The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-03-17
NUMBER 8.
ROMANCE OF A RAILROAD.

story is prettily told.
"Just think of those Westoria lands, and
what they will be worth if the road is carried
through them-and as to romance, what could
be more romantic than the story attached to
them ?" said Richard.
''But don't know the story. said Bertha,
''What is it?"
cit is a very affecting story" he replied,
land it was the story which first called my
attention to the subject. There was a poor
visionary fellow whose name was Westor, to
whom large tract of this land came sud
denly as an inheritance from distant rela-
tive. he was not practical enough to make
much use of it, and he lived in the house
upon it in desolate shiftless way for several
years, when he had the lll-fortune to discover
coal on the place. 1 say it was ill-fortune,
because the discovery drove him wild. He
worked, and starved, and planned, and
scraped together all the money he could to
buy more land, keeping his secret closely for
some time. When he could do no more be
came to Washington and began to work for
railroad which would make his wealth
available. His energy was a kind Of frenzy,
they say. He neither ate, slept. nor rested,
and really managed to get the matter into
active movement. He managed to awaken
kind of enthusiasm, and, for a short time.
he was a good deal talked Of and noticed.
he was big, raw-bOned young Westerner,
and created a sensation by his very uncouth-
ness in its connection with the wildly fabu-
lous stories told about his wealth. He had
among his acquaintance a man of immense
influence, and at this mans house he met the
inevitable young woman. She'amused her
self, andrhe fell madly in love, and became
more frenZieG than ever. It was said that
she intended 70 marry him if he was success
full, and that she made his poor, helpless life
such an anguish to him that he lost his bal
ance entirely. There came time when he
was entirely penniless, and his prospects
were so unprOmising, and his despair so
great, that he went to his boarding house one
day with the intention of killing himself, and
just as he finished loading his pistol letter
was handed in to him, and when he opened
it he found it contained the information that
another distant relative, affected by the ru-
mors concerning him, had left him twenty
thousand dollars. He laid his pistol in a
drawer, and left the house to begin again.
He had an interview with his lady love, and
one with his man Of influence, and at the end
of few weel-s had bought more land, and
had parte6 il some mysterious way with the
rest Of his money, and was on the very eve of
success. Poor fellowr'
Poor fellow - said Bertha. ''Oh! don't
say that anything went wrongT'
'It would not be half so dramatic story
if everything had gone right said Richard,
with fine artistic appreciation. ''You could /.
never guess what happened Everything ne I
did seemed to work to a miracle every train /
was laid and every match applied. On the 4
day that was 70 decide his fate he did not 90 |
near the Capitol, but wandered out and took |
his place on one of the seats in the park
which faced the house at which the young
lady was visiting, and sat there, Iank. un-
shOrn, haggard figure, either staring at her
window, or leaning forward with his head
upon his hands. People actually heard of
his being there and went to look at him, and
came away without having dared to address
him. The young woman looked out from
behind her blind and was furious, and even
sent word to him to go away But he would
not go, and only glared at the man who was
sent to him with the message. He sat there
until night, and then staggered across and
rang at The bell, and inquired for the man of
influence, ard was told-what 90 You SUD-
pose he was told %"
"Oh - cried Bertha, desperately, "I don't
Know"
HE was told that he was occupied.
Occupied ?'' echoed Bertha
Richard clasped his hands comfortably and
behind his head
That's the climax of the story" he said. I
He was occupied-in being married to the
Toung woman of whom he had been greatly
for some time, and who had dis
reetly decided to marry him, because he had
rOYed to her that the other mans bill could
IOt possibly pass. 1t could not pass because
e bad the energy and influence to prevent
IS doing so, and he prevented ifs passing Q
ecause he knew he would lose the young Z
roman otherwise. At least that is the story, :
nd like the version
81 don't like it 7" said Bertha. 'It makes v
le feel desperate" 5"
What it made the poor fellow feel" Rich o
rd went on, nobody ever found out, as be n
lid nothing at all about it. On hearing the II
nth be sat down on the steps few minutes Y
nd then got up and went away. He went g
} his boarding house and had an interview q
it'll his landlady, who was kind hearted n
eature, and when she saw him began to T
Y because his bill had not passed. But 1t
hen she spoke of it she found he knew "
,thng of it-he had never asked about it. us
Id be said to her, oh, that doesn't matter bl
isn't any consequence particularly; I'm yc
lly troubled about your bill. l haven't IN
oney enough to pay it. I've only enough 70
take me home, and you'll have to let me IN
We you the things have in my room for fe
y. L only want one thing out of there-if tn
ull let me go and get it, won't take any
ing else So she let him go, and stood
tside his door and cried, while he went in tn
d took something out of a drawer" wi
Richard % cried Bertha. dit
Yes" said Richard. 'sHe actually found lit
se for 1t after all, but not in Washington. we
went as far as he could by rail. and then cit
tramped the rest Of the way to westoria hel
ey say II must have taken him several davs. the
! that his shoes were worn to shreds and the
feet cut and bruised by the walk. When the
reached the house it had been shut nm so It.
g that the honeysuckle which climbed wo
ut it had grown across the door, and be if {
Ia not have got in without breaking or foo
ming 1t aside. People fancied that at first ssiC
'hought of going in, but that when he saw ans
vine 1t stopped him-slight barrier as il strs
I They thought he had intended to co in the
ause he had evidently gone to the door, be
before he had turned away had broken