The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-02


was amusing Maudie with the colored
lamps. - certainly will try, Tiff"
he added, looking thoughtfully 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"
CT don't know that" he responded,
gloomily. cts the COMPOUNDED Wyo-
ming express fear. Within space of
a few minutes it crosses the Hensher
mail, and often it's five minutes before
it's time"
"What do you do then, John ?" I
asked. hushing Maudie.
Why, then 1 turn the colored lamp;
then the express, knowing the mail train
hasn't passed, slackens speed until it
has,"
And if you were not to show that
light ?"
:" 1t would come on, get into the same
line with the mail, and the carriages
would go into lucifer matches"
90, John, please don't. You make
my blood run cold"
After that there was another fascina-
tion for me besides the signal box-the
colored lamps, by mistake or omission
in the use of which / knew not
how many lives might be hurled to eter-
nifty. 1 regarded them with awe,
and over again and again asked John
their use.
Weeks slipped by, and we got another
letter from Uncle Thompson. The
ship which brought him from Aus
traia had been delayed by severe
gale in the Atlantic, but now he was
safe in England, and intended to come
and see us.
"Safe - remarked John "no one
nowadays can reckon on that, with a
long railway journey before him."
John slightly exaggerated, of course,
but that autumn the collisions and ac-
cidents of all kinds were something
fearful. Not day passed but fresh
collisions were recorded, and, with q
morbid interest, John used to read
them, and make my soul culver by the
remarks, "Such might just have been
my case, Jane. No doubt the fellow
was dead-beat. Only the mercy Of
Providence saves me from manslaugh-
ter, or discharge through negligence. {"
One oppressively warm evening he
had, while at tea, been reading about n
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 sig
nails.
Putting the paper down, he exclaimed,
"Jane, how often have / felt as he de-
scribed, knowing how many ives might
be dependent on me. How pray I'm
Gle Thompson may help us, and 1 may
give the whole thing up!'
Rising, he put on his hat he went on
duty at six. / watched him anxiously.
Never had [ felt more nervous, for /
observed him nodding rnconsciously to
himself over his tea. Indeed, he looked
so depressed L was half inclined to ask
to go with him. But | knew he
wouldn't consent, as it was against the
rules; while independent of which, the
man who temporarily ii!led his place
was the greatest enemy John had, and
would be sure to tell of him if he did
SO. / knew Richard Malin bore bit
ter enmity to my husband, and would
gladly 90 an Ill turn TO one whose rival
he had been. / was aware ne never for
gave my accepting John and rejecting
him. So 1 held my toNgue, spoke
cheerfully as 1 could, as L walked with
him TO the corner Of the road, and
waited until J. saw him appear in the
signal box, when L retraced my steps.
[ never felt so nerv0usly restless as !
did that night. L could settle 70 moth
ing, so / sat down before the fire. /
kept light for Johns return, and tried
to divert myself with my baby, but the
child soon slumbered, and L sat think
ing until |, too, slept.
The whole time / dreamt of nothing
but railways. They were every where
rushing about me, their shrill whistle
deafening my ears. L beheld the ex-
press and the mail, with noiseless hor-
ror, rushing toward each other, with
lights seeming to laugh with tiendish
mirth. Then there was an awful cry
a crash, and scene OF destruction. /
was Awakened by my own cries.
Irritated at being so startled, L bus
tied about to forget the scence, put
Maudie TO bed, and again sat down by
the fire and dozed.
Scarcely had l done so, however,
WutH butIc uIOSt DcIOtc lhc a. SntiOWy
figure of indefinite form, pointing in
the direction of the signal box.
moved restlessly, and put my hands
before my eyes to shut it out. Finally,
1 started, rose to my feet, and I could
have declared the figure stood on the
hearth-rug, in the freight, only it
gradually melted into air.
Just then the clock struck half-past
ten.
In half an hour the Wyoming express
and Hensher mail would be due. At
that L began to tremble violently, and
throwing on my shawl, determined to
go and look at the signal box, and see if
it was right.
White mists had risen since / was
last out; and above them, rising as from
billowy sea, about mile distant, rose
the lookout" distinct in the moon
light.
But where was john? Generally I
could see him moving about; now, the
place was apparently empty.
What did it mean? There was but
one answer-John was asleep.
Never shall forget the sensation that
ran through my veins at that thought.
The crown of my head seemed to liter