New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-18
A FIGHT FOR A LOCOMOTIVES.


A FIGHT FOR A LOCOMOTIVE.
/ sat at breakfast, one autumn morning,
lazily slipping my coffee, and trying TO solve
a problem that completely eclipsed the pons
asinor1m. Certainly that proposition never
caused me half the perpleXity the one l was
now cogitating did. The morning paper lay
uncut across my knee the rolls had gone
cold; the sunshine came in through the open
window, bringing with it the scent of the late
roses; and across the roads and adjacent
meadows came the shout of the harvestmen
gathering in the last loads of wheat from the
distant wheat-fields. Yet 1 was blind to the
fair prospect that was visible from the window
Of my pretty suburban lodging, and opened
out in the clear, fresh air of the morning, and
stretched for miles on miles; green meadows,
yellow stubbles, red farmhOuses, and woods
already touched with the marvellous cOlOrs
laid on SO layishly and yet harmOniously bv
the master-hand of autumn bounded by the
distant line of hills over which hung the
rounded outline of the Wrekin, only distin-
guishable from a cloud by its Immortality
Many and oft were the hours had spent in
watching and drinking in all the beauty OF
earth and tree and sky; and why not on this
IuoIuIQS ImnleQlaCe cause
lay in two letters that lay on the table. One
had a narrow pink envelope of that elongated
form so much affected by the fair sex. The
other was an unmistakable business letter,
addressed in a clerkly hand to William Her.
bert, Esq, Paradise Place, Metaltown.
PLACE Aux DANES.
"MY DEAREST WILLIE And
I really don't see that we need be in any
hurry to be married. We have only been en-
gagged a year. You are only twenty-five, and
l am but nineteen; so we are quite young
enough to wait some time longer yet. AL
though grandma is little queer, vet I can
bear with her easily when think of the great
happiness that is in store for us sometime
Certainly, dear, we might manage it, as you
are SO impatient, if, when your uncle's will is
opened, you have the $50 annuity you ex-
pect; but if you don't get it, your salary Of
fl20 is rather small to manage with. ]
think, darling, we had better wait bit. An
not terribly worldly-wise little thing %
&C., &c.
This letter was signed "Mary.n
Of course, 1 had read her letter first, and
had inwardly resolved upon overcoming her
fears and getting married off-hand. But the
second letter put damper on my hopes. Ii
was from my uncle's solicitor, and ran thus
"DEAR SIR: The six months your de-
ceased relative directed his will to be KEEP.
sealed were up yesterday, and the will was
read by me before his relatives. am desired
to make you acquainted with the contents
and enclose you copy of will. You will see
that, contrary to our expectations, the will
which your uncle himself made, and kept
sealed even from me, does not leave YOU a
penny. l am astonished at this unaccount-
able conduct, and am grieved at your disap-
pointment.
81 am, sir, yours faithfully,
j. III. PROcToR."
Ny bright hopes were banished. and il was
with sorrowful heart that came to the con-
clusion that there was nothing to do but to
wait as patiently as possible. Suddenly
awakening to the fact that was half an bo,ir
late for the office, fastened downwards. in
wardly praying that my principal. a large
contractor, had not arrived. As soon as I
entered, however, the chief clerk said to me
Mr. Herbert, you are wanted in Mr. Uey-
woods ROOM" hurried in, feeling deiant!y
careless OF the expected reprimand.
late''
L have had unwelcome news, sir, and
forgot how the time was passinr.,, And I
told him as much as / thought proper. After
some discoursive talk he said
have been well pleased with your bust
ness tact and energy, Mr.. Herbert, and have
sent Tor you now to undertake a rather tick.
fish matter. Oblige me by listening. while
put you in possession of the facts"
You know we have discontinued WORKING
the Lleydem brick-fields and il appears thai
our late manager has allowed the ROYALTY to
Earl to fall into arrear for two wears
Last week distraint. was made on the prem.
ises, and the engine that used to nm on on,
branch line, and was lying in the she'd has
been seized and sold for about a mIarter nj
its value. The purchaser has um Il a it'll
up the line off our land, and taken the rails
behind it, to prevent its being taken hack
Now, consider that such distress is illeoai
and am determined to seek the remedy known
in the law as reception" do not care fol
the bother of a replevin action. Now want
you to go to Lleydem and see how the lanl
ees, ana tnen take as many men as you want
horses, and pull the engine on to the main
e Line alter the night mail has passed and take
her with all haste to Nantygolyn station IN
time to meet the up luggage-train Of haIc-na.,
two in the morning. You will ,hen ~ pa a,'
the engine to the train and brine her hara
Here is the necessary permit to authorize yo,
TO stop the train, and letter to the CANAAN
Of the mine. Ii, as is quite possible, you meet
with resistance, refrain from using any more
force than is necessary. 1 wish to avoid any
sighting. Ii you conduct this matter success,
i fully, it Is quite probable NAV raise youl
salary, for have been well satisfied witt
your conduct in the Office. Are YOU sure
that you perfectly comprehend my instruc.
tons -,
withdrew to make the necessary prepa-
rations and cogitate about my anticipated
good fortune, and the strange service was
engaged upon. 1t had all the charm Of adj
venture, for was not SO sanguine as to hope
that such proceeding could be taken en-.
tirely without resistance. determined to