The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-04-23
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structions had received from the officers of
| the railroad company, handed the engineer
of Engine No. 32 letter from his chief, re-
questing that accompany him upon the en-
CINE, as n better post for the observations
along the rails | had been commanded to
| make.
After reading it, he touched his hat, and
respectfully babe me welcome, arranging as
comfortable seat for me as he could provide
for the long ride which lay before us.
1t was u novel experience for me, and
highly exciting one, as we seemed to clcave
the air, the train laundering along behind us !;
and could but look admiringly at the man
who stood so untlinchngly at his post and in
whose hand lay in reality all our lives.
He was Il tail, 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
chattcd together.
BY noon we had become friends, at which
hour we stopped at small station, where
there was a delay of twenty minutes, to take
on coal or water. As we slowed up no.
ticed standing on the platform young wo-
man, holding a ncatly-covercd basket, and
clingng to her skirts q little child, some three
years fage.
Papa papa" the little one screamed, in
delight; and, glancing at my companions
face, needed not to question if he were the
one thus called.
Anothermoment, we had stopped, and wife
look of wonderful tenderness crcpt into his
eyes.
"My wife and child, sir he said turning to
me. II have only one day in Il week off with
thcm but Mary always meets me here with
my dinner, and now and then get an hour
or two with her"
at is hard life" said. "You must miss
them sorcly."
mo matter where | am sir" he replied,
''they are with me- | hear the little ones
voice above the loudcst wind, and see my
Mary's smile in the darkest night, although
stand alone on my engine, with my life in
my hand, It's hard life, maybe, sir, but
ought not to complain. 1t gave me my hap
piness, 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 husband good by
! while | had slipped into the little ones club
| by hand n golden gift from the strange gen.
tlcman riding with papa, lasked my compan-
| ion 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 book stories of the people who
make up your world that you have not much
time to look down to mine. There are peo-
pie 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 you?
~ was a'careless fellow enough six years
ago, not neglecting my work when at my
post, but fond of a good time with my com
panions when off duty, always ready to ac-
cept 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 q dance, met Mary Nor
ton. She was the prettiest girl in the room,
sir and q little bit of a coquet in those days,
though no more than was natural with all
the young fellows trying their best to turn
| her head
~ 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. | had lost my heart
| The only question was would she turn me
adrift, or give me hers for that she had sto-
lenp 1t was many week before got up
my courage to determine to ask her to be my
wife. Every moment off duty 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 | know how she spent
the time, was so constantly away from her Z
"At last | heard of another dance to be
given on the night ! would be off duty.
could not see Mary until then, hut felt sure
she would know | would come for her, and
would go with no one else.
"But when the evening arrived, found
when called for her, that she had already
gone Perhaps, sir, in your rank of life, yon
know, too, what il is 10 he Jealous, and how
many man destroys his future happiness by
| il.
"My first words TO Mary were those of re-
prOach, while her smile at my entrance died
away and her face grew white.
"l did not know you were coming, John
How could ~
"'You might have waited, then ! exclaim
cd
"'And stayed ut home, perhaps, TO have
had you laugh at me, with the rest Besides
am quite satisfied with my escort, and be
lieve | am the only person to be consulted in
the matter"
"'As you will,' i said, turning on my heel
muttering the word 'Coquet! between my
teeth, and unheeding the little, pleading
glance she sent from time to time across tho
room to where / Stood
"She was not without pride, and if she suf
fered from my GOODNESS, she only smiled the
brighter on others, until / grew mad will
Jealous anger That night began II series o
designations with which / employed every
leisure moment. / drank more deeply than
had ever done in my life-not as before, fol
so-called goodwill and good-fellowship, bu
to drown memory.
, 81 did not go near Mary for month. II
me it seemed year. Once after night
carousal passed her on the street I; but no
until long after did learn of the bitter tear
, my haggard face and dssipated air had cos
her, Finally, my better nature triumphed
and went to her, repentant, to ask her for
piypnpss and nerhaDs her love