The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-05-07
THE ENGINEER'S STORY.

THE ENGINEER'S STORY.
On a sunny October day, according to in
structions 1 had received from the officers of
the railroad company, handed the engineer
OF Engine No 30 a letter from his chief, Ie-
questing that l accompany him upon the en-
gine, as better post for the observations
along the rails I had been commanded to
make.
After reading it, he touched his hat, and
respectfully bade me welcome, arranging as
comfortable a seat for me rs he could pro-
vide for the long ride which lay before US.
1t was a novel experience for me, and a
highly exciting one, as we seemed To cleave
the air, the train laundering along behind
us and I could but look admiringly at the
man who stood so undinchingly at his post
and in whose hand lay inreality all our lives.
He was a tall handsome fellow, whose
keen gray eyes never stirred from his post,
either to right or 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 a small station, where
there was delay of twenty minutes to take
standing on the platform a young woman,
holding a neatly covered basket, ard clinging
to her skirts little child, some three years
Of age.
Papa papa - the little one screamed in
delight and, glancing at my companions
face, l needed not to question if he were the
one thus called.
Another moment, We had stopped, and
wife and child were pressed to his breast,
while look of wonderful tenderness crept
into his eyes.
''My wife and child, sir, he said, turning
to me. Il have only one day a week of with
them but Mary always meets me here with
my dinner, and now and then get an hour
or two with her.
1T is a hard life, I said. you must
miss them soreIy."
NO matter where L am, sir," he replied,
'.they are with me. hear the little ones
voice above the loudest wind, and I see my
Mary 5 smile in the darkest night although
/ stand alone on my engine, with my life in
my hand. It's hard life, maybe, siT, but I
ought not to complain. 1t gave me my hap
piuess, since it won me my wife"
When we were on our way again, and I
had seen the tears fill the wife's bright blue
eyes as she fondly kissed her husband good
by, while l had slipped into the little ones
chubby hands a golden gift from the strange
gentleman riding with papa, l asked my
: companion what he meant
Il 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 book stories Of the people
+ who make up your world, that YOU have not
much time to look d0tcll to mine. There are
people who think such as we have no time to
! love, but you have seen Mary and my boy,
and-yOuil tell me if l tire you?
/ 81 was q careless fellow enough six years
ago, not negIecting my work when at my
post, but fond of a good time with my com
panions when of duty, always ready to &C
cept friendly glass, and sometimes with my
head not quite Steady when 1 mounted ms
/ engine, though the air always set me righ
before we had gone far on our way.
zone evening, at a dance, / met Mar!
Morton. She was the prettiest girl in N,
room, sir, and little bit of a cOquet in thOst
days, though DO more than was natural, wit
all the young fellows trying their best t
turn her head.
: Il was not long behind the rest. IcOudn'
get her out of my thoughts, but it did no
take me q great Willie to find out the trutI
Of the matter. l had lost my heart, Ih
only question was, would she turn me adTif
or give me hers for that she had stolen?
was many week before / got up couraC
enough to determine to ask her to be III
wife. Every moment off duty I wonld spen
with her, until grew to fancy she used t
3
, ''But [ was not without my jealous hours
/ for all that How did know how she sper
the time, I was SO constantly away from her
[ AT last l heard of another dance, to b
| given on the night | would be of duty
could not see Mary until then, butt felt SUI
she would know I would come for her, an
2 would go with no one else.
''But when the evening arrived, l foun
2 when l called for her that she had alread
! gone. Perhaps sir, in your rank of life, yo
: know, too, what il is to be jealous, and no
: many man destroys his future happine
e by it.
f "Niy first words to Mary were those of 7
: proach, while her smile at my entrance die
: away and her face grew white.
e q did not know you were coming, Joh
e How could I?'
"'You might have waited, then" 1 e
e claimed
"'And stayed at home, perhaps, to ha
4 had you laugh at me, with the rest. Beside
| am quite satisfied with my escort, and
believe am the only person to be consultt
i'm the matter
5 Gas you will, I said turning on my he'
e muttering the word ''coquet - between n