Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-09-22
THE RIGOLETTA'S ENGINEER.

the monster drlVe-wheels OF the klgulet-
ta, which stood putting before Stanton's
depot.
The girl addressed looked up into his
face, with smile that displayed two
rows OF pearly teeth.
"You want somebody to bother you"
she said. Why, Jale, all the time
would be in the road, and John would
stop the Rigoletta, and leave her in dis
gust. Ii you know what is good for
yourself keep away from me !"
He laughed, and said {:
" Yes, | know you'll go down with
mo on the engine. The ride is so OK
citing and. just think, we will take Gov
ernor Knox and his staff down to-mor-
row 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 heavenward,
and moved off like monarch
The sun was setting behind the hills
in the rear of the town, and the girl wav-
ed her lover good by, as she turned to-
ward her home.
Fifty miles south of Santon, in the ci-
ty 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 Rlgoetta the following night.
She knew that conductor Bradley
wou d not object to her presence on the
engine, for he was the poitest conductor
on the road, and was indebted to her for
the many well chosen boquets he wore
during the flower season.
Then, rs julius had said, ride on the
engine would be so exciting. and with
such good fellows as her lover ard John
Nixon, the engineer, she anticipated a
pleasant time.
When the Rigoletta, oiled and polish
ed till her machinery and mountngs
glistened ike FURNISHED silver and gold,
again reached Stanton on her down trip,
Hrtty Mcfarland was prepared for her
ride.
julius sprang from the engine, found
her in jiffy, and assisted her to the lit
tie apartment which he had fitted up
anew for her reception.
How 'oggy 1t is tonight" she said
to him. "There is II moon, but it 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, | spoke tc
Bradley about your gong down with US,
and he said, Certainly just AS kne"
be would"
Hetty was sitting on the reen-plush
cushion that covers the lid of the tool
box of the engine, and her lover, talking
leaned against the jamb Of the door.
"EAcuse me ior one moment, lIetty,
he SAID, and sprang from the engine aud
disappeared.
lie walked about the platform, looking
for some person, whom it seemed h,
could not find.
- don't like affairs to night" he said
to himself. " He looked as il he had
been drinking, and we want a sober man
to run the Rigoletta through this terrible
fog"
Across the track and almost directly
opposite the depot building stood II grog
gerry to which access could be obtained
through n gnrder behind it, Thi, WAS
not the sole avenue Of iugress, bnt il was
CA He'd the secret way, aud sometimes the
employees OF the road made use of it Ia
procure sly drink. After while the
young fireman crossed the trnck aud
traversed the galden To the eroggery.
He did not enter. for beyond the thres-
hold of such place he had promised n
fair girl he would never step He paus-
ed at the door, which was open. and look
ed between the green Stats Of the shade
into the room.
At the counter, with n glass Of brar dy
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.
He did not move until the engineer
emptied the glass and turned to go. Then
Julius saw that his face WIS flushed, and
that he hardly looked like the same man.
lie passed very near the young watch
er, whom the fog hid, and II minute later
was shaking hands with Hetty on the en-
gine.
For four years John Nixon had, to all
appearances refrained from drinking
Once liquor had cost him good situa-
ton on the road but his reformation wa
so strong and praiseworihy, that the
company encouraged him by returning
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 be
had, did not know what to do.
There were precious lives on the train
that trip. and it would require good en-
gineering to carry them through safely.
lie knew Nixon would be discharged be-
fore the train could leave Stanton if Brad
lev was informed of his action. In such
an event his duties would devolve on the
young fireman, who doubted his ability
to perform them satisfactorily. The re-
sponsibility was great, and tnen John
Nixon knew every mile of the road and
he could not be spared.