Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-07-01
The Sturp Teller.
THE HEENGINEER'S STORY

u IL
On sunny October day, according to in
structions l had received from the officers
of the railroad company, handed the engin
eer of Engine No. 30 a letter from his chief
requesting that accompany him upon the
engine, as better post for observation along
the rails had been commanded to make.
After reading it, he touched his hat, and
respectfully bade me welcome, arranging as
comfortable seat for me as he could provide
for the long ride which lay before us.
. 1t was a novel experience for me, and 8
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 unAinchingly at his post
and in whose hand lay in reality all our lives
He was a 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 station where
there was delay of twenty minutes, to take
on coal and water As we slowed up, | no
ticed standing on the platform young wo
man, holding a neatly. covered basket, and
clinging to her skirts little child, some three
years Of age.
"Papa papa! !" the little one screamed, in
delight; and, gIancing at my companion
face, l needed not to question if he were the
one thus called
"My wife and child, sir" he said turning
to me- 81 have only one day 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 hard life," said. "You must miss
them sorely."
"No matter where l am, sir" he replied
''they are with me. l hear the little ones
voice above the loudest wind, and l see my
Marys 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 gaze me happi'
ness, 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
chubby hand golden gift from the strange
gentleman riding with papa, asked my com
panion what he meant
II don't know as you'd care to hear, sir,
end there's not many as Id 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 at 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 I tire yo1?
II was careless fellow enough six years
ago, not neglecting my work when at my
post, but fond of good time with my COM
panons when off duty, always ready to &C.
cept friendly glass. and sometimes with my
head not quite steady when [ mounted my
engine, though the air always set me right
before we had gone far on our way.
"One evening at dance, met Mary Nor,
ton. She was the prettiest girl in the room,
sir, and little bit of a coquette in those
days, though no more than was natural, with
all The young fellows trying their best to
turn her head.
81 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. l had lost my heart. The one
question was, Would she turn me adrift, OF
give me hers for that she had stolen? 1t was
many week before l got up my courage
enough to determine to ask her to be my wife
Every moment off duty 1 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?
"At last heard of another dance, to be
given on the night would be off duty. ]
could not see Mary until then, but felt sure
she would know would come for her, and
would 60 with no one else.
"But when the evening arrived, I found
when l called for her, that she had already
gone. Perhaps, sir, in your rank of life, you
know, too, what it is to be jealous and how
many man destroys his future happiness
by it.
"My first words to Mary were those of re-
proach, while her smile at my entrance died
away, and her face grew white.
81 did not know you we're coming, John
How could ?"
"'You might have waited, thenT I ex
claimed.
"'And stayed at 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 ir
the matter
"'As you WILL l said, turning on my heel
muttering the word 'Coquette' = between my
teeth, and unheeding the little pleading glance
she sent, from time to time, across the room
to where l stood.
"She was not without pride, and if she suf
fered from my coldness, she only smiled tht
brighter on others, until I grew mad with
jealous anger. That night began series o
dissipation with which l employed every leis
ure moment. l drank more deeply than be
fore, not for so.called goodwill and good fel
lowship, but to drown memory.
81 did not 60 near Mary for month Tt
me it seemed year. Once, after a night
carousal, passed her on the street but no
until long after did I learn of the bitter tear
my haggard face and dissipated air had cos