Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-22

| had known Tom for over two years, ana
l liked the boy. knew, or thought l
knew, Kate Carr. up in the big white
house on the hill. A proud girl enough
in her way-proud of her fathers riches'
her own beauty, and the dozen suitors
who had knelt at her feet. Ever since
Tom first sought her society wondered
a. his welcome. II seemed so strange a
thing to me that one so proud Of her po'
sition, so thoroughly slave of society as
Kate Carr appeared to be, should so OPP
enly encourage the attention Of mere
freight brakeman man Of whose FAM
ily connections we knew nothing, and
whose only wealth was his monthly pay.
Still Tom was a young and good-looking
fellow enough, and perhaps, after all,
she was little vain at having so hand
some suitor, even though so poor, to
add to her lengthy string Of victims. l
never could believe that she had the
heart to return his great, honest love,
and be willing, in exchange, to sacrifice
all her hopes and pride for his sake; and
then, besides, rumor had it that George
Ballou. the son of rich banker of q
neighboring town had already gained her
promise, and, from many little things
which had fallen under my notice, | began
10 believe that rumor for once was right.
And Tom loved her, and | thought it
over all night when was no. busy, and
wondered in my own heart how 1t would
end.
Tom never came back 10 the depot that
night, though | looked for him. and his
train left eastward while | was taking my
breakfast at the only hotel the place af-
forded, and caught bu, a glimpse Of
him as they swung round the curve. |
afterwards heard the whole story from his
lips. but can tell it best myself. From
hi, car he passed up the long hill to where
the lights of the Carr mansion were twink
ling among the trees, determined to learn
his fate from kates own lips that very
night. The parlor windows were dark
when he asceuded the stone steps and
rang the bell, and the servant who ans
wered it recognizing his face. told him he
would find Miss Kate in the garden.
In the moonlight, dreaming the ever new
dream of love. he passed with quick
step down the graveled path by the well
trimmed flower beds to where the sum.
mer-house, thickly shaded by clingng
vines stood at the further end. This
was his fayori,e resting place, and many
a pleasant hour was passed there with
her-his idol, his queen. As he ap-
preached now, he was surprised to hear,
borne on the still night air, the tone OF
voices in earnest conversation. In all
Toms nature there was nothing coward
ly, nothing base, but his own name,
spoken in mans deep voice, caused
him to halt almost without knowing he
did so.
Il naturally supposed from all saw
and heard that you cared for Tom Mar
shall"
1t was almost question, and the si-
lent listener outside in the moonlight
bent forward to catch the low tones OF
the reply.
"Oh, George how could you: Why
he's nothing but freight brakeman
What would papa say if he heard that ::
I, was the soft, tender voice Of Kate.
And you only cared for me, dar-
ling
81 only loved you, George
That was all; and the strong man
that listened, whose only crime was pow
erty, turned back quietly in the dark
ness-.urned back through the low hedge
and out into the moonlit road, with
pale face and heavy heart, He had low
ed her with all the giant strength of his
manly nature-he never knew how muc h
before. as he did now, alone in his mis-
ery, his suffering, and those heartless,
singing words. "He is only freight
brakeman" ringing in his ears with ev-
cry step he took. He was poor was
nothing but brakeman, had neither
wealth or lineage of which to boast ; but
after all, he was a man, and like one he
suffered his loss-suffered through the
long still night, patiently and silently
As the long Summer days faded into
the shorter ones of early Fall, and his
train passed back and forth by the sta.
ton on its daily trips, l watched Tom
and, knowing as much as | did, coulc
read his sufferings, though he tried Sc
bravely to hide it all and appear out
wardly as cheerful and light hearted a.
ever. Poor Tom the blow was hard
one struck by her little hand, and th'
strong man bent beneath it whether hi