Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-09
THE ENGINEER's STORY.


On sunny October day, according Il
instructions l had received from th,
officers of the railroad company,
handed the engineer of Engine No. 32 {
letter from his chief, requesting that
accompany him upon the engine, as g
better post for the observations along
the rails l had been commanded tC
make.
After reading it, he touched his hat
and respectfully bade me welcome, ar.
ranging as comfortable seat for me as
he could provide for the long ride which
lay before us.
1t was a novel experience for me, and
a highly exciting one, as we seemed to
oleave the air, the train laundering
along behind us and could but look
admtringly at the man who stood SO un-
tlinchingly at his post, and in whose
hand lay in reality all our lives.
He was a tall, handsome fellow, whose
keen gray eyes never stirred from his
post, either to right or to left, but whose
CHEEKY laugh often rang out on the clear
morning air as we chatted together.
By noon we had become friends, at
which hour we stopped at small Sta
tion, where there was delay of twenty
minutes, to take on coal and water. As
we slowed up, noticed standing on the
platform young woman, holding a
neatly-covered basket, and clinging TO
her skirts little child, some three wears
of age.
Papal papal" the little one scream
ed, in delight; and, glancing at my
companions face, needed not to uues-
tion If he were the one thus called.
Another moment, we had stopped,
and wife and child we're pressed to his
breast, while look of wonderful ten
derness crept into his eyes.
"My wife and child, sir" he said.
turning to me. az have only one dav
week off with them; but Mary always
meets me here with my dinner, and
now and then l get an hour or two with
her."
"It is a hard hfe," said. "You
must miss them sorely."
"No matter where l am, sir" he re-
piled, "they are with me. / hear the
little ones voice above the loudest wind. |
and see my Mary's smile in the dark
est night, although stand alone on my
engine, with my life in my hand. It's a
hard life, maybe, sir, but ought not to
complain. 1t gave me my happiness,
since it Won me my wife"
When we were on our way again, and
had seen the tears fill the wife's bright |
blue eyes as she fondly kissed her hus-
band good-by, while 1 had slipped into
the little ones chubby hand golden
gift from the strange gentleman riding
with papa, asked my companion what
he meant.
81 don't know as you'd care to, hear,
sir and there's not many as I'd care to
tell. You read SO many bookstores of
the people who make up your world,
that you have not much time to look
down to mine. There are people who
think such as we have no time to love,
but you have seen Mary and my boy,
and-you'nte me if tire youp
"I was careless fellow enough six
years ago, not neglecting my duty when
at my post, but fond of good time
with my companions when off duty, al
ways ready to accept friendly glass,
and sometimes with my head not quite
steady when l mounted my engine,
though the air always set me right be-
fore we had gone far on our way.
some evening, at dance, 1 met
Mary Morton. She was the prettiest
girl in the room, sir, and little bit of a
coquette in those days, though no more
than natural, with all the Young fellows
trying their best TO turn her head.
"I was not long behind the rest. I
couldn't get her out of my thoughts, but
it did not take me great while to find
out the truth of the matter. 1 had lost
my heart. The only question was,
q M Ar;F |
hers for that she had stolenP It was
many week before gotup my courage
enough to determine to ask her to be
my wife. Every moment off duty 1
would spend with her, until grew to
fancy she used to watch and wait for
my coming.
"But was not without my jealous
hours, for all that. How did l know ]
how she spent the time, was so con-
stantly away from herP
cat last l heard of another dance, to
be given on the night would be off
duty. | could not see Mary until then, J
but felt sure she would know would S
come for her and would go with no one '
else. '
"But when the evening arrived, 1
lound, when / called for her, that she I
had already gone. Perhaps, sir, in your
rank of life, you know, too, what it is to
be Jealous, and how many a man de- q
stroys his future happiness by it. t
"My first words to Mary were those
1f reproach, while her smile at nv en- q
rance died away, and her face grew d
white il
"I did not know you were coming, c
John. How could IP' a
"'You might have waited, thenl'
exclaimed. &
"'And stayed at home, perhaps, to a
rave had you laugh at me, with the rest. a
Besides, am quite satisfied with my C
,scort, and believe am the only person "
0 be consulted in the matter o
"'As you WILL, said, turning on my I
leel, muttering the word 'COquettel' = "
,etween my teeth, and unheeding the e.
title pleading glance she sent from
ime 10 time across the room to where
TODD. HI
She was not without pride, and If je
he suffered from my GOODNESS, she only di
miled the brighter on others, until m
Eew mad with jealous anger. That cS