South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-06-02

tic StFNailt WHO ItlSNcfcU IL. TCcOE.
nizcd his face, told him he wouli iind
Miss Kate in tho garden. In the
moonlight, dreaming the cvcr-ncw
dream OF love, he passed with quick
step down the gravel path by the we'll.
trimmed iiower-bc1s 20 where the
spmmerhouse, thickly shaded by cling.
ing vines. stood ut the further end.
This was her iavoritc resting place,
and many pleasan, hour came flood.
ing his mind. passed there with her
lsis queen. AS he approached now,
Inc was surprised 10 hear, borne on the
still night air, the tone OF voices in
earnest conversation. In all Toms
nature there WAS nothing cowardly,
nothing base; but his own name.
spoken in mans deep voice, caused
him 10 halt almost without knowing
he did SO.
Il naturally supposed fiom all | saw
and heard that you cared for Mar
slail?'
1t was almost n question, and the
silent listener outside in the moonlie ht
bent forward 10 catch the low tones of
the reply.
oh, George, how could you? Why,
he's nothing buta freight-3rakcman !:
What would papa say if he heard
thaty'
1t WAS the soft, tender voice of
Kate.
And you truly only cared for me,
darling?
Il only loved you. George
That was all and the strong man
who listened, whose only crime WAS
poverty, turned back quietly in the
darkncss--turued back through the
low hedge and ont into the moonlight
road. with pale face and heavy heart
He had loved her with all the grand
strength of his strong, manly nature
=-hc never knew how much before,
"a he did now. alone il. his misery, his
suffering, aud those cold, heartlcss,
singing words, Hes only freight,
brakeman, ringing in his cars with
every heavy step he took lie was
poor, was nothing but n brakeman,
had neither wealth nor lineage of
which TO boast but, after all, hc was
n man, and like one he suffered his
loss--suttcrcd through the long, still
night, patiently, and silently.
rs the long summer days faded in.
to the shorter ones of early fall. and
his train passed back aud forth By the
station on its daily trips, watched
Tom. and knowing so much as I did i,
| could read his suileripgs, though he
tried so bravcly to hide it all &c appear
outwardiy as cheerful and light.hcart.
cd as ever. Poor Tom tic blow
was hard one struck by her little
hpnd, and the strong man bent be.
meath 1t, whether hc would or no.
Ii was nearly winter when the end
finally came, and that ending was in
deed terrible.
For several weeks heavy storms had
been raging along the entire line of
The road, and many fears were ex-
pressed by railway officials about the
safety oftbc road bed between Carlyle
and Farmersviile, the next station
east. All along these few miles there
were heavy grades and numerous
small bridges and culvcrts already
looscned by previous storms. That
night when l went on duty it was
raining hard-a cold, bitter rain, half
sleet, blown here and there in gusts
of heavy wind. The night itself was
intensely black from swiftly scud-
ding clouds, broken now and then by
vivid glarcs of forkcd lightning that
seemed almost 10 tear them in twain.
My instruments were almost unHan,
agcable, owing TO the electricity in the
air, but about midnight n message
came through in jerks from the diyis-
ion superinten dent at Balton:
Operator, Carlyle,
Send Bond with extra east, Ia re-.
port track at Farmcrsville for No ..
Move cautiously. Nv. IL. c.
Bond was Toms condue tor. and |
handed the order to him immedi-
atcly. An engine was ready at hand.
a5d they soon bad ihc short train Of
ten cars made up in the yard Just
us the engine backed down from the
tank and was being coupled on.
George Baliou, muGled M 10 his
chin, and holding n small leather va
liso IL bis hand. came hurriedIy around
the edge OF the depot building.
Bond he said TO the conductor.
who stood there with his lantern rails.
cd to give the signal for starting, Il
want 10 go down with you. must
DC homo tonight.
Bond looked around rather sut.
prised at the request.
We're more than likely to he
wrecked before ever we got there. Mr.
l'allou, he said, quickly. but. II
you must g, take your own risk and
get on. ] don't care
'BaIiou, don't 90 r-it was Toms
voice, speaking very low. Take my
Il. Il 4