The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-27

Tor 1t was company work, you know ;
and besides that, 1 was thinking of
Belle Carroll all the time, and 1 couldn't
have been hard on the biggest loafer
that ever handled pick. ......
But Tn forgetting Joe Handley and
his practical jokes. Well, sir, he played
off one on his fireman. mere slip of a
boy-that made me begin to think ne
was crazy
They were both on the top of the en-
bankment, which was very high and
very steep. l was standing in the ca
boose, looking up at them, wondering
what on earth made Joe laugh so wildly
at nothing, when all at once Joe gave
the fireman powerful shove down the
| slope
It was the maddest thing ever saw
done as joke for the chances were fifty
to one in favor of broken bones, or death
outright as man with half an eye
could see. Why, my heart was in my
mouth. fortunately, the lad, after
pitching forward, got his legs straight
under him somehow or other, and came
down, frightened and angry.
He got into the caboose and swore he
wouldn't fire another time for Joe Hand
ley.
Joe set up loud queer laugh; and
upon my word, 1 thought his dancing,
glistening eyes would shoot clean out of
his head.
Lord p thought 1 to myself, eff L
was the company, wouldn't have such
a pair of eyes behind an engine of mine"
but, you see, wanted to ask favor of
Joe, so l didn't tell him what thought.
The passenger train from the West
ran into Decatur at half-past eleven in
the morning, and we had to back to the
switch OF Harristown, in order to let it
pass.
"Joe," said 1, as he let on the stsasn,
"Tll want you to stay bit for me in
Harristown. I wish to make viMt.
The men have plenty of picking 10 do,
before they'll want the flat cars"
"All right" said he, readily. "I'll
wait as long as you like. Is there pet
ticoat in it, Bill Z"
Now, hadn't made a confdant of
Joe, don't think I could have brought
myself to do it for money, unless he had
put green shade over those dreadful
eyes and even then, if he had laughed
just one of his queer laughs, I'd have
stopped dead short, and smashed his
face to pulp, so help me.
"Petticoats be hanged" said 1. "I've
business of another sort to attend to.
l left him at the switch, and set out
for Carrolps house.
Belle was making biscuit in the kitch-
en-, and l caught her in her oldest dress,
up to the elbows in dough. You can
guess how glad she was to see me, and
how she welcomed me, when tell you
that there was -four all over the back of
my coat, and you could pick Jumps of
ter I passed the kitchen window.
Time travelled like lightning, I tell
you, for I succeeded in making her name
the day, and the old man gave me his
blessing, and the old woman kissed me,
and begged me to be good to her child
and Belle cried, and cried for compa-
ny. I was very happy, till 1 bethought
me of the bright eyes that were dancing
up and down the track in quest of me.
1 took my leave of the old couple, and
Belle went to the garden gate with me,
to make the parting easier, she said.
L was looking down into her dear
eyes, seeing there all sorts of joys in
store for me, when little start of hers
made me look up, and there, leaning
over the gate, was Joe Handley
1 nearly jumped out of my boots. I
wasn't afraid of the man, mind you, so
far as fair stand-up fight went but 1
never caught the CLEAN of his eyes on
mine without feeling cold in my spine.
"What a liar you are, Bill" said he,
,tth IF he Thn,.
is a pettico in it, after ALL"
1 couldn't speak. If 1 had opened my
mouth, should have struck him.
$50, that's the favored one, Miss
Belle!" said he, pointing at me with his
thumb.
Belle was greatly put out. She was
red and pale by turns, and pressed close
against me for protection.
81 told you that was engaged, Mr..
Handley," she said. "And I'm sure 1
never gave you any encouragement"
"Well, there's more fish in the sea-"
he returned, and went back to the en-
gine, roaring with laughter.
Belle told me that she had met him at
ball in Decatur, and he had beset her
ever since. She prayed me not to quar-
lcl Will HIN, tHu pdCllieu uer uue pSSu
way could with promises.
"Joe," said l, as we ran down to the
cutting, 81 never thought of your being
my rival" -
"Faith," said he, 81 never put you
and Belle Carroll together in my
thoughts before to-day"
"You bear no malice 2" I asked, offer
ing him my hand, for Bellies sake.
"What would bear malice for Z" he
returned. "'If she be not fair for me,
what care for whom she be- ?"
But hepretended not to see my hand,
SO drew it back, and was angry with
myself for offering it.
I was nervous all that afternoon for
the first time in my life, I believe.
don't know that 1 had any positive
what do you call t?-presentiment of
evil; but 1 was uncomfortable, and al
together unlike myself j ! Y, q ''
Joe staid in the tender all day, and
whist,ed. He was the best whistler
ever heard, and the men used to stop
picking, to listen to him. -1f .
The day wore away painfully. We
got good load on the fiat cars, and
dumped the dirt two miles further
down, on road that crossed the track.
By that time, it was nearly dark, and 1
gave the word for Decatur.
At Harristown we stopped, to get the
engine before the caboose, and take on
dozen twenty-four-foot rails. The
men threw up the last rail just as the
first flakes of terrific snew-storm fell