Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-08-30

ability to give me tht information |
wanted i'll few direct, sharp words.
Like most reticcnt men, lie knew the
weight and value II words, | soon be-
came personally much interested in
him. lie was about forty, his hair
streaked with gray, which hintcd at
a youth Of hardships and much sui.
ferlng.
However, Blakelcv had found his
way to the uplandS 1t last. Three
years before he had married bright
cheerful woman. They had one child
"a boy. Hehad work and good wages,
and Was, | found, high in the confidence
Of the company.
On one OCCASION having sunday
oil, he took me up to where his ooy,
lived. He was an exceptionally silent
man, but when with them was garru-
lous and light-hcarted rs i boy. In
his eyes Jane was the wisest and fair
est Of women, and the boy wonder of
intellect. One great source of trouble
to him was, rs found, that he was able
to see them but once III three weeks.
1t WAS necessary for the child's
health to keep them IN the country air,
and, indeed, he could not afford to
have them elsewhere; but this Separ-
ateu him from them almost wholly.
Jane was in the habit of coming with
Charley down to a certain point Of the
road every day that Blakeley might see
them rs he dashed by
"And when | found out this habit it
occurred to me that could give Blake
ley Il great pleasure. How often have
| mathematical my meddling kind
ness since.
January o5th was the child's birth
day. proposed to Mrs. Blakelcy that
she and Charley should get iii the train
which her husband drove, unknown to
him, and run up to H ~, where he
had the night off.
There was to be little supper mt
the rooms Charley was to appear in
new suit etc, etc. Of course, the
whole affair was ut my eNpense-a
mere tritle but mn 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 III the
cradle.
"When Blakeley found her she was
thin, pale little tailoress--a machine
to grind out badly made clothes. But
three years of marriage and pcttlng Of
Charley had made her rosy and plump
and pretty.
.Ihe 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 II good
supper to be ready ut eight. Jane and
the boy were to get in the train at
queer little village near which they
lived.
Blakeley ran the train.from W
down to H--that day. His wife be-
ing in the train before he took charge
Of the engine, of course he would see
and know nothing of her until we land
ed ut Hat seven. | had intended
to go down in the smoking department
as usual, but another fancy, suggested, l
suppose by the originator of all evil,
seized me.
Noneed to laugh. Satan, Ibelieve,
has quite rs much to do with accidents
and misery and death us with sin. Why
not? However, my fancy, liabolic or
not, was to go down on the engine with
Blakely. hunted up the fireman, and
talked with him for an hour. Then |
went to the engineer.
'"Blakelev, | said, Jones, the fireman
wants tonight of"
"Onl Oh, no doubt He's taking to
drink, Jones. He must have been
drinking when he talked Of that. It's
impossible
explained to Blakeley that Jones
had a sick wife or Il sweetheart or some
thing, and finally owned that had al
unconquerable desire to run down the
road on the engine, and that knowing
my only chance was to take the fire
mans place, had bribed him to give it
to me. The fact was that in my idle
ness. and the overworked state Of my
brain, craved excitement as a confirm
Cd dgunkard does liquor.
"Blakeley, ! saw, was angry, and ex-
ceedingiy annoyed
"He refused at first, but finally gave
way with grave ciyility which almost
made me ashamed of my boyish
whim. promised TO be the prince Of
\ tremen.
"'Then you'll have 10 be treated as
one, Mr. Santlcy, sald Blakcley, curt
II. i can't talk to gentlemen aboard
my engine. It's different from here on
tie platform, you'll remember I've
got to order and you to obey in there,
and that's all there's Of It'll
Oh, | understand | said thinking
that it required little moral effect to
obey III the matter or shoyeling coal. If
! could have guessed what that shovel
ing coal was to cost me- But all day |
went about thinking Of the fiery ride
through the hills, mounted literally on
fhn ron horse