The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-05-14
THE BURNING TUNNEL.

"Well, yes, sir, have had some
rather exciting adventures since l be.
came an engineer; but the time that
my hair stood the straightest, and my
heart beat the fastest, was when was
firing an engine instead of taking charge
of one; and, as soon as we reach the
long upgrade, l will tell you about it if
youacare to hear"
So said the tall, well-shaped, keen
eyed young fellow who was controlling,
with such cool, nonchalant air, the
great iron Cyclops that was bearing us
so swiftly over its seemingly endless
pathway of cleaning steel.
OF course was all anxiety, and when
the upgrade was reached the engineer
began, his eyes meantime being faith
fully kept ahead: 3
cit was nearly six years ago, but it
stands out before me as plainly as if it
happened yesterday. l was fireman
on the No. 5 of the W Railroad, as
smooth q road as ever was built, and
just as straight as rail, sir, except at
one point. There it curved sharply, and
just beyond was tunnel, about a hun
dred yards in length.
"This tunnel was very heavily tim
bered-in fact, the inside was close
network of immense great joists; and,
at the time of its completion, the con-
tractor had boosted that it would last
until the Judgement Day.
"Harry Burton, the engineer on the
No. 5,2was called handsome fellow,
and at times, especially when he was
thinking or talking about Winnie Clyde,
and his great black eyes would soften
and shine, and his dark face would flush
and dimple just like a woman's, sir, he
then would really deserve the compli-
ment.
"But there were other times that,
when he had been vexed or crossed in
any way, hard, ugly look would creep
into his eyes, and his lips would shut
together, in tight, cruel line, and he
would look as ill-favored as jail-bird,
and cause me to think pitifully of Winnie
Clyde's future if she intrusted it in his
care.
"Little Winnie Clyde was the pref
test girl ever saw. just as light as
a bit of thistle-down, with dark-blue
eyes and mass of soft, crinkly, yellow
hair, that made golden frame for
face as. soft, and smooth, and pink as
an apple-blossom; and she had such
pretty way of acting, such sunny dis
position, that one couldn't help loving
her. fs lo ,5sftr ,tf4.,
"There is no doubt but that Burton
fairly worshiped her; but he was quick
tempered and Jealous. and over-bearine
by nature, and assumed the air of lord
and master so often that think the lit
tie girl got tired of his harshness.
"But, anyhow, he flung himself
aboard one morning in such manner
as gave me to understand that some
thing unusual had happened; and that
day he was so savage that at last got
out of patience, and told him pretty
sharpely that if he expected / was going
to putup with his growing any longer he
was nightly mistaken, for would not
do it. sf,rtti. ...s, ,a.,,..B ...tt
He looked at me as if he was some
what surprised, and then said, pretty
low: F" 90 "FtA -iii - au0.H f'
"I suppose have been pretty bear
ish, Ned; but / couldn't help it, as no
man could, who had seen all the Joy and
hope of his life stolen from him. The
whole world seems black to me-
"And his head sunk on his breast, as
deep groan escaped his lips. saw at
once that he was wretched about some-
thing, and, of course, it changed my
anger to sympathy, and l asked him as
soothingly as could what the trouble
was. 9uI Ianrc lish hhHa M tr
a." Well, you must know, Ned he
burst out, as, if he could bear it no long
er, went up to Clyde's last night. and
found a white-faced, white-handed fell
low there, whom Nellie introduced to
me as Raymond Melton. / hated him
the moment I1saw him, and / had q
frantic desire to throttle him every mo-
ment of his call. When ne was gone,
l turned to Winnie, and Isuppose flair
ly ravedj but before had finished, VIM
ME stood up, with her eyes blazing, and
handing me my ring, swept from the
room iwithoutla word. OF course knew
what it meant-simply that Raymond
Melton had stolen her from me, with
his soft ways and oily tongue and ]
want syou'St0 understand, Ned Lyons,
thata man who runs me off the track
has heavy damages toipay,' and his face
was frightful to see I; but he said nothing
more about his trouble of anything else
that day. 'spioH 'H""i 7hl ~ s. "
"Well, sir, in the days and week:
that followed, had anything but an
agreeable companion. Burton was
either so sullen and gloomy that he
didn't have a civil word for any one, OF
else he was raving mad with jealousy
andlhate. il is7lF'a9 '3n'' iTtA 1
-''i talked with him, and tried to rea,
son him into better frame of mind
but it was of no use. He grew worse