davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

She closed her little office hastily
and went ont on the platform. As she
opened the door. two Young men
laughed immodcratcly. and one said
aloud.
Kate Who's Katc?'
Found ont She hastily turned away
to hide the blush that mounted to her
temples. and walked rapidly up the
platform To the water tank.
No. 81 rolled up to the spot. and the
lovers met. With one hand on the iron
front of his great engine. she stood
waiting for him. and At once began To
talk rapidly.
at will never do. John. They have
found it all out"
"Oh, | WAS afraid they would.
Now what are we to do II | could
only telegraph You from the station he
low"
''It wouldn't do. 1t is to" far away.
Besides. il would he costly. and some
body would suspect"
''Curluc :" shouted toe fireman. a,
he swung back the great water-pipe.
''Go"d bye. dear. I'm sorry we must
give it up"
$50 am |. And. John. come ano
spend next sunday with us.
"lc~. | will. G"odbye."
Good bye
No. - Missed out her indignation il
clouds of steam from her cylinders. ano
moved slowly forward. Then Kat,
stood alone again on the platform
The sun sank III angry clouds. and til,
wind sighed III the Telegraph wires witt
Il low meaning sound. tiltul. sad an,
drcary. The next morning the express
tore slvagely through the driving rain
and Numbered over the iron bridge til
il roared again. The whistle screamed
but love no longer charmed its iroI
voice.
The electrician listened in silence
and then. after a tear OF two. Slcp
again.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14
LOVE AND LIGHTNING.

1t was IA lovely autumnal afternoon.
and the lovers Went ont to walk i'll the
glorious weather.
To escape observing eyes. they wall
dercd down the railroad track toward
the woods. where the line made Il great
curve to avoid Il bend in the river.
After Il while they reached Il shady
dell in the woods. and. taking down II
bar in the fence. they entered its depths.
Just here the various telegraph wires
hung i'll long festoons from their poles.
With a sudden cry of delight. she seized
his arm and cried
"Look. John. just the thing. An
abandoned wire"
well what of it -
..My dear. cant we use it Come.
let lis follow it and see where il goes.
Perhaps we may make il useful.
John failed to see how that might he.
Kate WAS all eagerneSS to follow the
wire. and returned to the track. and
began to trace the wire up and down
the line as far as it was visible. John
replaced the fence rail and joined her.
Then she began to talk III that rapid
manner that was So becoming to her.
He was fairly dazzled by the brilliancy V
and auddcity of her ideas. They both
walked on the sleepers toward the
bridge over the river. The wire was
still continuous. but after walking
about half mile, they found it WAS
broken, aud apparently abandoned.
Then she lay down her plan. The wire
had been put up by II certain company
some years since, but as the company
had failed, the wire had been abau-
doned, and here for perhaps mile il
was still hanging on its insnlators. AT
the bridge it came to Il sudden end.
'New, if we can manage to rig up
another wire from here to our station
we can make an open circuit, and rs
you pass this point you can join it and
ring bell in my office y
The two sat down Oh the iron bridge
and fairly laughed at the splendor OF
the idea. Suddenly she looked very
grave.
"The expenser'
"Ah ! YES. Well, I'm willing to pay
something for the advantage of seeing
you every dav. It's worth"
'HOw much ?"
about S5.00O,0OO."
John ~
Two days after, package by express
from the city, and Kate slowed it away
in her telegraphic den till the evening
Then, when the day had passed ant
she had some leisure, she carefully
opened it and found a neat little wOodel
box with a small brass gong or bell at
tached to the bottom. y slender ham
mer hung beside it, and there were
places for securing the connecting wires
an electric bell and 1000 feet of insula
ted wire, and bill for the same. Elev
en dollars.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14
VOLUME 3S---NUMBER 1872.

sensation. The gentlemen shook hands
with him, and the President actually
kissed her for the company. A real
corporation kiss, loud and hearty. The
ladies fell upon her neck, and actually
cried over the splendid girl. Even the
children pulled her dress, and put their
arms about her neck. and kissed away
the happy tears that covered her
cheeks.
Poor child She was covered with
confusion and knew not what to say or
do. and looked imploringly to john
lie drew near, and proudly took her
hand in his, and she brushed away the
tears and smiled.
The gentlemen suddenly seemed to
have found something vastly interesting
t" talk about, for they gathered in
knot III the corner OF the room. Pres
emily the President said aloud
''Gentlemen and directors, YOU must
pardon me, and | hope the ladies will
do the same, if call you To order for il
brief matter of business"
There was Il sudden hush, and the
room, now packed to sutlocation, was
painfully quiet,
The Secretary will take minutes of
this meeting"
The Secretary sat down at Rates
desk, and then there was little pause
Mr.. President -
Every eye Was turned to Il corner
where il grayhaired gentleman had
mounted chair.
"Mr. President'"
MIR. Graves, Director for the State.
gentlemen
IL bpU leave. to offer a rpSnIutiou
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

seven days to decide the matter, and
then the books would be all handed in,
and the records examined and the prize
awarded.
"And if we could get it,
1T would come in very convenient
She blushed Il rosy blush. and. clasp
ing his arm, she laughed softly, and
said:
My dear. You must win it. We
shall want it for our"
"Lively, now Here comes the con
due"
What friendly fireman! How sharp
he watched for the lovers, The girl
prepared to spring down from the ell
gime when the gold-banded cap of the
conductor come i'll sight.
Run up to the siding. Mills. and
bring down that extra car
AYE, aye. sir. Cast off the couplings
Dick" Then. in whisper: ''Wait Il
bit. Kate. Ride up to the siding with
us
The girl needed no invitation.
"Oh ! intended to. Here, let me
tend the hell
Good . Do, Dick must tend the
couplings"
With Il hiss and Il jar the monster
started forward. while the giIl sat on
the treman'S high seat with her hand
on the bell-rope, and one little foot
steadicd against the boiler. Suddenly
John turned the valve for the brake
and reversed his lever, and the monster
stopped. A dcatening blast from the
whistle.
Where is the signal man? Why
don't he show his flag ?"
Again the whistle roared in short.
quick blasts.
"Oh, Why didn't | think of it be
fore p
Think of what?''
THAT whistle. Iou could use it to
call me-"
When p
Nv Nhy. you see. | never exactly know
when H"u are coming. | cannot tell
your whistle from any other and So
sometimes miss Nou.
Il have i oticed that" said
John. pulling at the throttle valve But
what can | do2 If gave two whistle,
or three. they would think it meant
some signal. and il would make trouble
Yes. hut if ynu did this. | should
know y"u were coming. and nobody
would think ANYTHING of it."
80 saving. she stood up. leaned over
the boiler and gra>ping the IRON roo
that moved the whistle made it speak
i'll long and short blasts that may h,
represented rs follows:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

TIE OTHER OPERATOR.

The last local train to the city left
the station. The gray old station mas
ter put out the lamps ON the platform,
rolled the baggage trucks into the
freight house, and having made the
tour of the switches to see that all was
clear for the main line night mail, he
returned to his little ticket den.
His daughter still sat reading like n
demure cat III her little corner. The
old man remarked that it was 10 o'clock
and time to go home.
Leave the key, father. I'll lock up
and return home as soon as have fin
ished this chapter.'
The old fellow silently laid a bunch
of keys on her desk and went his way.
The moment he departed she finished
her chapter in Il flash, and laying the
book down. began to operate her tele-
graphic apparatus.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14
The Death of Joseph S. Walton.

The following Is au extract from au
appreciative notice of this native Yer
montcI in the SherbrOoke Gazette:
Mr.. Walton was born in Peacham,
Vt, on tn I'd of April, 1902, and died
at his residence in this town on Tues
day last, aged 73 years and Il few days.
At the age of ii he went to Montpelier,
VT. for apprenticeship tn his brother
Ezekiel. who was engaged in the print
ing and publishing business. After
serving his apprenticeship he moved to
Rock Island. in the county of Stan
stead. and commenced business in part
ncrship with the late Mr.. Gaylord, as
book binders and printers. In 1884 he
moved to Shelbrooke, where he in con-
nection with Mr.. Gaylord, established
the paper called the Farmers Advocate,
Nh. Walton being the editor. This
paper wa, sold to Mr.. Amour. who con
durtcd it for about 1t year. when Messrs.
Walton 4 Gaylord re-purchaSed it, and
in I-:}9 the name was changed to the
ShcI brooke Gazette. Mr.. Gaylord then
retired from any share in the business,
and the Gazette was owned and con
Quoted by Mr.. Walton mp to 1870, when
the present proprictols bought out his
interest.
Nh. Walton has since his coming to
Shcrhreoke. been identified with, and
taken an active share in. all the prom
inent movements in the Townships.
In the rebellion OF l-37 81. he joined
the British Rifle Company, then organ
lied here. and was chosen Lieutenant
of the company. Soon afterwards,
while at Stanstead, in active service, he
l ,,f
ter the rebellion he returned to SheI-
brooke. and resumed his business as
general printer and as publisher of the
| ShcIbrooke Gazette.
As Il man he was kind and ohllging
t" all who had orcasion to meet him.
He w;Is all his lifetime Il consistent ad-
vocatc of temperance principles, and
this, toe, at Il time when it required
considerable moral courage to stand
up as an avowcd advocate of absti-
nence from Intoxicating liquors.
He WAS always liberal in his contri-
/ buttons to religious and charitable
schemes and on questions of good or
der and good morals in the community,
every one knew where Mr.. Walton
would lie found the right side.
| He was. we believe. one of the parties
/ who assisted III organizing the tongrt-
/ gatiomal church in this town i'll lS:5,
and his death will cause Il great void i'll
that body. of which he WAS II mem
her for nearly forty Years. We are as
srrcd that we express the universal
sentiment of this community when we
say that but one feeling exists, and
that is. deep sorrow for the loss of an
honest, straight forward, kind neigh
bor. il most useful citizen, public
spirited man, whose place in society,
and in all the relations of life it will be
hard to supply.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

pertinent operator should hear it, and,
catching its meaning, tell of it,"
The other operator was all sympathy
and replied
81 see the danger. At the same time
my dear, think the idea is worthy of
your bright self. 1t is perfectly jolly.
Think of hearing ones name for miles
over the country on Il steam whistle. |
never heard of anything 81 romantic in
my life"
kate-''And when he passes in the
night he sounds my name all through
the valley, and can hear it for miles.
How people would laugh if they knew
what 1t meant"
Mary-''They would. I'm sure. and
it would he very unpleasant to be found
out. Why don't you fix up some kind
of open circuit and let him telegraph to
you from the line as he approaches your
station ?
kate-"My love. your idea is divine.
If only had a wire
Mary-''It would take two wires, you
know, and IL small battery. At the
same time, it would not cost much, and
be perfectly safe"
Ndlt- w Oulu not some one llnu IL
out -.nu he ringing the bell out of mis-
chief?
Mary You could hide the con-
nections in the bushes or trees by the
road. and his engine could touch it us it
passed"
Kate Ies, but wouldn't every en-
ginc touch it ?"
Mary -''Then You could fix it so that
Il stick, or something secured to the en-
gine. would brush il as it passed. No
other engine would be provided with
the stick. and they would all pass in
silence"
The idea WAS almost too brilliant for
contemplation. aud the two friends. one
i'll her deserted and lionel Y station in
the far country, and the other in the
fifth story of IL city block. held close
converse over it for an houi or more.
and then they bid each other good
night. and the wires Were at rest for a
time.
About five o'clock one afternoon
shortly after. Kate sat il her office wait
ing for No. - To sound is Titanic love
signal. Presently it rame i'll loud
mouthcd notes:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14
An Electro Mechanical Romance.
TIE ENGINE.

THE ENGINE.
She was Il beauty. From headlight
to buffer casting. from spark k-arrester
to air-break coupling. she shone re
spcndcnt. y thing of grace and power.
she seemed instinct with life as she
paused upon her breathloss flight. Even
while resting quietly upon the track.
she trembled with the pulSation of her
mighty heart. Small wonder that pas
sengers waiting upon the platform came
down to gaZe upon the great express
eugine No. -. She seemed long and
slender like IL grey hound, and her glisten
ing sides. delicate forcfect and uplifted
head were suggestive of speed and
power.
The engineer stepped down from his
high throne with his long nickel plated
oiler in hand. and the fireman clauIber
ed over the glStening heap of coal, and
swung round the great copper water
pipe that the magnificent creature
might have il drink of pure spring
water. The engineer looked eagerly
up and down the platform us if in search
of some one. Two or three tourists of
the usual type and Il stray idler were
all to he seen. a group of big fellows
were unloading mail bags, and beyond
them the busy throng down the plat
form WAS lost to view. How lovingly
| he touched the shining arms of his great
pet with the smooth. clear oil, golden
and limpid. Here her great cylinder.
seventeen inches wide, and with a
stroke of twenty four. safely rested be
hind the sturdy butress that held hel
foretnot So daintily thrust out in front
The headlight CLEANED in all the spark IL
of plate glass. and her shapcly rods
fairly glowcd in polished beauty. On
one side lay her boiler-teed pump. {;
finished hit of mechanism. and on the
other was hun" Il steam-in injector fol
forcing water into the boiler without
the aid of the pump. How perfect
everything, Even the driving wheel.
were works of art. From balanced
throttle valves to airhrake, she ha,
every device that American skill ha,
produced. OF that such an engine coul,
demand. and her thirtytive tons q
chained-up energy seemed the perfec
expression of the highest mechanic art
With IL loud roar her satety-valv'
yielded to her pent-up vitality. an,
filled all the air with clouds of steam
The engineer gazed proudly upon hi
t noble steed. and then looked anxiousl,
down the platform to see if any cam
whose presence would be welcome.
The fireman swung back the grea
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

The siGnal-man looked indignant rs
)? rolled past him. What was the good
of such Il din on the whistle, Was the
man CIaZN.
''lou must write it down. Kate 1t
wont do to practice now. See how the
people stare on the PLATFORM"
The sentence was broken up 10y John :
efforts over the reversing bar. and the
derp-t"ncd ga>p> of the engine drown
ed further conversation. The monster
backed into the siding. where Dick
stood ready To couple ON the extra car
Then he climbed ur into the cab. and
the lovers were >ilchccd. The engine.
with the thec. rolled out upon the main
line. stnppcd. and then backed up to
the train. Kate. with a pencil wrote
Snmc marks on the edge of the window
frame. and with a bright smile she shook
hands with the huIlN engineer. nodded
to the fireman. and then ~prang lightly
tn the ground.
he safety valve burst out with Il
dcatcniug roar. The smoke bclchcd
forth in clouds. and white fairy rings of
steam shot into the aiI as the train
moved slowly away.
Presently. the girl stood alone upon
the deserted platform. with the rudd>
glow of the setting sun gliding hel bright
face.
| The roar of the train melted away on
the air. Still. she stood listening iu-
temtlN. She would wait till she heard
him whistle at the next crossing. Then.
| like mellow horn snttcned 10y the dis
tance. came Il strange rhythmic song.
| \ smile and Il blush lit up her win
some face.
How quickly love can learn,
That night the waning moon sank
cold and white in the purple west, while
the morning star came out to see the
sleeping world. Kate awoke suddenly
and listened. Was that the roar of the
train
"IIow soft and sweet the notes SO fal
away There He has crossed the
bridge. Dear John -
Then she slept again.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14
business DIRECTORY.

=. Ia>.nr,> and LocnfioH Of the tcdd-
i .U,>5y.>~ HDH~,r IN 81. .j"hnSbHIV.
,,i,uItur.I Tools and Hardware.
"A All. i.A.ul>KEIL II"yt- Block, Il. X. 81.
tpothrcares.
j, ..\.UNN vi. .. Bank Block. Main St.
NttnrnrN> at Law.
:, ,r,t over L. Il office and Post Office.
d ...., IpT <u.1 Calrduniam BIZ. up stairs.
4 ,.,.,l:p Man II. over Hall y Flrtchrr's,
...t. o., l'r"Arr
i:nnk- and stationery.
NJ ,rp., EoWEII. Cnl,donian Bin, Main 81.
Hook Binders.
!. -rl\TA go. ACTS. Monument square.
I:hnk>- Legal and business.
!, 40 ~lnNIA 60. Monument Square.
E,Lrr> aud Coni-ctioners.
II ,-~ = Gl:NplEl Main street.
Clnthinc. Hats and Caps.
M ., 4 f',uI.F l.mk il"rk "pp"~it" st. Johns
n...-.. ,I,.,.,r iu Ready Mid, Cl"ihin.. Hats
., .... ,,.u.- Furnishing Good-. etc. etc.
tInthin- Tor Men and Boys.
Z 50 IlIUENNk~ \ CO. Fairbanks Village.
trnrL.r,. Glass and Stone Ware.
z .fEfUHtNk~A : co. Fairbanks Village.
o., p,rin. I'aI"r -Iiunging-. window shades.
z .lNIEENNk~A \ CO. Fairbanks Village.
Dentists.
& rfEkIN~ rAlrdnnan Block. Nam street.
" ..NIUS SMITH Union Block. Main Street.
W Gond> Grocrrir> and Fruits,
n ,lHIW~ = rEITENGIIL EASTERN ANrnmr-
i pr, t""d>. and Ladies' Fancy Goods.
o. @ HALE N,,uu,' Block. K. l.. Street.
$ O. FAIEENNK> \ co. Fairhanh- Village
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

copper pipe, and the idlcrS suddenly
Withdrew. The last trunk was thrown
IN, and the engineer climbed slowly up
into his house. He looked anxiously
about the long platform. 1t WAS nearly
clear, and he could see the gold band
on the conductors hat glistening III the
sun.
Where can she linger? Why does
she not Gomez Tlirty-nine is here. and
still she comes not. The gold banded
cap is lifted in the air. With one hand
on the throttle valve, the engineer
chances down the long empty platform.
The bell rings there is Il kissing sound
beneath the giants feet the house
tremhlcs slightly; the waier-tanl seems
t" move back kward the roar of the
safety valve suddenly stops; the fury
of the great iron monster vents itself in
short, deep gaSps clouds of smoke
ponr down on everything. They al
most hide the platform from view.
All. \ dress tiuttering in the door
way. Some one appears abruptly upon
the platform. With both hands on the
throttle-valve, the engineer leans ont
of the window. a handkerchief is
quickly tllrted in the air. He mods.
smiles, and then turns grimly away,
and stares out ahead with Il fixed look,
as if the world had suddenly grown
very dark. and life was an iron road
with dangers everywhere. The fireman
shovels coal into the fiery cavern at the
engineers feet. and then stirs up the
glowing mass till it roars and flames
with fury. The steam gauge trcmhcS
at l2O-, and quickly rises to l25 : &.
The vast engine tremhlcS and throbs
as it leaps forward. The landscape -
woods. houses. and fields seem to take
wings in Il wild Titanic waltz. The en-
ginecr gazes ahead with tight-sct lips.
but his heart can outrun his locomotive.
aud fingers behind at the deserted way
statiOn.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

Mary replied instantly, and at once
the two girl friends were in close con-
versati"n with one hundred miles of
land and water between them. The
conversation was by sound in a series
of long and short notes-nervou and
staccato for the bright one in the little
station; smooth. legato, and placid for
the city girl.
Translated. it ran as follows:
Kate: Il taught him my name in
Morse's alphabet, and he sounds it Oh
bis whistle as he comes up to the station;
but am i'll daily terror lest some i'm
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

Bi LOUISE CHANDLER MuILTON.
Playing there i'll the sun.
Chasing the butterflies
Catching his golden toy
Holding il fast till it dies
Singing To match the birds
Calling the robins at will
CHANGING here and there
Never "A moment still
Like child
Coin. I" school at last
Learning t" read and write.
Puzzled over his slate
Busy from morn till night
StriVin. to win prize,
Careless when IL is won.
Findin. his joy in the strife
Not iu the thing that- done.
Busy III eager trade.
Buying and scllin. again
hasIng a golden prlze,
Glad of a transient gain
Always beginning anew
Never the Ion. task Ger.
Just II used tu he
The butterfly before.
seeking a woman heart,
Winning il for his own,
Then, too busy for love,
Letting it turn /" stone.
Sure "t his plighted truth,
What more had II wife tu ask
Is he not doing Tor her
Each day his daily task
y child, To pine and complain
\ child. to grow So pale
FoI want of some foolish words
Shall u woman faith fail
Words lie said them
" That need of any thing more
Does one whu has entered
Go back aud wait at the door
Baby Mary and Kat"
Never can climb his knee
Muth-rly arms are OPEN
Father is busy. you See.
To" busy to stop to hear
y habbls ut broken talk
+" mend the jumping Jack,
Or make tho new doll walk.
~ busy that when Death c"mes
He pleads for little delay,
II not {" finish his work,
At least Il word To say
y word To wife and child,
a sentence To- tell the truth,
That he loves them now at the Inst
With the passionate heart of youth
The kisses OF death cold
And they turn his lips t" stone
out OF the warm bright world
Th, man goes all alone.
ID" angels wait for HIM there
oven the soundlrss sea
He g"es rs he came helpless wight.
To new worlds mystery
Like II child
-Hdrptr's Mdgayine fer ApriL
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

No response. Dawson City refused
to reply. Good. Now, if the operator
at the junction failed to reply, she and
Mary would have the line to themselves
with none to OVerhear
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

No reply. Middlehury had evident
ly gone to bed. and that office was
closed.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

The Chicago reporter is too erudite
to write that il man is stopping at Il ho-
tel when he is only staying there. In
point of fact, the reporter doesn't use
either verb He says, "John Smith au-
tographed yesterday at the fremont"
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-14

The rustic of the hustle is again heard
in the land, which is likely to create
quite demand for old newspapers.