The Portland daily press., 1880-01-17
THE PRESS.
Love and a Lantern.

it one has to take a rough road through the
woods. TIE line at this point is perfectly
straight and reaches to the horizon IN Doth
directions. These facts are essential to
right understanding Of the events that took
place at the station one night about year
ago.
Old Sam Britton, station master, sat by
the stove in the middle of the switch-house,
idly looking at the dull red Goals in the ugly
stove. His daughter, about 10 years OF age,
sat by the little telegraph apparatus near the
window that looked out down the line. by
the aid of the lantern she was reading a
stray newspaper, the Iron Trade REVIEW, a
strange paper for girl to read, but 1t be-
longed to a dear friend, and some singular
pictures had interested her greatly. She did
more She read and listened. Not thing
stirred in the dull, bare little room save the
restless sounder on her table. The incessant
clatter of the machine fell on her ear and
vet she heard it not. Elm City was talking
to Centreville, 40 miles off, and every word
was spelled on the sounder. Yet she heard
it not. for her mind was on the alert to
catch another sound she was listening for.
Her father had let fall the paper he was
reading. He could not read, for bitter
disappointment kept his mind hafassed and
troubled. How long was this default OF pay
ment to the employees Of the railway compa-
nv to continue? The last months wages
had not been paid and another month had
nearly passed. The line needed repairing.
One of The signals was broken and there
were two bad ties on this section. 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, rose a star. The young girls
eyes were on the paper, and yet she saw II
rising. She looked out of the curtainless
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 in silence went
to one of the great iron sWltch-bars and
stood with both hands clasped about the
handle and gazing down the line, where the
star had become flame.
Then came far-away sound through the
night. She pulled the bar forward. Fal
down the track the switch moved in the
dark and great green eye became red. VI
the line in the opposite direction another
green star suddenly became red.
Samson Glider sat on his high seat with
one hand on the throttle valve, gazing stead
ilv ahead. A constellation of green and vel
low stars had sprung in his horizon. Jack
Cinder, his fireman, OH the other side OF the
engine had given voice to the monster as i
painted along its way. All! one star had
flashed red. The engineer blushed and
smiled in the dark, and pulled the throttle
valve. Then came push and a jar as the
heavy freight train rumbling behind pushed
against the engine The motive power had
ceased, and the immense momentum OF the
train drove the idle engine swiftly forward
The whistle spoke to the men behind, ano
they gladly pulled the brakes and the train
entered the siding. The headlight threw g
lurid glare on the switch-house, and by the
light Samson saw young girl standing by
the track. She was dressed for rough wealth
er and wore red hood that was not lovely
To Samson it was lovely in the glow of the
great lamp against the sky. 1t may have
been the peculiar effect of the light; it may
have been love, for love has finer eyes thar
unloving mortals.
They came into the switch house together
she smiling and happy, he pleased and graf
flied, yet with shade of care upon his face
In his hand he held a 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 Station-master.
bought it myself. The company seems to be
too poor to give its men fit tools"
''To say nothing of our wages" added the
old man roughly.
sob, father, why do you harp on that:
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
IL md of hu
stove. The conversation among the men fol
the first few moments had a local favor, and
needs no mention Then it branched to an
important theme-the overdue wages. Even
the lovers discussed the matter, and after a
few words they stopped abruptly
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 round the
country in drawing-room car. He is com
ing up the road tonight on a special car
and everything has to give way to his train. p
81 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 I'm mad. Here we can't" He
stopped and the girl blushed scarlet. 'sThe
president can make excursions over the line,
and dsarrange the timetables, yet we are
two months waitingfor our pay. Think
He stopped and looked toward the door; a
hideous creature stood before them-a tramp.
footsore, hungry and homeless, had found
the door Unmatched and wandered in, look
ing 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 dis
tant whistle. The statien-master looked at
the switch-bars to see that all was right and
Sam 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
shuffled away toward the door, Just as he
reached it he looked hastily around the room
and then slyiy took up the track-layer's bar
and vanished. His presence had been bur-
den, and they paid no heed to his departure.
A moment after the door opened, and Sam
son 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 ill suppressed
tears.
SIT seems so very long to wait-and all
for little money"
II know it, dear; yet when the company
do pay us we will have all the more"
Nearer and nearer came the great yellow
star that had sprung up in the horizon.
From far came the long, wailing sound of
the express whistle. The lovers heard it,
and held each a tighter clasp. The tracks
before the door began to sing. The monster
came on in frightful fury. Sparks shot up
in fountains from its stack. The ground
quivered, the windows shock.
All! a despairing scream from the whistle.
An earthquake.
Some one rushed past the girl. She
clasped the door for support, not knowing
what had happened, and looked out into the
gloomy night, stunned and terrified.
There was nothing-nothing save vast
cloud of dust, white and ghostly. All! a
CLEAN of light. 1t shone through the cur
tain of dust as it driftcd before the wind.
There were hurryng footsteps, cries for
help and groans. The dust disappeared, land
the end of an overturned car stood out in
the bright light. The wreck stood in horrid
nrOnorfions Ali if was on fire