The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-09-28


been love, for love has finer eyes than
unloving mortals.
They came into the switch-house
together she smiling and happy, he
pleased and gratifed, yet with shade
of care upon his face. In his hand he
held new tracklayer's bar, such as
may be used to draw spikes from ties.
He spoke to Sam Britton pleasantly
about the weather and then said:
"There's bar for the section master.
I bought it myself. The company seems
to be too poor to give its men fit
TOOLS
I" To say nothing of our wages"
added the old man, roughly.
"Oh, father, why do you harp on
thatp The company has great deal of
property. 1t will surely pay us our
dues.''
The engineer placed the bar against
the wall by the door and then turned to
Mary. She led him away to her little
desk by the window, and there they sat
down together. Presently Jack Cinder
and one or two of the train men came
and sat down by the stove. The con-
versation among the men for the first
few moments had a local flavor and
needs no mention. Then it branched to
more important theme-the overdue
wages. Even the lovers discussed the
matter, and after few words they
stopped abruptly. Tears were in the
girls eyes, and she turned away and
gazed out the window at the great glow
ing headlight.
Then one of the brakemen said:
"And the president is racing around
the country in drawing-room car.
He's coming up the road tonight on
special car, and everything has to give
way to his train"
"I wish he might get tumbled into
the ditch" said deep voice that startled
them all.
"Oh, Samson, how can you say
that ?" said Mary's tremulous tones.
Because Pm mad. Here we can't"
He stopped and the girl blushed scarlet
1.-THE president can make excursions
over the line and disarrange time tables,
and yet we are two months waiting for
our pay. 1 think"
He stopped and looked toward the
door; hideous creature stood before
them-a tramp, foot-sore, hungry and
homeless, had found the door unlatched
and wandered in looking for shelter.
The station-master let the man come in
and stand by the stove to warm himself,
for he was very cold, and the talk was
continued in whispers.
Suddenly there came the sound of
distant whistle. The station master
looked at the switch bars to see that all
was right, and Samson Glider rose and
said
"That's Williams train. I'll go out
and wave him friendly light"
The sound of the approaching freight
train came nearer, and the engineer
took the lantern from the desk and
went out. The others fell into silence
as the rumbling train crept past the
door. The young girl stared at the
headlight in sorrowful silence, hoping,
thinking, wishing.
Taking advantage of the noise, the
tramp shuffied away toward the door.
Just as he reached it he looked hastily
around the room, and then slyly took
up the tracklayer's bar and vanished.
His presence had been q burden, and
they paid no heed to his departure. A
moment after the door opened, and
Samson Glider entered.
"The special is in sight, boys. We
must be off," he said.
The men reluctantly went out to
their train, and the lovers met to part
at the door. Her eyes were bright with
Unsurpassed tears.
1t seems so very long to wait-and
all for little money"
81 know it, dear; yet when the com
pany do pay us we shall have all the
more"
Nearer and nearer came the great yell
low star that had sprung up in the
horizon. From far came the long wall
ing sound of the express whistle. The
lovers heard it, and held each tighter
clasp. The tracks before the door began
to sing. The monster came on in a
frightful fury. Sparks shot up in
fountains from its stack. The ground
quivered, the windows shook.