The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-11-09
The Ticket Agent.

g Western trains gone, ma'am," said
Farmer Brown, coming into the waiting
room of the little depot.
ssThe train was to take :" ! said
gasping.
"Yes, ma'am; too bad, but can't be
helped harness will give out some
times, you know" said he s5mpathiz-
ingly.
When is the next western train
due r.
!" Not till six o'clock you've five
hosrs to wait. Be dreadful tiresone,
ma'am. There's nice family that Ewes
in t'otier part o the house -s'pose to3e
you in there. know Mrs. Holly1l give
you bite osuthin' to eat, and she'll be
proud to let you rest on her spare bed.
Fine woman, Mrs. Holly isl know
her. Won't you go in and see her,
ma'amP
@Nc, shank you, sir; I dare say that
I'll be quite comfortable here"
ssWaal, jes' as you please. But now
| must be goin'. Hope you'll git to
your journeys end, safe, ma'am. Good
bye p
And Farmer Brown left the room,
mounted his wagon, and soon disappear
ed down the dusty road.
had been visiting friend who lived
in country settlement, some five or six
miles from the solitary building dignifed
by the name of depot and, when the
time came for me to return home, she
placed me in care of neighboring farm
er who was going to distant village, and
would pass the station.
During our ride we met with an acci-
dent. Part Of the harness gave way.
and we were detained such length of
time that, as the reader knows, I was
too late for the train.
After Farmer Brown left me, / amused
myself by reading newspaper which
some one had left lying on the seat
Finishing this, / studied the design of
the wallpaper, counted the panes of
glass in the little window, and wondered
at the tidiness of the whole apartment
Country depots are generally such
vile, dirty places wonder why this is
an exception | said to myself. Then
thought struck me. "Oh, probably
the place is kept clean by Mrs. Holly,
over whose virtues Farmer Brown was
so enthusiastic Wonder if this same
worthy female would give me a glass of
waterP'
And / tapped on the door communi-
eating with the other apartments.
"Come in, said cherry voice, and,
entering, ! found myself in one Of the
prettiest, cosiest rooms, I had ever seen.
The most delicious tint of buff was on
the walls; cool mating covered the
floor muslin curtains, festooned with
ivy, hung at the windows pictures and
flowers, and all the dainty belongings
that make room look SO honey and
pleasant.
And, most charming of all, there lay
in white-draped cradle rosy baby,
fast asleep, with rings of golden hair
falling over his white brow, and a great,
red, velvet rose clasped in his dimpled
hand
Over him bent woman Of twenty
two or three years-a little mite of a
woman, with a bright, dark face, vividly
colored, big black eyes, and wondrous
dark hair wound In heavy braids about
her stately head.
She arose with smile when / en-
tered.
"Excuse me; but may I trouble you
for glass of water q | said
''No trouble at all, ma'am. Pray be
seated. Excuse me" And she left the
room.
Presently she returned, bearing a sal
yer covered with snow-whitt napkin,
and containing glass of water, glass
of creamy milk, saucer of luscious
strawberries, and plate of sponge-cake
light as yellow foam.
Pardon me, she said, smiling, eff
take too great a liberty, but, you see,
Farmer Brown told me of your being
obliged to wait so long, and I thought
you might be hungry"
"Why, how very kind you are !" 1 ex-
claimed, in pleased surprise.
"Not at all. It's pleasure to me- If
you are hot and dusty, perhaps you'd
like to bathe your face. If so, just step
in here"
And she led the way into little white
bedroom--the very heart of cleanliness
and purity.
In little while / was different be-
ing from the cross, dusty, hungry mortal
who had sat in the hot waiting room. /
found Mrs. Holly perfect little gem Of
a woman !; ana after the manner of our
sex, we soon became as well acquainted
as if we had known each other for years.
And while was lying languidly upon
her comfortable sofa, and she seated in
her low chair stitching away at her baby's
dress, she told me the one romance of her
life.
81 have lived in this little depot all
nv davs," she began "My father was
agent here and he served the company
SO long and so well that, when he died
they kindly allowed me to remain in his
place, with the same wages, too. For,
you see, was seventeen, and my father
had long before taught me telegraphing
and all the other work. About year
after fathers death I became acquainted
with Jack-Jack Holly, my husband, "
and Mrs. Holly looked up and smiled
"Jack was one of the best engineers
on the road (and is now, tool and ev-
erybody considers him an honest, likely
young fellow. He thought the world OF
me, and we became engaged. But you
know how girls are The weakest Of
them can make strong man tremble.
"A weak girl held all his heart-strings
IN her small, white hand r ] said.