Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-07-08
ONLY A BRAKEMAN

last night by broken bridge just
bevond Carlyle. A son OF the Hon
Carlton Ballou was on the train but
fortunately escaped injury. A brake
man by the name of Marshall was
the only person killed.
1t was a short dispatch, cast into
one corner of the morning paper,
amid a score or two Of others, but
it interested me; for | knew the
whole brave story so well, and felt
in my heart almost hatred for the
writer who had done such injustice
to noble life and overlooked so
grand a deed.
I was only the night telegraph
operator at Carlyle-not an exalted
position, perhaps but yet one of con-
siderable responsibility and trust.
From seven in the evening until
the same hour in the morning | held
in the hollow of my hand the life Of
almost every man passing over our
division of the road.
remember one night, when was
sitting alone in my little, cramped-
up office, and listening, from mere
habit, to the varied messages as they
went clicking by to other stations
on the road. The last train for sew
eral hours-the freight accOmmoda-
ton from Brighton-had been in for
some time, and | had nothing to
disturb me but my thoughts.
"Well, Billy ,how's number five :"
a low voice said as the outside door
was pushed ajar.
zone hour late" replied, hasti-
ly, then looking up, | saw Tom Mar
shall, brakeman on the last freight
filling up the doorway. "Come in
side and have chair, Tom" | add
ed as l caught sight of the question
er's face. "Only for moment, to-
night, "he answered me, as he sat
down at my invitation, his lantern
resting between his feet on the
floor. Il have call to make this
evening and must wash up a little
first
"Where away tonight, Tom !?
Not up on the hill again, surely ?"
He shook his head in the affirma-
tive, his eyes fixed upon my table,
where the instrument was clicking
away.
"Of course its none of my bust
ness, old boy, but it seems to me you
go to the white house too often here
of late. Ballou might object, and
it's said they are engaged you have
heard" And l looked up at his
strong Saxon face from where | lay
stretched on a bench against the
wall.
Il think they are mistaken about
that. Billy; but Ball0u has more OPP
portunities than | can enjoy" he
replied very slowly. II only get in
here two nights a.Week, you know;
but | do the best | can"
"Then it is serious, Tom ~ | ask
ed. for liked this brOad-shouldered
fair-haired young man, brakeman
though he was.
I'm afraid it is with me, Billy"
he replied, gazing steadfastly at the
lantern between his feet. But,
good night; | must go; will see you
again as | come in" And the heavy
door closed behind him.
As sat there alone in the office
after he had gone | thought of all
these things-thOught them over
and over again. | had known Tom
for two years, and | liked the boy.
| knew, or Thought | knew Kate
Carr. up in the big white house on
the hill A proud girl enough in
her way proud of her fathers rlcl es,
her own beauty, and the dozen men
who knelt at her feet Ever since
Tom first sought her company | had
wondered at his welcome. 1t seem
ed SO strange a thing to me that one
so proud of her position, SO thor
oughly Il slave OF society as Kate
Carr appeared TO be, should 50 open
" encourage the attentions OF a
mere freight brakemau-a man Of
whose family connections we knew
nothing, and whose only wealth was
his monthly pay. Still Tom was a
Young and good looking fellow, and ,
perhaps, after all, she was little
vain at having SO haEds0mea sutton,
even though so poor, to add to her
lengthy string Of victims. | never
could believe she had the heart TO re-
/ turn his great, honest love, and be
! willing, i'll exchange, to sacrifice all
4 her hopes and pride for his sake; and
then, besides, rumor had it that
George BaIlou, the son Of a rich
banker of neighboring town, had
already gained her promise, and
from many little things which had
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