Litchfield enquirer., 1868-01-23
TOUCHED TO THE HEART.

III AoG h FOIlanCic man, ana II ndC any leaning in that direction, few Mon, day morning visits and reprimands from the board of directors would soon have cured me of the failing; but somehow or an other have found out that railway men are made of the same stuff as other men, and have hearts under their uniform coats 1t was no business of mine, if, while l was at the London terminus of the Great Dividend and Longshare Railway, exam 1 lned the tickets and unlocked the carriages on the departure platform-it was no busi ness of mine If 8 tall, fair girl i'll deep mourning, came twice Q week, regularly, 1 and showed me her ticket for Westgate, re- turn 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 I should lock that door again without banging it, and then take care that no one else went in but lady-like females. Of course I could not help it from the very first day-cold, wintry day, when, thinly dressed, she came shivering along the platform. I seemed to have some strange interest in her; and, as the weeks slipped by, found myself looking out for her regularly. It was easy to see from the music roll she carried and the return tick ct, that she went down the line to give les sons.
 l called myself fool, and thought of my salary as a guard, and my position in life as compared with the graceful, lady I like girl who used to come floating along towards me every Monday and Wednesday morning, looking so pale and sad and care worn that first began by pitying her, and then--well, never mind now.
 One cold December day was shifted for a week on to the arrival platform, and so missed seeing her leave; but I carefully watched every train that came in till saw her get out Without seeing me she hur- ried away. We'll, there was nothing to sigh for there, you'll say; but I did sigh, all the same, and was turning away, when l saw the searching porter with music roll in his hand, which some one had left in carriage.
 "Here! I know who that belongs to-" I said, snatching it from him; and then, see- ing that he was going to make bother, I slipped sixpence into his hand and ran out of the station.
 Just in time: could see her at the bot tom of the street, and catching hold of one of the boys hanging about for a job, I pointed the tall figure out, and told him to follow her where she lived and come back and tell me.
 And not send the music-roll? No; meant to take that. I did not know, but t'ere seemed something pleasant in the idea of being servant to her, and waiting on her; and l kept telling myself so, as I walked back to attend to my duty.
 Next morning was in quiet, shabby, distinguishing place leading out of Gower street, north, looking out for No. 2l. It was easy enough to find, but something seemed to make me walk past two or three times before could summon courage to go up and ring. But at last I did, thinking how foolish it was, when I only had to de- liver the lost parcel and come away.
 So rang gently, and waited; rang again, and waited; and then Q red-faced woman came to the door.
 "You have young lady who teaches
 "second floor front" she said snappish- !y. "Why don't you knock twice? Bells for the ground floor. There, go up!'
 itook off my cap, wiped my shoes, and feeling ashamed of my uniform for the first time in my life, went slowly up to the sec ond floor, and then stopped; for I could hear piano, and the sweetest voice ever heard was singing to it in low tone. I stopped, listening and drinking in the sweet sounds with my heart beating heavi ly, for it was long way up; and I should have stopped longer, had not heard some one coming up stairs. Then I knocked, and voice cried, "Come in!"
 turned the handle two or three times. for it was old and worn, and then entering. stood blushing like great girl, and trem- bling before the tall, pale lady, and some one lying upon sofa, in front of a very miserable fire.
 Such bare, chilly room, and so pale and cold both the inmates looked, as I stood observing all that could in the first glance.
 Oh, mamma, the music!' cried the pale girl, rising from her seat by the piano. and running towards me; and then. as clum silly held 1t out, saw that was recogniz- ed, as she thanked me for what she called my kindness at the station.
 Ask him to take the glass of wine. I,ou ise, " said the lady on the sofa, when I saw the color flush in her daughters cheek, as she said hastily:
 |" think, mamma, we have none in the house."
 Iclumsily protested that I would rather not take any wine, and was backing to- wards the door, when sudden pain shot through me, for had detected motion on the part of the pale girl, and caught sight of shilling in her hand. I suppose l showed what felt, for she paused, and colored deeply, and, as stood outside, she once more thanked me, and passed the shilling hastily into her left hand, and held out the right to me.
 l have some recollection of having taken 1t, and pressed it to my quivering lips, and then was laundering along the streets in sort of wild dream, seeing nothing, hear ing nothing, but apparently lost.
 The days went on till Christmas Eve I had watched for her next coming to the station, and, as usual, seen to the carriage in which she went knew that I had nothing to hope. for, being only railway servant, and she lady; but, for all that. it seemed my duty to watch over her. thoueh since the day when I returned the folio her bows had been little more distant. and she had hurried into the carriage.
 But it was Christmas Eve, and all throuoh that week had not seen her. "Holidavs' :" :! said to myself, and then tried to he as busy as possible, to keep myself from think ing that It would be perhaps a month or SIX weeks before saw her again. Rnt there was no fear of my not being busy for most people know what sort of a Christ. mas Hallway servants keep-all hurrv dr;vo