The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-12-27
SHOWED UP.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

l found myself one fine morning early
in January at our nearest railway sta-
tion waiting the arrival of the Train
that was to bear me back to LONDON
and business. Soon it came in slgnt,
and the CHEEKY face of our old serVanl
Bob, transformed through the influence
of my father (who was a large share
holder in the line) into chief guard, was
thrust out of the window of the break
carriage, giving me an assurance OF
having a pleasant companion during
my Journey to town. The train became
express after passing our station, 50
nothing occurred to disturb Bob and
myself, as we sat in his box smoking,
until the whistle called my companion
to his break, as we neared Kirton Brldge,
some thirty miles on the road. Here
two ladies were waiting eur arrival
The younger, lively girl of seventeen
was, with many cautions and solemn
injunctions en- the part of her elderly
companion, conSigned to Bob's special
care and keeping for delivery in due
course to whomsover might be in waiting
to receive her at Hexton, o station
twenty miles nearer London. Bob was
we'll known on the line as steady,
civil fellow, to whom Manageable ar
ticles, whether in brown paper or petit.
coats, might be safely entrusted; and
the half-crown slipped into his all un'
conscious palm, noticed by no one oul
myself and the hungry, jealous-eyee
porter, who had hoped for, but did not
receive, a "tip" for his assistance, would
not be lost on an old serving man If hli
fidelity ever came to be put to the test
Up to this moment the sky had beer
clear, the air crisp and invigorating
and nothing had indicated any un,
toward incident on our southwark
course, though it puzzled Beb to &C
count for the non-appearance of the
London down train, that should have
passed us soon after we had quilted
Kirton Bridge. Looking out to discover
any signs of its approach, Bob drew his
head in again with "Change in the
weather, Master Arthur" Che had al.
ways called me Master Arthur, and
woald now, poor fellow, IsuppOse, if he
could call me anything). "Snow yonder
sir" he said, pointing to the hills in
westerly direction, that were already
being rapidly hid from usNby the com,
ing storm. Hardly had he spoken when
the sun disappeared behind the driving
clouds, and first slowly, then faster and
faster, the snow was upon us i'll right
earnest. Reminds me, Bob, Of old
school days." / said, loking out at the
wintry sight, "when the mail was snow
ed up, and we got an extra fortnight at
home in consequence" "Ah, Master
Arthur, there's no extra holidays fol
us now" he said, shaking his head as
though he suspected me of wishing that
trains we're as amenable to weather as
stage coaches. "Slow pace this" be
added, rising and looking ont; "not
short of water surelyi Why, l declare
Master Arthur, it's the snow after all,
my late saying notwithstanding. Pm
blessed, if it amt thick, and drifting,
too, across this open to the westward as
though 'twould bury you and me, and
train and all, before we reach Bor-
ton, let alone Hexton, where we
stop in gooi-rights, Master Ar
thur" 1t was evident that the snow
long in GbS before eh We had M enSo%ntared en- "a If: here
it was, indeed, falling and drifting with
pitiless severity, and though our engine
pulfed and painted and labored, our pro.
rress become slower and slower, until
lust within sight of the little shanty
dirnified with the title of BOrton Sta
ton, we finally stuck fast. The second
class passengers-the young lady have
mentioned was tho only occupant of the
first class carriage-beeame both alarm
ed and impatient. Bob, the second
guard, myself and the engine men were
aasailed on all hands with inquiries as
to the cause of the stoppage and the
probability of overcoming it, the up
roar ending at last in the whole of the
company quitting the train and making
pell-mell for shelter in the little station
Hadn't we better look after the
young lady, Bob, before she's quite
buried ?" 1 said, rs my friend rejoined
me after assuring the excited crowd at
the station that somebody from some
where. q mythical "pilot," would come
TO their rescue, and that they would es'
cape with few hours detention at the
most.
Bob clapped his hand to his head, as
though n sudden sense of care and re.
sponsibility had perplexed him, and
then we two commenced wading through
the rapidly deepening snow to the train
again. When we reached the cOmpart'
ments in which Bob's fair charge was
seated we found her looking q little
anxiously perhaps out of the window,
but scarcely conscious of the real state
of affairs. Being alone, she had not
been influenced by the panic that had
seized the passengers. SHOWED up,
Miss: sorry to say can't go no
further, Miss" said Bob, as he
opened the door. The young girl
started and seemed for a moment
hardly to realize the condition OF
matters, while she waited for fur
ther instructions from the guard. Bob
hesitated what to suggest, and as If to
gain time, introduced me as l rapidly
turned into q snow man on the line.
"Master Arthur, Miss; old masters son.
Miss said Bob, and the young lady
bowed graciously, while / endeayoed
to look gentlemanly and dignitied, and
failed utterly. | saw, however, that
our Young friend could discern the lu-
dicrous side of the situation as vel as
it's gravity, as with a pleasant latgh
she inquired, ,"Well, guard, what an l
to do then ~ addressing MS both at once
by her look, as though in many cotn-
sellors she might find safety.
Suppose we were to carry you Miss
this wise,n said Bob, taking a cushion
off the seat and placing his arms cross
ways, while he made feint of claspng
mine in like fashion. The improvised
chair was soon adjusted, the yonng lady
seated between us, and as well protect
ed as circumstances would admit, vas
duly conveyed to the station. The
sight that there presented itself, hsw-
ever, was altogether the reverse of re-
assuring, and saw the young girl
shrink back as she was suddenly inIro-
duced into the strange company. The
station itself was q mere hut, where
but one train each way stopped daily
to accommodate any chance PASSENGER
TO and from the scattered hamlets that
surrounded it. The only other BULL
ings in sight were couple Of
single-roomed cottages of the poor.
est class-the one irhabited by the
railway porter who had charge of the
station, and his wife; the other by la
borers family. Already some attempt
to ameliorate the hardships of their lot
had been made BY the snow-b bound pas