Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-11-11
THE SIGNAL BOy.

the Uniform Railway. His signal-bo,
stands high up, white and solitary
above charming country.
1t Is very hot in summer, when the
sun shines on the glass, and very cold
in winter, when the northeast wind
howls around it, and whistles aeria
music through the telegraph.
1t was an important lookout, fol-
within mile of it, numerous lines in
tersected each other, over which, day
and night, trains were ever crossing and
recrossing, with hairbreadth escapes O!
collisions.
! When John was courting me. be
often made me tremble about it, by
saying, "Jane that place is trouble tc
me; one day know there will be 8
crash (; feel it. A man can't be al
ways in health. Even a signalman's
brain will sometimes become dazed and
muddled and then if he makes q mis-
take, smash must come"
We were married, and John grew
brighter and more cheerful, and ]
trusted he had forgotten that wretched
presentiment of his about the collision,
After six months, however, it returned,
worse than ever. He used to read ali
the accidents and when any of the
officials were convicted for man.
slaughter or discharged for negligence,
he would say: "That may be my case
tomorrow, Jane; then what's to be-
come of you?"
am aware most men would not have
thought like him, but he had the kind
est, most sensitive heart.
John" l said at last, "why don't
you quit the situation, and get some
thing else?"
because a married man should
never give up one employ before he's
sure of another :"
"Well, then, dear, don't say any
more, or you'll make me as nervous as
yourself"
1 had begun to think about the cross
lines and the mail express as much as
John himself, though l wouldn't let
him see it. The signal box began to
haunt me, and 1 used frequently to go
up to the turn of the road and look at
it for no purpose at all. That idea of a
collision was monomania with John
it was becoming so with me.
A year went by safely, and, except
for that miserable thought, no two per-
sons could be happier than John and L,
especially as ~e now had little
daughter, who, for awhile, banished
Johns dread, and we talked hopefully
of the future. Our prospects were
better, for my husband Unexpectedly
heard from an uncle in Australia, who
had made a comfortable fortune, and
intended to return and live with his re-
lations.
"Who knows, Jane? He was ever
kind, and he may start me in some-
thing" said John, one evening, when
had taken his tea to the signal box,
and was amusing Maudie with the
colored lamps. 81 certainly will try,
if-if," he added, looking thought
fully up and down the lines, nothing
happens before"
"For goodness sake, John, don't talk
like that All has gone safely for four
years; surely it will continue to do so,
with care.
81 don't know that" he responded,
gloomily. 1t'stheconfounded Wyming
express 1 fear. Within a space of two
minutes it crosses the line of the
Henshar mail, and often it's five before
its time"
"What do you do then, John ?" I
asked, hushing Maudie.
'Why, 1 turn that colored lamp !;
then the express, knowing the mail
hasn't passed, slackens speed until it
has,"
'.And if you were not to show that
light ?"
at would come on, get into the same
line with the mail, and carriages would
go to lucifer matches p
"Oh, John, please don't You make
my blood run cold I"
After that, there was another fascina-
ton for me besides the signal l-box-the
colored lamps, by a mistake or omission
in the use of which knew not how
many lives might be hurled into eternity.
/ regarded them with awe, and over and
over again asked John their use.
Weeks slipped by, and we got an
other letter from Uncle Thompson.
The ship which brought him from
Australia had been delayed by a severe
gale in the Atlantic, but now he was
safe in England, and intended shortly
to come and see us.
"Safe I" remarked John; mo one
nowadays can reckon upon that, with
a long railway journey before him.
John slightly exaggerated, of course
but that autumn the collisions and ac-
cidents of all kinds had been something
fearful. Not day passed but fresh
collisions were recorded, and, with a
morbid interest, John used to read
them, and make my soul quiver by the
my case, Jane. No doubt the fellow
was dead-beat. Only the mercy of
Providence saves me from manslaughter
or discharge through negligence"
One oppressively warm evening, he
had, while at tea, been reading about
a more than usually terrible accident,
owing, it was stated. to the signalman.
who had been on the lookout for six
teen hours, making an error in the
signals.
Putting the paper down. he exclaimed,
"Jane, how often have l felt as he de-
scribes, full of terror, knowing how
many lives might be depending on me
How pray Uncle Thompson may help
us, and may give the whole thing upr"
Rising, he put on his hat he went
on duty at six. 1 watched him anx-
iously. Never had 1 felt more nervous,
for l had observed him nodding uncon-
to himself over his tea. In
deed, he looked SO depressed, 1 was
half inclined to ask him to let me go
with him. But l knew he wouldn't
consent as it was against the rules
while, independent of which, the man
who temporarily filed his place was the
greatest enemy John had, and would
be sure to tell of him if he did so. L
knew Richard Malin bore q bitter
enmity to my husband, and would
gladly do an i'll turn to one whose rival