The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1867-04-18
From Harpcr's Weekly
AN ENGINEERS STORY.
Going uD tonight, Frank %

"Golng up tonight, Frank =
How quickly man discovers the
friendly outlines of familiar face, even
amidst the confusion and tumult of a
crowded railway depot! / had fancied
myself cognized, las leaned against
the arched brick doorway nearly
shrouded in shadow, watching the hur
ried, anxious faces that came and went
under the Pickering gas-lights; yet
here was Carew's hand on my shoulder,
and Carew's genial countenanceloo oking
into mine. We had been close friends
and allies two years ago, when he had
been conductor and was engineer on
the same train. Tempted by a more
liberal offer, 1 had left my post on the
Lady Franklin and undertaken the
supervision of a large machine-sho !;
yet / still retained pleasant recollec-
ton of my railway 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 headlight, [ almost
wished myself back again in my old
post. r.. ~. ...
Eyes, I thought I should. How's
the old Lady! Holds her own pretty
well p .z..
'Better than the new ones a deal p
said the Conductor, enthusiastically
viewing the fiery throated monster as
she pufed and groaned, ran backward
a few steps, and then darted forward,
in manner entirely enigmatical to any
but our initiated selves. .....-..
''She looks as trim as a city belle. y
eyes: Macleod keeps her well up.
1 say, Frank, MacLeod's wife is going
through to-night." -.-..-.
I knew he was looking closely tine,
scrutinizing my countenance; but |
manae ed with an effort to say. quite
carelessly and unconcernedly: SIS
she 20
Carew had known all about the one
disastrous love affair of my youth: he
knew perfectly we'll that pretty Isabel
Martin had suddenly turned round and
married John Macleod after encour-
aging my suit for nearly a year and he
knew also how sensitive I still was on
the subject. / had not blamed Isabel
so much as some might have been dis
posed to do; she was very young, and
entirely under the influence Of her faith
er, with whom Macleod was a great
favorite. But none the less I had re-
ceived great and enduring shock.
"Poor little Isabel" sad Carew, ,as he
reached up to turn down long jet of
gas that threatened to crack its globe
q rather think she has gotpretty well
sick of Macleod by this time"
s'Why? Does he ill-treat her?''
"Well, / don't suppose he either
locks her up on bread and water, or
beats her; but do suppose that in cv
cry other particular in which a man
can neglect or i'll treat a woman she is
neglected and ill-treated." "
''The old brute % l muttered, be-
tween my teeth.
,'Well-I shall see you again. said
Carew, vanishing into the crowd with
a sinuous ease and swiftness peculiar,
| believe, to the race Of conductors. =.
1t was tempestuous night in March
the wind bowling and shrieking like
an infuriated demon, and the rain beat
ing stormy figure on the depot-roof,
as advanced to help a woman in who
carried heavy basket. = .'
Excuse me, Madam, but that is too
heavy for you to liftv
She looked up to thank me, but the
words died on her lips as her eyes met
mine. 1t was Isabel Macleod, the lost
love whom / still cherished in my heart
of hearts, and the wife of the engineer
on the Night Express. was the first
to recover my composure; for this, be
it remembered, was the first time we
had met since her marriage, more than
three years before.
Here is vacant seat, Isabel; do
you wish to sit near the stove p