Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-05-11
PUT YoURsELr IN HER PLACE.


PUT YOURSELF IN HER PLACE,
The long summer day had crept slowly
away and il was nearly five o'clock. The
hours at the railway station were marked
as by some gigantic clock that told the
laggard minutes by screaming whistle
and olanking bell. The 4i30 accommo-
dation had gone cast, the western cx-
press, due there at 4.55, had Numbered
through the village, gone on over the
great viaduct, and disappeared round
the vast curve beyond.
So one counted the hours by the trains,
Lydia by name, Il girl of the best New
England type, quiet, and yet with an
immense capacity for doing and daring
should love and the occasion demand,
The local freight would come next, and
then then she would see him again.
She laid aside her work, put some split
zephyr vanity upon her head and went
out toward the railroad. AS she ap-
preached the station she saw her brother,
the station master, opening the little
freight house on the farther side of the
track. BY this she knew that the local
freight would stop this time. Her heart
beat the faster and she quickened her
step. On reaching the passenger station
where the village street crossed the rail
way, she looked up and down the line,
and then crossed over and turned to the
left and walked beside the track toward
the freight-house.
To understand all that took place on
this occasion, and to fully appreciate her
consummate skill in controlling the events
80 quickly to crowd upon her, we must
study the construction of the road at this
point. The main line for more than a
mile to the right, or toward the east was
perfectly straight and comparatively
level. To the left, or the west, it crossed
deep valley by lofty stone viaduct,
and beyond the valley it curved toward
the north and mounted the hill by long
grade. just east of the passenger sta
tion a branch road entered the main line,
and there was, as might be supposed, n
cross. over switch. Beyond the passen-
ger station, on the west, was short sid
ing ending in small freight-house, and
directly opposite was another siding with
freight. shed and coal,yard. AT this
point there was also another cross-over
switch.
Lydia walked on past the freighthouse,
and, crossing the side track, found a
large fiat rock beside the way, and there,
under the shade of an ancient apple tree,
she sat down to wait till her lover should
come.
He comesl She heard the three long
whistles sounding far down the line, and
a bright blush mounted to her face. The
train would stop. That was the signal
for the station-master. Her brother
came out of the freight.house, spoke
pleasantly to her and then walked on
toward the switch at the head of the
siding.
Suddenly the mainline track before
her began to sing in sharp metallic muir
murs. The train had entered that sec
tion of the road, and he was near. Then
there came the sound of escaping steam.
The engine was slowing down, and the
steam, no longer employed, was bursting
with loud roar from the safety.valve as
if impatient of delay.
With q jar that shook the ground the
immense freight engine rolled past her,
and the engineer, leaning out of his win
dow, nodded to her as he slid past. Then
the cars in long procession came into
sight and moved past with slowly.de
creasing speed. -Four brakemen busy at
the brakes went past and still he
came not. AT last the rear car appeared
and young man swung himself down
from the iron ladder on the car and
sprang to the ground at her feet.
A sooty man, clad in blue canvas, now
black with smoke and dust. Only a
brakeman! No; trifle better-the CON
ductor of the freight train. A year ago
he had been glad to take the place of a
brakeman, and already he had been pro-
NOTED. Love did it. He had met and
loved Lydia in the days of his foolish
idleness, and she had insisted that he do
some manly work, or she could not-yes,
she could and did love him; but he must
show himself worthy of her love. Al
ready he had advanced, and she was well
pleased with his progress, and they had
become engaged.
A grimy, dusty man in unlovely gar
ments; but, in her eyes, he was man
made for better things. Ashe stood beside
her one could see in his clear eyes and
sensible face that he had good stuff in
him, and was worthy of her love.
1t becomes us not to linger while they
talk quietly together beside the track
The train moved slower and slower till,
finally, il stopped with the last car just
beyond the switch. The iron-horse was
moved on, the station master signaled
with his arms in q curious fashion, and
each of the four brakemen repeated the
motion in turn White pulfs of steam
rose high in the air from the farther end
OF the train. A curious, rafting sound
spread through the train, and the last car
backed down, turned aside and entered
the siding. The station master left the
switch and came hastily toward the
lovers.
Good day, Alfred. Light freight to-
day, only one car-by the way, the brake
chain is broken, and you had better drop
the car at the repair shops. The freight
can be thrown out without leaving the
car"
So saying, the station master went into
the freight house, followed by the rat
tling aud rumbling cars. They gradually
lost their speed, aud then came TO a stop
with the end of the train lost in the dark
cavern Of the freight house. There was
a shout from the building, then one of
the brakemen began to move his arms as
n signal TO go on. Again the white pulls
OF steam shot up In the distance, and
with jar and quiver the train started
again. r
Car after car rolled past them. There
were hurried whispers, warm hand
shake and perhaps u kiss, and then the
young man swung forward, grasped the
ladder ON the last car, climbed quickly
TO the top and sat down. She stood gaz-
ing after him as he was drawn away from
her; and smiled and waved farewell 10
him with her handkerchief.