Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-01-10
TO THE HEART.

nad any leaning IN gIuat ulTeEtioD, d lew
y Monday morning visits and reprlmands
o from the board of directors would soon
have cured me of the failing but some
how or another have found out that rail
way men are made OF the same stut as
other men, and have hearts under their
uniform coats, ,af
II was no business of mine, ii, while
was at the London terminus of the Great
o Dividend and Longshare Railway, | ex-
amined the tickets and unlocked the car
riages ON the departure platform-it was
no business of mine If q tall, fair, girl, in
deep mourning, came twice week regu-
larly, and showed me her ticket for West
gate, return, second class. But somehow
it seemed to be my business, when had
unlocked an empty carriage and handed
her in as well as / could, that should lock
that door again without banging it, and
then take care that no one else went In
but lady-like females. OF course | could
not help it, but from the very first day
cold, wintry day when, thinly dressed,
she came shivering along the platform, l
seemed to have some strange interest in
her; and, IS the weeks slipped by, / found
myself looking out for her regularly. 1t
was easy to see, ffom the music,roll she
carried and thereturn ticket, that she
went down the line to give lessons.
called myself o fool, and thought OF
my salary as q guard, and my position in
life as compared with the graceful, lady
like girl who used to come floating along
towards me every Monday and Wednes
day morning, looking so pale and sad and
careworn that L first began by. ptying Ter
and then-well, never mind now.
~ One cold December day was shifted fol
-f1,, +osf he iuo1 I,1a form O nd
missed seeing her leave; but [ carefully
watched every train that came in till saw
her get out. Without seeing me, she hur
ried away. Wen, there was nothing tc
sigh for there, yOull say; but did sigh
all the same, and was turning away, when
l saw the searching porter with q music
roll in his hand, which some one had left
in a carriage. ..t....,s-+ .-oo. s..t
"Here I know who that belongs to,
said, snatching it from him and then, sec
ing that he was going to make bother,
slipped sixpence into his hand and raI
. out of the station. LA
Just in time could see her at the bot
tom of the street, and, catching hold o
one of the boys hanging about for job
1 pointed the tall figure out, and told hin
to follow her to where she lived and com
back aud tell me.
And not send the music-rol? No;
meant to take that. | did not know, bu
there seemed something pleasant in tn
idea of being servant to her, and waiting
on her; and kept telling myselfso as
walked back to attend my duty.
Next morning was in quiet, shabby
lodging letting place leading out of Cove
street north, with the musicxoll in M
hand, looking out for No. 81. 1t was cas-
enough to find, but something seemed t
make me walk past two or three times b.
fore l could summon courage to go up an
ring. But at last did, thinking no
foolish 1T was, when only had to delivt
the lost parcel and come away.
So I rang gently, and waited; ran
again, and waited and then red-fact
woman came to the door.
"You have a young lady who teach
music -"
~ MSeeend floor 'front.' she said, snappis
.ily. "Why don't you knock twice? Bel
for the ground floor. There, go up!''
si / took off my cap, wiped my shoes, an
feeling ashamed of my uniform for Il
first time in my life. went slowly up
the second floor, and then stopped; for
could hear piano, and the sweetest vol
ever heard was singing 10 it in a lo
tone. i stopped, listening and irinkii
in the sweet sounds with my heart be'
ing heavily, for it was long way u
and should have stopped longer, had
not heard some one coming up stat
Then knocked, and voice. cried, Cor
inr' III fA q ! VI IA
turned the handle two or three tim
for twas old and worn, and then enterir
stood blushing like great girl, and trel
bling before the tall, pale lady, and sor
one living upon q sofa, in front of We
miserable fire. 8r ~ laH .saa<t
Such bare, chilly room, and so &C
and pale both the inmates looked, as
stood Observing all | could in the ii
glance. -.,- &C..
con, (Inamma, the music =. cried
pale girl, rising from her seat by the pial
and running towards me; aud then, a.
sscfumsily held 1t out, / saw that | v
recognized, as she thanked me for WI
she called my kindness at the station.
"Ask him TO take O. glass of WI
sJ,euise," said the lady on the sofa, wheI
-. saw the color flush in her daughters che
as she said hastily;
at think, mamms, We have none in
house" a.s'-r oas e. .s>~is.. ,ssc,
i cluu1sily protested that would rat
not take any wine, and WAS backing
wards the door, when a sudden pain 81
through me, for had detected motion
.sthe part of the pale girl, and caught 81
of a shilling in her hand. L suppose
showed what felt, for she paused, {
t9colore6 deeply, and, as | stood outside,
rsonce more thanked me, passed the shili
H-f. t-ss a -