Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-12-12

The Express Train.
Two or three of us had lounged out o
the club, one night into Santley's office, tC
find out the news coming in by cable
which the sleeping town would not heal
until the paper would be out tomorrow
Sanlley was the editor of the Courier. Ht
was scrbbling away at driving speed, his
hat on, an unighted cigar in his mouth.
You're ut it late, Ben.
Accident on Western road. Sixty
lives lost" without looking up.
We seized the long white slip which lay
coiled over the table, and read the dis.
patch.
Tut, TUT"
Intamousw
Nobody to blame, of course"
Il tell you, the officers Of road where
such an accident is sp)ssibe should be tried
for MURDER" cried Ferrers.
Santey showed his copy to the boys and
lighted his cigar. Il think you are wrong,
Ferrers, Instead of being startled at such
casualties, never travel on Il railway that
am not amazed at the security of them.
Just think of it. Thousands of trains run
ming yearly on each, with but II minute to
spare between safety and destruction, the
safety of these trains depending on con-
ductors, telegraph clerks, brakemen, men
of every grade of intellect, their brains
subject to every kind of modes, and disease
Of liquor; the conductor sets his watch -
half Il minute too fast, the flagman falls
asleep; and the train is dashed to ruin! 1t
is not the accident that is to be wondered
at; it is the escape that is miraculous !"
We had all dropped into seats by this
time. The night was young, and one after
another told some story of adventure or
danger. Presently, Santley said: There
was an accident which occurred on the
Erie road, few years ago, which made
me feel rs | do in this matter. l happened
TO be an eyewitness to the whole affair"
What was it, ,BenP'
" It's rather long story"
"No matter. Go on. You can't 90
home until your proof comes in, anyhow. 3"
mo. Well, to make you understand,
about five years ago, had a bad brake
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS hack, writing and poor
pty. You know how fast it all wears out
the machine. The doctor talked of diseases
of the gray matter Of the brain, etc., pre-
scribed, instead of medicine, absolute rest
and change of scene. | would have swal-
lowed all the nostrums in drug shop
rather than have left the Office for week
am take country board, and send in
my editorials | said.
No; you must drop Office and work
utterly out of your life, for month at
least. Talk and think of planting potatoes
or embroidery-anything but newspapers
and politics"
"Well, obeyed. l started on pedes-
trian tour through Pennsylvania; studded
oil stock in Allegheny county; and ate
sauer-kraut in Berks. Finally, brought
up-foot-sore and bored beyond bearing
in Williamsport. While there, fell into
the habit of lounging about the railway
station, studying the construction of the
engines, and making friends with the men.
The man with whom always fraternize,
most readily, il the skilled mechanic. He
has degree of common sense-a store OF
certain facts, which your young doctor or
politician is apt 10 lack. Besides he is alb
soutely sure of his social standing ground,
and has grave self-respecJ which teaches
him TO respect you. The professional lad,
just started on his career, is uneasy, not
sure of his position he tries to climb per-
petually. l tell you this to explain my
intimacy with many of the officers of the
road, especially with an engineer named
Blakeley.
This man attracted me first, by his
ability to give me the information | wanted
in him. He was about forty, his hair
streaked with gray, with grave, worn
face, which limited at Il youth of har,lshps
and much suffering. However, Blakeley
had found his way 10 the uplands ut last.
Three years before, he had married
bright, cheerful woman. They had one
clild-a boy. He had work, and good
wages, and was, found, high in the con
filcnce of the company. On one occasion,
having Sunday of, he took me up to
Jersey Shore, where his wife and boy
lived. He was IN exceptionally silent
man, but when with them, was rs garru-
lous and light-hearted as boy. In his
eyes, Jane was the wisest and fairest of
women, and the boy IL wonder of intellect
One great source of trouble to him was, as
found, that he was able TO see them but
once in three weeks. 1t was necessary for
the child's health to keep them in the
country air, and indeed he could not af-
for, to have them elsewhere; but this sep
arated him from them almost wholly.
Jane was in the habit of coming down to
Il certain point of the road, every day, that
Blakeley might see them as he dashed by.
And when found out this habit it
occurred to me that could give Blakeley
a great pleasure. How often have cursed
my medding Kindness since. January 25lh
was the child's birthday. | proposed to
Mrs. BIakeley, that she and Charley should
board the train, which her husband drove
unknown to him, and run up to Harris
burgh. where he had the night off There
was to be IL little supper at the Lochiel
House. Charley was to appear in new
suit, etc, etc. OF course the whole affair
was 10 be at my expense-a mere trihe,
but an affair OF grandeur and distinction,
which fairly took James breath. She was
Il most innocent, happy, creature; one of
those women who are wives and mothers
in the cradle. When Blakeley found her,
she was thin. pale, little tailoress-a
machine to grind out badly-made shoddy
clothes. But three years of married life
and petting of Charley had made her rosy,
and plump and pretty
The little Highland suit was bought
complete, to the tiny dirk and feather, and
very pretty the little fellow looked in it. |
wrote down to order a stunning supper to
bo ready by eight. Jane and the boy were
to 60 aboard the train at Jersey Shore a
queer little hill village, near which they