The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-12-23
THE RIGOLETTA'S ENGINEER.

of the monster drive-wheels of the Rigo-
letta, which stood putting before STAN
toms unpretentious depot.
The girl addressed looked up into his
face, with q smile that displayed two
rows of pearly teeth.
''You want somebody to bother you, %
she said. "Why, julie, all the time I
would be in the road, and John would
stop the Rigoletta, and leave her in dis
gust. If you know what is good for
yourself, keep away from mel"
He laughed, and said:
eyes, know you'll go down with me
on the engine. The ride is so exciting,
and, just think, we will take Governor
Knox and his staff down tomorrow
night. John will be glad to have an
angel on the engine, and you know what
Bradley thinks of you"
Hetty Mcfarland yielded to the en-
treaties of the young fireman, before
the Rigoletta threw smoke rings heav-
| onward, and moved off like a monarch.
The sun was setting behind the hills
IN the rear of the town, and the girl
waved her lover good-by, as she turned
toward her home.
Fifty miles south of Stanton, in the
city of Hamilton, dwelt Hetty McFar-
lands uncle, whom the girl had long
thought of visiting Therefore, to carry
out her purpose, she promised to go
down on the Rigoletta the following
night.
She knew that conductor Bradley
would not object to presence on the en-
gine, for he was the poItest conductor
of the road, and was indebted to her for
the many well-chosen bouquets he wore
during the flower season.
Then, as Julius had said, ride on
the engine wonld be so exciting, and
with such good fellows as her lover and
John Nixon, the engineer, she anticipa-
ted pleasant time.
When the Rigoletta, oiled and pol
ished till her machinery and mountings
glistened like FURNISHED silver and gold,
again reached Stanton on her down trip.
Hetty Mcfarland was prepared for her
ride.
Julius sprang from the engine, found
her In a jiffy, and assisted her to the
little apartment which he had fitted up
anew for her reception.
Chow foggy it is tonight, she said
to him. s'There is a moon, but il does
no good
''That's SO, Hetty. We've got to feel
our way. You see, Governor Knox and
his staff are aboard, and we have been
ordered to be very careful. I spoke to
Bradley about you going down with us,
and he said, Certainly, just as knew
he would" ;"
Hetty was sitting on the green-plush
cushion that covers the lid of tool-box
of the engine, and her lover, talking,
leaned against the jamb of the door.
excuse me for one moment, Hetty, -
he said, and sprang from the engine and
disappeared.
He walked about the platform, look
ing for some person, whom it seemed he
could not find.
81 don't like affairs tonight, he said
to himself. ssHe looked as if he had
been drinking, and we want a sober man
TO run the Rigoletta through this terri
BILE fog
Across the track and almost directly
opposite the depot building stood a
groggery to which access could be OBJ
tanned through a garden behindit. This
was not the sole avenue of ingress, but
it was called the secret way, and some
times the employees of the road made
use of it to procure sly drink. After
while the young fireman crossed the
track and traversed the garden to the
groggery.
He did not enter, for beyond the
threshold of such place he had prom
ised fair young girl that he would new
er step. He paused at the door, which
was open, and looked between the green
Stats of the shade into the room.
At the counter, with glass of brandy
in his hand, stood the man for whom he
had been looking John Nixon, the en-
gineer.
The freman's face grew pale when he
saw him, and he said something which
was connected with Hetty Mcfarland S
name.
emptied the glass and turned to CO.
Then Julius saw that his face was
flushed, and he hardly looked like the
same man.
He passed very near the young watch
er, whom the fog hid, and a minute later
was shaking hands with Hetty on the
engine.
For four years John Nixon had, to
all appearances, refrained from drink
ing. Once liquor had cost him a good
situation on the road; but his reforma-
ton was so strong and praiseworthy,
that the company encouraged him by
restoring him to the mastery of the
Rigoletta.
Until that night no railroad man had
seen him lift the glass to his lips, and
Julius Baird, after Witnessing what he
had, did not know what to do.
There were precious lives on the train
that trip, and it would acquire good en-
gineering to carry them through safely.
He knew that Nixon would be discharged
before the train could leave Stanton ii
Bradley was Informed of his action. In