Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-05-03
aliseella nc q II s
Ny Midnight Trip on the
LADY Franklin"

Going up tonight. Frank!
How quickly man discovers the friend
" outlines of familiar face. even amidst
the confusion and tumult af crowded
railway depot | had fancied myself un
recognized, as leaned against the arched
brick doorway nearly shruuded in shadow
watching the hurried. anxious faces thai
came and went. under the Pickering gas
lights vet here was Carew's hand on my
shoulder. and Carew's genial cOuntenanct
locking into mine. We had been clost
friends and allies two Gears ago. when he
had been conductor and was engineer ~
the same train. Tempted by more lib
eral offer, had left my post on the LADY
Franklin - and undertaken the superyis
ion of a large machine shop; yet still
retained pleasant recollection of my rail
way DAYS. and Tonight. as | stood on the
old familiar ground, with the well known
sights and sounds around me, and the
Lady gliding out of her place OF shelter
With FURNISHED sides and flaming head
light. almost wished myself back agaii
in my old post.
Yes. | thought should. How's tht
old lady Holds Her own pretty we'll
Better than the new ones deal : sait
the conductor. enthusiastically viewing the
fiery throated monster as she putfcd and
Dreamed. ran backward few STEPS, and
then darted forward, in a manner entrel.
enig,natical to any hut our initiated selves
She looks AS trim AS City belle.
Yes; Macleod keeps her wei! up.
sav, Frank. MacLeod's wife is going
through tonight.
knew he was looking closely at me
scrutinizing NV countcnancc /; but ! man
aged with an effort to say. quite careless
~ and unconcernedly is she ,
Carcw had known all about the one dis
astrous love-afiair of my youth: he knew
perfectly well that pretty Isabel Martin hat
suddenly turned around aud married JOIN
Macleod after encouraging my SUIT fo
nearly year and he knew also how sen
sitivc still was on the subject l hat
not blamed Isabel so much Us some might
have been disposed to; she was very
youug. and entirely under the influence OF
her favorite. But none the less | had re-
ccivcd great and enduring shock.
Poor little Isabel. said Carew, as he
reached up to turn down long jet of gas
that threatened to crack its glass globe
i rather think she has got pretty well sick
of MacLcod by this time.
WHY 4! Does he i'll treat her !
We'll. don't suppose he either locks
her up ON bread and water, or beats her
but de suppose that in every othe: par
ticular in which man can neglect or Ill
treat a woman she is neg lected and Ill
treated
The old brute,' muttercd, between
my teeth. ,c
Well shall see you again. said Ca
rev, vanishing into the crowd with S'n
uous ease and swiftness peculiar believe
to the race of conductors.
Itw was a tempestuous night III March
the wind howlins and shrieking like an IN
furiated demon, and the Rim beating
a stormy fugue on the depot roof, as
advanced to help a woman in who carried
a heavy basket.
Excuse me, Madam, but that is too hea,
W for you to lift
She looked up to thank me, nut the
words died ON her lips as her eyes met
mine. 1t was Isabel Macleod. the lost
love whom l still cherished in my heart
of hearts, and the wife of the engineer
on the Night Express. L was the hrs'
O recover my coinpOsure for this. be II
remembered, was the first time we had
met since her marriage. more than three
years before.
Here is vacant seat, Isabel; 90 you
wish to sit SO near the stove
1T makes no difference, SAID ISABEL
hurricdly. Il am very much obliged t.
you, Mr.. Atwater.
.How does it happen that You are eoing
through such stormy night asked
unmindful of her evident anxiety to Ds
left alone.
i do not know myself, except that John
wishes it.
Still / fingered. Is there anything
more can do FOR yen Isabel
There was no answer. stopped my
head little lower. l
isabel. You are crying! What ha'
grieved you! Tell me what the trouble
is 2
.Nothing-Nothing. she sobbed beh'n'
her veil. .Oulv--I had not seen you III 81
long time, and it was like the ola uay
nnce more; and-and | am very foolish
please leave me now, won't you --.
obeyed her, puzzled and indignant
carew was right. A happy wife does no
burst out crying when she meets sn
friends of her girlhood a happy . wlIe
look is lar different from that paie, ifls"t
cned face. | felt strongly inclined TO 6
straight out to John MacLeods post "'
the Lady Franklin and administer
summary thrashing then and there
But / checked MY rising color. and con
tented myself instead with leisurely saun
ter through the train. now under full mo
tion' M it was very pleasant to find myse
once again on the old familiar ground
The The brak.,nen all had a word Of respect
full greeting for me. the baggage-masts, {,
insisted on ensconcing me- in the nngl
arm. chair which graoed bis car while h
h;ms,lf sa. oua pile Of trunks and aske