The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-17
THE ENGINEERS STORY.

On sunny October day, according to
instructions 1 had received from the
officers of the railroad company, !
handed the engineer Of Engine No. 80 a
letter from his chief, requesting that ]
accompany him upon the engine, as a
better post for the observations along
the rails l had been commanded to
make.
After reading it, he touched his hat,
and respectfully babe me welcome, ar
ranging as comfortable seat for me as
he could provide for the long ride which
lay before us.
1t was novel experience for me, and
highly exciting one, as we seemed to
cleave the air, the train laundering
along behind us and could but look
admiringly at the man who stood so I'M
tiinchingly at his post, and in whose
hand lay in reality all our lives.
He was 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
ton, 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 years
of age.
"Papa! papa!" the little one scream
ed, in delight; and, glancing at my
companions face, [ needed not to ques-
ton if he were the one thus called.
Another moment, we had stopped,
and wife and child were pressed to his
breast, while a look of wonderful ten
derness crept into his eyes.
"My wife and child, sir,'' he said,
turning to me. 81 have only one day
a week off with them; but Mary always
meets me here with my dinner, and
now and then get an hour or two with
her."
"It is hard life,'' said. "You
must miss them sorely."
s'No matter where 1 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 nv
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 I had slipped into
the little ones chubby hand a golden
gift from the strange gentleman riding
with papa, l asked my companion what
he meant.
''I 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
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'll tell me if tire youp
81 was careless fellow enough six
years ago, not neglecting my duty when
at my post, but fond of a good time
with my companions when off duty, al
ways ready to accept friendly glass.
and sometimes with my head not quite
steady when mounted my engine,
though the air always set me right be.
fore we had gone far on our way.
"One evening, at dance, l met
Mary Morton. She was the prettiest
girl in the room, sir, and a 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.
6 was not long behind the rest. ]
couldn't get her out of my thoughts, but
it did not take me great while to find
out the truth of the matter. had los
my heart. The only question was
Would she turn me adrift, or give me
hers for that she had stolen? 1t wa.
many a week before got up my courage
enough to determine to ask her to B,
my wife. Every moment off duty
would spend with her, until grew tt
fancy she used to watch and wait fol
my coming.
"But was not without my iealou
hours, for all that. How did l know
how she spent the time, l was so con
stantly away from herp
cat last heard of another dance, t.
be given on the night l would be of
duty. could not see Mary until then
but felt sure she would know would
come for her and would go with no ont
else.
"But when the evening arrived,
found, when 1 called for her, that sh,
had already gone. Perhaps, sir, in you
rank of life, you know, too, what it is Il
be jealous, and how many man de
stroys his future happiness by it.
"My first words to Mary were thos
of reproach, while her smile at my en-
trance died away, and her face grew
white.
"T did not know you were coming
John. How could IP'