Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-15
fCcntinued from frs. page


onouph responsibility 10 bear but exact
.uesss and watchfuness are what was re-
CURED of him, and of actual work-manu-
Al labor-hc had next to none. To change
that signal, trim those lights, and to turn
this iron handle now and then, was all he
had TO do under that head. Regarding
those many long and lonely hours of which
/ seemed TO make 50 much, he could only
say that the routine of his life had shaped
itself into that form, and he had grown
used to it. He had taught himself a lam
guage.-if only he knew it by sight, and
to have formed his own crude ideas of its
pronunciation, could be called learning
it. He had also worked at fractions and
decimals. and tried little algebra; but he
was, and had been as boy, a poor hand
at figures. Was 1t necessary for him,
when on duty, always TO remain in that
channel of damp air, and could he never
rise into the sunshine from between those
high stone walls Why, that depended
upon times and circumstances. Under
some conditions there less upon the Line
than under others, and the same held good
as to certain hours of the day and night.
In bright weather, he did choose occa-
sions for getting little above those low
er shadow; but, being at all times liable
to be called by his electric bell, and at
such times listening for it with redoubled
anxiety, the relief was less than | would
suppose.
He took me into his box, where there
was fire, desk for an official book in
which he had to make certain entries, al
telegraphic instrument with its dial face
face and needles, and the little bell OF
he had spoken. On my trusting that
he would excuse the remark that he
had been we'll educated and Ct hoped
l might say without offence) perhaps edu-
Gated above that station, he observed that
instances of slight incongruity in SUCH
wise would rarely be found wanting
among large bodies of men, that he had
heard it was so in warehouses, in the
police force, even in that last desperate re-
source, the army and that he knew it was
so, more or less, in any great railway
staff. He had been, when young Gf !
could believe it, sitting in that hut; he
scarcely could), a student OF natural phi
losophy, and had attended lectures, but he
had run wild, misused his opportunities,
gone down. and never risen again. He
had no complaint to offer about that. He
had made his bed, and he lay upon it, 1t
was far too late to make another.
All that have here condensed he said
in quiet manner, with his grave dark re-
CARDS divided between me and the fire.
He threw in the word 'Sir" from time to
time. and especially when he referred to
his youth, as though to request me to un-
derstand that he claimed to be nothing
but what found him. He was several
times interrupted by the little bell. and
had TO read off messages, and send re-
plies. Once he had to stand without the
door and displayed a flag as train passed
and make some verbal communication tt
to the driver In the discharge OF his du
ties observed him to be remarkably eXac
and vigilant, breaking of his discourse a
a syllable, and remaining silent until wha
he had to do was over.
In word, | should have set this MAJ
down as one of the safest of men TO bt
employed in that capacity, but for the cir
cumstance that while he was speaking t
me he twice broke off with fallen color
turned his face towards the little bell whel
it did not ring, opened the door of the hut
(Which was kept shut to exclude the un
healthy damp, and looked out toward
the red light near the mouth of the tunnel
On both of those occasions he came bacl
to the fire with the inexplicable air upol
him which had remarked, without beins
able to define, when we were so far asun
der.
Said l, when rose to leave him, "Yol
almost make me think that have me
with contented man."
Ct am afraid ! must acknowledge that
said it to lead him on.)
Il believe used to be so,' he rejoined
in the low voice in which he had frs
spoken, "but | am troubled, sir. an
troubled"
He would have recalled the words if h
could. He had said them, however, ant
took them up quickly
with what? What is your trouble !?
at is very difficult to impart, sir 1t i.
very, very, difficult to speak of. If evel
you make me another visit, l will try tt
tell you"
''But expressly intend to make you
another visit. Say, when shall it be ?''
81 go Off early in the morning, and
shall be on again at ten tomorrow night
sir.r
II will come at eleven"
He thanked me, and went out at the
door with me. "Ili show my white light
SIR" he said, in his peculiar low voice
I'LL you nave lOunu Tue way up AuU
when you are at the top, don't call OUT
His manner seemed to make the place
strike colder to me. but said no nor,
than, Every well"
"And when you come down tomorrow
night. don't call out Let me ask you Il
parting question. What made you cry,
'Halloa Below ihere, tonight"
Heaven knows" said |. 81 cried some
thing to that effect
mot to that effect, sir. Those were the
very words. / know them we'll"
'Admit those were the very words
said them, no doubt, because | saw YOU
below"
"For no other reason ?"
"What other reason could possibly
have ?"
You had no feeling that they were con,
veyed to you in any supernatural way ?"
mo
He wished me goodnight, and held up
his light. | walked by the side of the
down Line of rails (with very disagree
able sensation of train coming behind
me.) until found the path. 1t was easier
TO mount than to descend, and l got back
TO nv inn without any adventure