Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-04-25
LOVE AND A LANTERN.

BarStow's Siding is a small station on
the q. 5. & Western railway, and To-
Gated out on the prairie Mt the edge of
bit of scrubby woods. The little village
of Barstow is about mile from the
station, and tG reach it one has to take
rough road through the woods. The
line al this point is perfectly straight,
and reaches to the horizon i'll both di-
rections. These facts are essential to Il
right understanding of the events that
about q year ago.
Y Old Sam Britton, stationmaster, sat
by the stove in the middle of the switch
house idly looking at the dull red Goals
in the ugly stove. His daughter Mary,
aged nineteen, sat by the little telegraph
apparatus near the window that looked
out down the line. BY the aid of a Ian
tern she was readinga stray newspaper,
The Iron Trade Reuiew--a strange paper
for a girl to read, but it
belonged to dear friend,
and some singular pictures had inter
ested her greatly. She was doing more.
She read and listened. Not thirg
stirred i'll the dull, bare room save the
TcSllCsS sOulluCI vi lltl thblG. INC III
cessant clatter Of the machine fell on
her ear, and yet she heard it not. Elm
City was talking to Centreyille, forty
miles through the night, and every word
was spelled on her sounder. Yet she
heard it not, for her mind was alert to
catch another sound. Her father had
let fall the paper he was reading
He could not read, for bitter disappoint-
ment kept his mind harassed and
troubled. How long was this default of
payment to the employees of the rail
way company 20 continue? The last
months wages had not been paid, and
another month had nearly passed. The
line needed repairing There were two
bad ties on this section, and one of the
signals was broken. The track-men
had complained that very day that new
and better tools were needed, and that
more ballast was wanting.
Suddenly, far-away on the edge of the
sea-like horizon, arose star. The
young girls eyes were oil the paper, and
yet she saw us rising. She looked out
the curtainIess window and watched the
star grow bright 1t did not seem to
rise, but to grow big with brightness. 1t
is not for love to SIT and gaze. 1t Must
act. She rose, and i'll silence went to
one Of the great iron switch bars and
stood with both hands clasped about
the handle, and gazing down the line,
where the star had become flame.
Then came far-awav sound through
the night. Without hesitation she
pulled the bar forward Far down the
track the switch moved III the dark,
and a great green eye turned red. Up
the line in the opposite direction, an
other green star suddenly turned to a
warning red.
Samson Glider sat on his high seat
with one hand on the Unbelievable,
gazing steadily ahead. A constellation
Of green and yellow stars had sprung
no on his horizon. JACK Cinder, his
fireman, on the other side Of the engine,
had given voice to the monster as II
painted along It's IRON way. Ali one
star had flashed red. The engineer
blnshed and smiled III the dark and
pulled the throttle-valve. Then came a
push and jar as the heavy freight-train
rumblng behind pushed against the
engine. The motive power had ceased,
and the immense momentum OF the
train drove the idle engine swiftly for
ward. The whistle spoke TO the men
behind, and they gladly pulled a. the
brakes, and the train entered the siding.
The headlight threw lurid glare on
the switch-housc. and by the light sam
son saw a young girl standing 10y the
track, She was dressed for rough
weather, and wore a red hood that was
not lovely. Samson thought il was
beautiful IN the glow Of the great lamp
and against the Ninter-night. Il may
nave been the peculiar effect Of tie
lght. II may have been love, for love
mas liner eyes than unloving mortals.
they came into the switch-house to-
eether,, she smiling and happy, he
pleased and gratified, yet with a shade
q care upon his face. In his hand be
hel1 new track-layer's bar, bar such
q may be used to draw spikes from
ties.
He spoke 10 Sam Britton pleasantly
ahoui the weather, and then said,