The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-08-13

day, that Blakely might see them as he
dashed by.
And when found out this habit, It
occurred to me that could give Blakely
a great pleasure How often have /
cursed my meddling kindness since.
January 25th was the childs birthday.
Iproposed to Mrs. Blakely that she and
Charley should go board the train which
her husband drove, unknown to him,
and run up to Harrisburg, where he had
the night off. There was to be little
supper at the Lochiel House. Charley
was to appear In new suit, etc. OF
course the whole affair was at my ex-
grandeur and distinction which fairly
took James breath. She was a most in
nocent, happy creature; one of those
women who are wives and mothers in
the cradle. When Blakely found her
she was thin, pale little tailoress-a
machine to grind out badly-made shod-
dy clothes. But three years of marriage
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 q stunning
supper, to be ready at eight. Jane and
the boy were to go aboard the train at
Jersey Shore, a queer little hill village
near which they lived. Blakely ran the
train from Williamsport down to Har-
risburg that day. His wife being in the
passenger car before he took charge of
the engine, of course he would see and
know nothing of her until we landed at
Harrisburg at seven. / had intended to
go down into the smoking car as usual,
but another fancy, suggested l suppose
by the originator of all evil, seized me.
No need to laugh. Satan, / believe, has
quite as much to do with accidents and
misery and death as with sin. Why not &?
However, my fancy, diabolical or not,
was to go down on the engine with
Blakely. 1 hunted up the fireman, and
talked to him for an hour. Then went
to the engineer.
Blakely," 1 said, Jones (the fire
many wants tonight off"
"Ofl o, no Doubt He's taking to
drink, Jones. He must have been
drinking when he talked of that It's
impossible"
explained to Blakely that Jones had
sick wife, or sweetheart or some
thing, and finally owned that had an
uncon9uerable 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 confirm
ed drunkard does liquor
Blakely, 1 saw, was angry and exceed
ingly annoyed. He refused at first, but
finally gave way with grave civility,
which almost made me ashamed of my
boyish whim. 1 promised to be the
prince of firemen.
"Then you'll have to be treated as
one, Mr.. Santley," said Blakely, curtly.
can't talk to gentlemen aboard my
engine. It's different from here, on the
platform, you'll remember, I've got to
order and you to obey, in there, and
that's all there's of it,"
90, 1 understand" said, thinking
that it required little moral effort to
obey, in the matter of shoveling coal. If
could have guessed what that shovel
ing was to cost me! But all day went
about thinking of the fiery ride through
the hills, mounted literally ON the iron
horse.
1t was in the middle of the afternoon
when the train rushed into the station.
I caught glimpse of Jane on the pas
senger car,with Charley magnificent in
his red and green plaid, beside her. She
nodded dozen of times and laughed,
hid behind the window, fearing her hus-
band should see her, Poor girl 1t was
the second great holiday of her life, she
had told me, the first being her wedding
day.
The train stopped ten minutes. 1t was
neither an express nor an accommoda-
ton train, but one which stopped at the
principal stations on the route = Selins-
grove, Sunbury, etc.
1 had an old patched suit on, fit, as
supposed, for the service of coal-heaver;
but Blakely, when 1 came up, eyed it
and my hands sardonically. He was in
no better temper, evidently, with his am
ateur firemen than he had been in the
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