The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-22

another engineer, but could ind no one to
take James place, and he was compelled
to remain until the arrival of a machinist,
an old friend of mine, who WAS coming
from San Francisco.
On the Sunday evening, two days be-
fore the day set for my marriage with
MiDna, L had occasion to 60 down to the
saw mill. After had looked at the saws
20 see if they had been properly wsdged
and filed, l descended to the engine and
boiler room. We had two large boilers
set side by side. AS usual, in both their
ends were the man-hOles. These Are semi
circular openings through which. when
necessary, the frenen creep in order TO
clean the inside of the boilers. One of
these man holes was open, and some boys,
children ofone of the firemen, were playing
with a short iron bar near by.
do not know what made mo stop and
watch them pushing the bar through the
aperture while they listened to the sound of
the water as its waVelets moved past the
bar, and dashed against the inside of the
boiler.
''Stop that play, boys" said 1, "and
tell James to close up the boiler" They
had not seen me before, and when they
heard my voice they let the iron bar fall
and scampeced away. The bar dropped
with loud splash into the water.
''Never mind" thought /, "the firemen
can get it cut again when they clean the
boiler next Sunday" l was about TO leave
the boiler room when James entered.
'Good evening, SIR" began he, in a
cheerful tone 81 guess the new engineer
will arrive tomorrow night, and [ am
glad oft. Please step into my room and
read this letter which I've received this
afternoon. From it you can see why l
am glad to set away from here
He gave me letter. 1t was too dark
to read outside, and entered his room
A lighted lamp stood upon the table l
sat down and read the letter, which was
from James mother, urging him to come
home instantly.
you thought I was mad at you be-
cause you made love to Minna. But you
were mistaken, old boy, for look at this
letter." said he, handing me another. 1t
was a letter apparently from young girl,
masculine. 1t was dated from the same
New England village in which James
mother was living, and its contents
breathed intense love for him. 1t was
signed "Annie.''
Yes replied he, in answer to my
questioning look. "Ill marry Annie as
soon as l set foot in my native village"
"Won't you wait until the bans are pub
lished F. asked /, with laugh.
''Not a minute. I'll 60 straight to her
house, and take her to the next parson,
| who, for money and good words, will soon
| tie the knot Now" continued he, after
pause, during which he took bottle and
/ two tin cups from shelf above his bed /;
! snow let's drink to the health of our in
tended brides" And he filled the cups.
"HUld on, James. First let me know
what is in the cups" said l.
"Your intended father-in law gave me
a bottle of Angelica wine. He said that
it was the best he had in his cellar" an
swered James.
| like sweet wine, and took the cup.
"Here's to the health and prosperity of
Annie u exclaimed I, emptying the cup.
''Here's to Miss Minna, who, am
sure, will be the best and truest of wives y
was the toast of James, as he, too, emptied
his cup.
"Now, here is a real Havana ~ said
he, taking some cigars from bis pocket
and handing one to me. which 1 lighted.
Then settling back into the chair, lis>
tened to detailed account of his previous
life. The narrative seemed very uninter-
esting to me, and was wishing inwardly
that it would soon end, for had to 60 to
s. that very Same night on business
connected with the mill.
Gradually the light became dim, and
the voice of james sounded hollow. /
tried to tell him to trim the lamp and
speak little louder but my lips only
moved, and not a Sound came from my
throat. The tobacco smoke is choking
me, thought l, casting my eyes towards
my right hand, which was slowly slipping
from the edge Of the table upon which was
lying the half consumed cigar Strange
that felt no pain as the hand struck the
sharp corner of the chair. tried to rise,
but my endeavors were in vain. Some
heavy weight appeared to press upon my
shoul1ers-a weight which I could not
shake off. I lifted my eyes towards
James, who was sitting opposite me-
Good God was it an hallucination of
my whirling brain, or was it reality?
saw, as if through haze, the eyes of
James glaring at me like those of q wild
cat about to spring upon his prey.
Every line in his features proclaimed
hate-undying hate. He rose and ad-
vanced close to where l sat.
His voice sounded to me like the roar
of thunder, as he said:
"Aha Pve got you now, my fine fell
low this time am sure that you never,
never can marry Minna. Ten minutes
more and you are dead. Oh! it's no
use - cried be in voice that pierced my