The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-01-18
@ieelIanp.
TOUCHED TO THE HEARS.

Tn not Q romantic man, and, II ma "a any
leaning in that direction, few Monday morn
inn visits and rsprimands from the beerd Of d
rsctors would have cured me of that lliling bu
somehow or another have found that railway
men are made of the same stuff a. other men, snd
have hearts under their uniform coeta
twas no business Of mine, II. while was d
the London terminus of the Great Dividend and
Longshare Railway, examined tho tickets and
unlocked the carriages on the departure platform
1T was no business of mine if tall, fair girl, in
deep mourning, came twice q week regularly,
and showed me her ticket for Westgate, return,
second class But somehow it seemed to be my
business, when had unlocked an empty sarri-
age and handed her in as we'll as I could, that
should lock that door again without banging it,
and then take care that no one else went in but
but from the very first day-cold, wintry day
when. thinly dressed, she came shivering along
the platform seemed to have some strange in
terest in her and, as the weeks slipped by,
found myself looking out for her regularly. 1t
was easy to see, from the music-rou she carried
and the return ticket, that she went down the
line to give lessons. S.
called myself fool; and thought of my sal.
AIRY as guard, and my position in life as com.
pared with the graceful, lady-like girl who used
to come floating along towards me every Mon.
day and Wednesday morning. looking so pale
and sad and careworn that first began by pity
ing her, and then-well never mind now. fA
One cold December day I was shifted for week
on to the arrival platform, and so missed seeing
her leave; but I carefully watched every train
come in till saw her get oxt. Without seeing
me, she hurried away. Well, there was nothing
the same, and was turning away, when saw the
searching porter with musio-roll in his hand,
which some one had left in acarriage. sS
"Here know who that belongs to-" said,
snatching 1t from him and then, seeing that be
was going to make bother, slipped . sixpence
into his hand and ran out of the statioa. =,
Just in time: could see her at the bottom
of the street, and, catching hold Of one Of the
boys hanging about for . job, l pointed tho tall
figure out, and told him to follow her to whore
she lived and come back and tell me. az
And not send the nusic-roll? Ne; I meant
to take that did not know, but there seemed
something pleasant in the idea Of being servant
to her, and waiting on her; and kept telling
myself so as walked back to attend my duty.
Next morning was in a quiet, shabby, lodg-
ing-letting place leading out of Cover street
north, with the music-roll in my hand, looking
out for No. 81. It was easy enough to find,
but something seemed to make me walk past two
or three times before could summon up cour-
age to TO up and ring. But at last did, think.
ing how foolish il was, when had to deliver the
lost parcel and come away.
SO l rang gently, and waited rang again,
and waited and then a red-faced woman came
to the door. Hf
"You have a young lady who teaches mu.
Second Aoor-front," she said snappishly
"Why don't you knock twice? Bells for The
ground floor. There, go up"
took off my cap wiped my shoes, and, feel
ing ashamed Of my uniform for the first time in
my life, went slowly up to the second floor, ani
then stopped; for could. hear piano, and tn,
sweetest voice ever heard was singing to il il
low tone. stopped, listening and drinking il
the sweat sounds with my heart beating heavily
for it was long way up and I should hav,
stopped longer, had 1 not heard some one comint
up stairs. Then / knocked, and voice cried
"Come in !" EB 81 ~
turned the handle two or three times, for i
was old and worn, and then entering stood blush
ing like great girl, and trembling before the
tall, pale lady, and some one lying upon a sofa
in front of very miserable FIRE.
Such a bare, chilly room, and so cold and pale
both OF the inmates looked, as stood observing
all | could in the first glance. N
"oh, mamma, the music" cried the pale girl
rising from her seat by the piano. and running
towards me; and then, as I held it ont, saw that
was recognized, as she thanked me for what
she called my kindness at the station.
ask him to take glass of wine, Louise" said
the lady on the sofa, when saw the color fusi
in her daughters cheek, 81 she said hastily
u think, mamma, that we have none in thu
house." VI cn So -
clumsily protested that would rather mol
take any VINE, and was backing towards the
han n snAA "a ~. u -
had defeated a motion on the part Of the sale
girl, and caught sight of n shilling in her hand
suppose showed what felt, for she paused
and colcred deeply, and q stood outside, she
once more thanked me, passed the shilling hasti
ly into her left hand, and held out the right L
me. EH ~ s.r EWN9
have some recollection Of having taken it, and
pressed it to my qaivering lips, and then I va
laundering along the streets in sort of Wild
dream, seeing nothing, hearing nothing but ap
parently lost. =
The days went on till Christmas Eve, had
watched for her next coming to the station, and
as usual seen TO the carriage in which she went
knew that had nothing to hope for, being on,
ly railway servant, aud she lady but. for ali
that, it seemed my duty to watch over her
though since the day when returned the folio
her bows had been a little more distant, and che
had hurried into the carriage. fa
bnti was Christmas Eve, and all through tina,
week | had not seen her. "Holidays," said Il
myself and then tried to be az busy a. possible
70 keep myself from thinking that it would be
perhaps month or six weeks before saw he,
AGAIN but there was no fear of my not being
ousy, Tor most people know what sort Ola Christ
mas railway servants kcep--all hurry, drive
hustle, Worry and rush. Dull, heavysweather i,
was yellow fog and driving snow. The train,
came IN covered with white, which slowly thaw
ed and dripped off so that the terminus Was wet
and cold, and miserably dirty. People didn,
seem to mind it, though; for the station wa,
thronged with corners and goers-friends com