The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-05-27
The Trial Trip Of the Cycfops.

My name is Flora. was twenty eight
before / got husband. This is how it hap
pened
I was spending few weeks during the
middle of winter with my friend Elizabeth,
who resided in the country alone with an in
valid father, and who would have had me stay
there for ever if would only have staid.-
Unfortunately, having duties to attend to in
the adjacent city, among which were class
of Sunday school children, apd an interest
ing circle Of old women in different stages Of
rheunsGsm, govt and grumbling, a few weeks
were all could allow myself. Elizabeth was
an OLD maid, older than me. She was thirty,
and owned up to it, bravely and resigneday.
I was twenty eight, and an old maid, too
Ny father called me SO to my face when he
pinched my .eaT and gave me pin money ; my
friends called me SO behind my back, but,
knowing they spoke the truth, didn't care.
I was past the age when women are fond Of
bearded men Of thirty Eve; was approach
ing the age when they encourage boys Of
twenty. am glad to say was an exception
to this rule. 70 the last day of my old maid
enhood never lost my admiration for full
grown, intellectual men Of between thirty
FIVE and forty, or my pity and compassion
for charming chickens of twenty That is
how I came to entangle Walter Howard (for
I suppose he must have thought 1 cared for
HIM !; that is how he came to risk his life for
me but that's advancing matters.
Walter Howard was a constant visitor at
Elizabeth's house, very blue OF eye, very
blonde of hair, very muscular of limb. He
was not in love with Elizabeth, be yas NOT il
love with any one excepting me. He and
Elizabeth had grown Up together from child
hood, and their friendship, Consequently, had
all the warmth of childish memories, and all
the platonism Of maturity. But was never
born to be platonic, and shall own it p
I haven't used his right name in this story,
which am only wiring to sell, and buy
pocket-handkerchief saw at Sthaft's With
the first moment I saw Walter Howard l.
we'll, yes, loved him. loved those very sweet
blue eyes, violet and pensiye; loved his
long, silky beard loved his gentle ways;
and I did not love his profession.
He was one of the directors ip E railway
company, and his own interest in his business
had made him intimately acquainted 9th the
minutest branch of the service.
In after years he frequently told that if the
worst came to Che worst, and the company
failed, he would make very good staksr or
conductor. or baggage master. Still, I nerer
thought then how some Of these qualities
we're some day to serve me.
have always been fond Of anything SAVIOR
ing Of adventure; am ford of travel and ex
citement never tire Of seeing ueE SCENES and
places ; always g. g Frying e5sfywhers when ]
visit new city e
One day, Walter Howard Informed US that
he would be absent for day or SO, as he was
going on short business trip with some Of
his brother directors, in the directors car
was little glad of this, for the next morn
ing wanted to put into execution little pro-
iect [ had formed. The nejghlorheod where
Elizabeth lived was manufacturing neigh
borhood. It manufactured locomotives
remember it to my sorrow.
The next day. at the healthy hour Of "a.
NJ, new locomotive called the Clifton Cy
cops Clifton was thebame Of the place where
Elizabeth liv,ed) was to be run for the hrst
time on trial-trip, to the next station. Arab
town, about seven miles distant. In locomo-
tiyess had always taken strange-shall I
say romantic, interest? In my younger
DAYS had often said that, were man, my
profession in life should be that of the engin-
eer Of locomotive It is profession that
cultivates enthusiasm. The sailor is the
bridegroom Of the sea the stage coach driver
is king Of the highway; the steamboat cap
tain is sort Of Pharaoh Of the ferries; the
horse-car conductor is in GLOW Of enthusi-
asm when the SHOWS of MISUNDERSTANDING doub-
ling up the omuibus-driveris IS happy along
Broadway as are his coafrerss in tie Bow
ery but which ct them compares in the fer
yor Of his excitenients to the locomotive-en-
gineer? Tell me not, tell me not that the
buffer is not thing of beauty, and that there
is not JOY forever in the feedpump. s';9
Tie sight Of locomotive, stsaming and
sinking its way along, thrills me even yet,
blgnt though the vision be with memories Of
the past? / will say with meniories of the
hast. IN distinction from the memories Of the
future.
Twas glad that Walter was going off for .
day Of two, for he would ellie have learned Of
nv plan and interposed some objection tina,
would have smarred all The pleasure Of its ex
ecntiou:: was glad too, ffSr once that Eli
zabeth and /, were III. the habit of retiring