The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-11-06

and the reader need not expect
to find Belport OH any R'ilroad
map.
The 1890 train, or the mid
night mail, as it was frequently
designated, was run by Earl E"g.
ere, a young man of seven or
eight and-twenty, who had been
employed on the Road for several
years.
He was the best engine driver
On the corporation, and for that
reason he had been selected for
the train, it being expedient to
place men Of the best judgment
on the train, because there was a
better lookout required by night.
Earl, taken all in all, was one
Of the finest fellows | ever saw.
Frank, handsome, generous to
a fault, and well educated.
lie had fallen into the avoca-
tion of engineer more from his
love OF excitement and danger
than anything else, perhaps: and
ii there was ever any particularly
perilous business to DO done, Earl
Rogers was always our man.
For some timo he had been
desperately in love with Laura
Domain, the daughter Of rich
old fellow, just on the other side
Of Rocky River, a half q dozen
miles beyond Bclport. .-..Tsi
This love was fully returned,
for Laura was a noble. hearted
girl, and did not care for wealth
or ambition when weighed in the
balance Of love; but old Demaiu
and she were two, and there vas
no probability of his ever giving
his consent.
He had set his. heart on her
marrying Prince Carlton, Young
blood of the vicinity, reputed
wealthy and Of an old family.
Demain's opposition naturally
made the lovers more determined,
and they only waited an increarse
OF Earl's salary to be married, III
spite OF Papa Domain. s.s
Earl was q faithful fellow, and
was doing my best to get an ad.
vance for him, with every prOba-
bility ofsuccess.
Somehow | took a strong inter
est in Earl's love affairs.
am an old codger, and love
matters arc rather out of my line,
my forte being the calculation Of
accounts, the regulation of freight
ratcs, and the management Of
businces so as to secure tine fat
test dividends to stockholders.
Perhaps my interest in Ea:'s
love for Laiira might be because l
most throughIy detested Prince
Carlton.
He was always "blowing" our
Road, finding fault with the rate
Of speed, with the grade, with the
carriages, with the ventilation,
with everything in short; for moth.
ing suited hith.
Then upon ono occasion, he
and l hnd q few words, neither
very pleasant rof vefy choice, and
he had called me an old scoundrel,
and / had returned the cotnpli-
thefit with interest. After that we
Were worse friends than ever.
One dark rainy night in No
vembcr just aftef the nine o'clock
train had been got If, 4 wHs sitting
IN my office trying 70 balance atf
account tlrat would not balance, the
door opened and Earl Rogers walk
ed In. lie had on his waterproof
soif, the hood over his bend affd
collar buttoned closely, but 1 saw
that his face.was very pale ahd his
eyes cleaned with su unnatural
fire. 6,4s,17 ,sss Il,
"What IN the world has hap
psnea, Eogersr' said l. fpu
look as glum as il you were 90
ing to your own funeral." rm
"Mr. Woodbury." said Ife ear
nestly, "do you behave in presen
titheht, :" ,,.sa
"No," said 1,.l certainly do
not. They are all an old wo"sh's
whin."
sPerhaps so. I wish 1 coard
tbink so," said Ire sadly. * have
been trying lrsrd to-" 37-
"Wbat Is h, Earl! Anything
gone wrong with Laorag' for l
did not know but the little Jade
had been playing off with him,
after the manner Of women.
"Nc. You VIII istgh At me,
Mr.. Woodbury., bot 1 must toll
somebody or I shall go ont Of my
Wits" said he half laughiug, "and