The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-05-12
rHE LEVEL CROSSING.

l don't mind talking abont 1t now.
though the time was l couldn't speak
Of it without a big lump coming in my
throat
We hadn't been married long, Jane
and /. when 1t happened. Jane was q
trim. bright-eyed slip of a girl as aver
you'd wish to see. and the very first
time / over set eyes on her / made up
my mind to make that girl my wife. So.
when the Company raised my wages
was pointsman at Fairfield Junction, I
should tell you'll took heart and asked
her II she'd halve them withme, with q
wedding ring thrown into the bargain.
do you really mean 1t, WHIP" said
She.
II do really mean 1t, jane" said /.
Then" said she, putting both her
living relation TO advise with me, SO l
ri only take counsel with my own
heart"
So we were married. And everything
went smooth until Jane began to object
to my mates at the Railway Arms"
and the Saturday evenings ] spent with
my mates. III. ;.
'.Why. Jane. girl" said l. .'whoro's
the harmp A man can't live by him
self, like an oyster in its shell, and Q
social glass never yet harmed anyone"
'.No," says Jane, "not social glass.
VIII, but the habit. And II you would
only"
.'Pshaw," said l. 'Tm not q druns
ard, and l never mean 10 be n And
no n likes TO DO preached to by hs
wife, Jane. Remember that and you'll
save yourself a deal OF trouble"
l kissed her and went away. But
that was the BEGINNING Of ths little
grave shadow that grew on my James
face.
1t was a sore point between us. l
felt that Jane was always watching
me; and l didn't choose to be put III
leading strings by a m SOL
shame to say it'll went to tho .Rail-
way Arms oftener than ever; and l
didn't always count the glasses Of beer
that l drank; and once or twice, of q
particularly cold night, / let myself be
persuaded into drinking something
stronger than beer! and Jane cried. and
i lost my temper; well. / don't like to
think of all these things now.
But one afternoon l looked my own
life in the face. l made up my mind
that l had been behaving like a brute.
'.What are those senseless fellows at
tho Railway Arms to mep' mutterod
], .'as compared with one of James
sweet bright looksP I'll give the whole
thing mp. I'll draw the line just here
and now. We shall be of duty early
tonight; I'll 60 home and astonish
Jane"
But, as che night fell, the binding
drift of a great storm came with it. The
last train was kept later than usual by
the snow which collected on the rails,
and when 1t reached the Junction there
was n little girl who had been sent on
in the care Of the guard. who mus
either wait till morning in the cold and
cheerless station, or be taken home
across the snowy fields by some one
who knew the way.
..r.l take her." said Land lifting her
up l gathered my coarse. warm coat
about her, and started on the long.
cold walk along the edge Of the liver.
knew that Jane would be uneasy at
my unexplained absence, and made tho
best of my way home, only to find the
door was shut and locked. / went
round to the back. Here l effected an
~ hhtitcy NV hitdc Nihity Iuy ciut1t
boy. called out: Papa, is that you?''
'.Where is mammal" said /.
.'Gonc out with baby to look for you.''
said he. Didn't you meet her. papaP''
/ stood a moment in silence.
..Iie still, WILLIE" said ]. in o voice
that sounded strange and husky even
to myself. 81 will go and bring hei
back
thought with dismay Of tho binding
snow storm outside, and-worst Of ALL
the level crossing over which an express
shot like q meteor at q few minutes be-
foie midnight. Oh, heavenl
A clock, sounding dim and muffled
through the storm, struck eleven as |
hurried down the hill 3
As steadily as l could / hurried on
ward, but more than once i became be-
wildered. and, when, ut length. l came
out close to the line. l know that l was
half a mile below the crossing.
And in the distance / heard the. long,
shrill shrek Of the midnight train.