The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-03-16
An Engineers story.

Union railroad, now the Gaieha dI-
vision of the great Chicago and North
western railwaySand was sent one
Sunday from the junction-thirty
miles west of Chicago-to Harlem, to
bring up several cars loaded with
railroad iron. On arriving at Har-
lem found the turntable broken,
and, therefore, went down to the lim-
its, then Halstead street, to turn my
engine about. AT that time there
were no houses between the city and
Oak Ridge, nine miles out, it being a
smooth, level prairie all the way, and
but little travel except on the cars.
The road was an air line, and when
had got half over the distance, |
saw, walking on the track, young
man and young woman, each one
carryinga small parcel, and having
the appearance Of fugitives.
After turning my engine | started
back, and in short time overlook
the wanderers, when I stopped the
engine and invited them to ride
At first they seemed a little timid,
but quoted their fears, and, having
got them nicely seated in the cab, |
started on. By severe questioning |
learned that the young man had been
in the employ Off farmer in Chau-
tauqua county N, Y, that the girl
was the only daughter of the farmer
that they had determined on getting
married against the will of the pa
rents, and had run away, seeking
that haven Of rest, Chicago.
Here they got out of money, and,
as the young man failed to get work,
they had started out to look for a
plate among the farmers. | took
them to the junction, where his story
ELECTED a good deal ofintorest for them
among the railroad men, resulting in
placing him at Do Kalb as night
wiper of locomotives Here they con-
tinued through the winter, and as |
used to see them Mt times, | think l
never saw two persons who seemed to
be betteror more lovingly mated than
they. The following spring ! lost
sight ofthom, but subsequently learn
ed that they had returned East.
A few days after Christmas, 1875, |
went into a dining room near Wash
ington Market, New York, and order
eddinner. While waitingto be serv-
ed l saw a well-to-do farmer-looking
individual enter and take a seat at
the next table. He was in converse
zion with butcher, and thought l
recognized something familiar in the
voice and features of the new conner.
So impressed was l with the belief
that l had seen him before, that on
finishing my lunch approached and
asked him if we had not met some
where. He failed to remember having
ever seen me, and l was about to go
away when l asked if he had ever
been on the Northwestern railway.
AT first he answered in the negative,
but quickly correcting himself, he
said; "Why yes, I was out there
years ago."
odd you work for the company?'
"Yes, l wiped engines at De Kalb
onewinter,
Then, for the first time it occurred
to me who he was, and asked if he
remembered being picked up one
Sunday between Chicago and Oak
Ridge.
81 shall never forget that!" saidho;
"and l know you must be the man
who befriendcd me then. How my.
wife would like to see you" And he
arose and grasped my hand in token
ofmy former kindness andhisremcm-
brance of it.
l Learned that his wifc's parents
had sent for them to come back the
spring that missed them; that he
had finally come into possession of
the farm on the death of his father
in-law; had been very successful, and
was at that time delivering two car
loads of stock to the butcher by his
side,
A commercial traveller in awostern
city handed a merchant, upon whom
he had called, u portrait of his be-
trothcd, instead of his business card,
saying that he represented that cs-
tablishment, The merchant exam
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