer on
the survey for the Warsaw and St. Peters.
burg Railway. My principal, whom I
will call Mr.. Evans, as the names Of high
standing professionals are not to be print.
I'd IN the private memoirs of theil subs.
was one Of the English contractors, and
chief engineers as far as wilma, where his
headquarters were fixed and from whence
his instructions were sent forth to all his
outp"sts along the line.
Mr.. Evans placed considerable conf
dence IN me; | suppose it was well found
ed, for | had served my apprenticeship
with him, and subsequently 4cted as his
assistant in the survey Of sundry railways
in England, Belgium and Germany. The
rail was n new institution then, and aS il
originated with us English engineers were
in high request for laying it down in all
parts Of the continent. The fact brought
us into connection with our brother pro.
fe>sinnals from every quarter in Europe.
So it happened that, associated with me
on the same station, and nearly as high
in my principals esteem. there was n
French engineer Of the name Of Dnrnche.
He was born Partisan, a clever, hand
some fellow, about nv own age, which
was then twenty seven, deeply devoted t"
his profession, light hearted, ready witted
and admirably qualified for making him
self nj home wherever he went. DurOchr
was courteous and kindly too; he knew
more about the northern country than I
did, having engineered a bd deal in diff
ferent parts OF Russia, and was by no
means chary Of his knowledge. He un
dcrStood English very well, but spoke it
very badly. was in the very same cs
tate in regard to his language, and by a
sort Of tacit agreement, each conver>ed
in his native tongue, while We carried on
our share Of the survey together. inhab
| tied the same tent, aud became intimate
friends.
| Some such social ans nifty was requisite
| for men so situated. Our station was
| considered one Of the most important on
the line, because il included the worst Of
the engineering difficulties. being n wild
district, half f,nc>t aud half marsh, curl
ou~ly diversified with masses of rock and
ridges of sand in my honest opinion the
refuse of ali Poland. In the midst Of this
terrestrial paradise. and on one Of the
sand ridges. which happened To be the
| highest aud dIiest spot "" could find, was
pitched the tent "a which Giy surveying
COMPANION and nv self found sleeping
r"un and shelter from the worst Of the
weather.
Hard by it stood an old wooden post
house, deserted FOR many year, because
no uayrlerS came that way, and which
was the rest aud refuge tor twn Russian
>arprr>, Whu served us aS chainmcn, and
who undcr>t@'d no order except it were
given IN their own language. or accompS
hci by n shaken stick. There was nn
tnwn "r village within a dav'> journey uf
u; the nearest was a miserable place call
| ell Linkc and the best house in it belong
cd 10 the blacksmith. All our ronwo,k
had to be done there, AMI all cur pr0vi>.
ions brought from thence, which, together
| with the surveying, kept ourselves aud
| our Russian saprcrs perpetually on the
road.
a wild one it WAS, winding through
ma, >h and forest am certain 10 cngi
nrer had eyer been employed upon il, and
the transit "i any vehicle would have been
! timpo>>Ible But at one OF the sharpe>t
turnS. midway between our station ard
Linke, on rising ground, girdied with
ancient oaks and pines, stood an old fash.
iuucd P"Il>h mansion, built partly al
>tunc, partly "f iin,hrr, and standing ont
grand and stately from the mass Of the
dark greenwood.
The family who occupied it were named
Ja>in>ki. They consisted Of Il father and
,langittr,wit n laIge retiuue of servants.
! The father was white haired, Venerable
lnukIng man, approaching iourSrnrr. with
| the niles oi count, colonel. and knight ut
halt the orders OF Europe. The daughter
~aS named, C.lenenta, one ~ 4he !;nr- 4
women ! ever saw, which is saving good
deal for a man who has seen the ladies' of
Poland, even rs an engineer. They bear
lhe. -helt~ln all the BeyIi, tor I,sa,ssr and
talent, and the old counts daughter, in
my humble Judgment, eXcellrd the most
u( them. Tail. finely moulded. with claSsi.
cal features, All alahaSter complexion, with
eyes and hair of the brightest and black
/
might have been queen, aud. for the
sweetness Of her face all angel. Besides,
Clementa was wonderfully clever. could
sing aud play, speak English. French and
Alderman. and talk literature and politics
quite beyond nv depth.
You perceive got acquainted with the
peo lc OF the chateau, As Durochc called
them. Ii was he that introduced me by
accident, as it Sremed, one day, when we
chanced t" be Surveying in their neighb0'-
hood, aud the old count aud his daughter
cam" by in their morning. walk. They
greeted Duroche like old friends; he pre-
sented NE at once, greatly to my own sat
iSiaction; and wc got an immediate invita-.
toa to lunch in the chateau. 1t was my
tirSt Introduction to the good society OF
the north.
Living in that lonely forest, mansion,
with nobody but peasants, like the Linkr
people. within many mile of them, any
stranger who could behave like u gentle
man was dOuhts IS an addition to the ia
>inskiS' resources. DurOche waS evidently
tn, ir family friend; but while the old count
aud he talked mostly together, fancied
that Clementa made Inc particularly wei.
come. 1t might have been because she
Spoke English. which had not heard in
tvllisihly uttered for some time. and that,
with disposition as sweet as her looks,
she Sympatbized with my nndiSgui>ed de.
light at hearing my mother tongue once
more But certain it was that Clementa
talked.to ME, paid me a go9d. deal Of lady
like and delicate attentiG bud warmly
seconded general invitation which her
father gave the to his board and mansion,
in common with Duroche.
took the first opportunity to get out
Of the latter gentleman how he and the
JaSinskis had become acquainted; but get