Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-05-27
The Srgnal-BOx.

1t is very hot summer, when
the sun shines on the glass, and
very cold in the winter, when the
northeast wind howls around it,
and whistles, with ghostly aerial
music, through the telegraph.
1t was an important lookout,
for within q mile of it, numerous
lines intersected each other, over
which, day and night, trains were
ever crossing and recrossing,
within hairbreadth escapes of col
lisions.
When John was counting me, he
often made me tremble about it, by
saying, "Jane, that place is trou-
ble to me; one day l know there
will be o crash /; feel it. A man
can't be always in health. Even a
signalman's brain, will sometimes
become dazed and muddled and
then if he makes o mistake, y
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 re-
turned, worse than ever. He used
to read all the accidents, and when
any Of the officials were convicted
of manslaughter or discharged for
negligence, he would say: "That
may be my case tomorrow, Jane
then what's to become Of you Z"
am aware most men would not
have thought like him, but he had
the kindest, most sensitive heart.
"John," said at last, "why don't
you quit the situation, and get
something else ?"
because q 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"
i had begun to think about tht
cross-lines and the mail express as
much as John himself, though
wouldn't let him see it. The signal
box began to haunt me, and l used
frequently to 60 up to the turn OF
the road and look at it for no pur-
pose at all. That idea of a collision
was q monomania with John-it
was becoming so with me.
A year went by safely, and, oS-
cept for that miserable thought no
two persons could be happier than
John and l, especially as we now
had little daughter, who, for a
little while, banished Johns dread
and we talked hopefully of the fu'
ture.
Our prospects were better, for my
husband unexpectedly heard from
an uncle in Australia, who had
made q comfortable fortune, and
intended to return and live with
his relations.
"Who knows, Janel He was
ever kind, and he may start me in
something" said John, one even
ing. when l had taken his tea to
the signal-box, and was amusing
Maudie with the colored lamps.
II certainly will try, if-if," 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 con-
tinue to do so, with care"
81 don't know that" he respond
ed, gloomily. at is the confound-
ed Wyoming express l fear. With
in space of two minutes it crosses
the line of the Henshar mail, and
often it's five minutes before its
time"
"What do you do then, John p
l asked hushing Maudic.
"Why turn that colored lamp
then the express knowing the mai
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 the
carriages would go to lucifer
matches !"
"0h, John, please don't Yor
make my blood run cold |"
After that there was another
fascination for me besides the sig
nal-box-the colored lamps, by mis-
take or omission in the use of which