River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-10-19
ONLY A BRAKEMAN.

ACCIDENT extra freight train
on the B. & G. r. r. was wrecked last
night By ?. broken bridge just beyond
CARLYLE. A son of the Hon. Carlton
Ballou was on the train, but fortunate
iy escaped injury. A breakman by the
name of Marshall was the only per'on
killed"
1t was only a short dispatch cast into
Que corner of the morning paper, amid
a score or two of others, but it interest
ed me; for | knew the whole brave
story so well, and ] felt in my heart al
most a hatred for the writer Who had
done such injustice to a noble life, and
overlooked so grand deed.
was the only night telegraph oper-
ator al CArlyle-nOt very exalted posi-
ton, perhaps, but yet one Of consider
able responsibility and trust. From
seven in the evening until the same
hour the next 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, crsmped-up
office, and listening, from mere force
of habit, to the various messages that
went clicking by to the other stations
on the road. The last train for several
hours-the freight accommodation
from Brighton had been in for some
time, and l had nothing to disturb me
but my thoughts.
"Well, Billy, how's No. 81" voice
suddenly asked, as the outside door
was pushed ajar.
zone hour late" l replied, hastily;
and then, looking up, ! saw Tom Mar
shall, a breakman on the last freight,
filing up the doorway. "Come inside
and have chair, Tom," added, as l
recognized the face of my questioner.
"Only for a moment tonight" he
answered me, as he sat down on my
invitation, his lantern resting between
his feet on the floor. | have call to
make this evening, and must wash up
little first"
"Where away to night, Tom? Not
up ON the hill again, surely?'
He shook his head in the affirmative
his eyes fixed upon my table, where
the instrument was ticking away.
"Of course, it's none of my business,
my boy; but it seems TO me you go to
the great white house too often of late.
Ballou might object, and It's said they
are engaged, you know" And | looked
up at his strong Saxon face from
where lay stretched on bench near
the wall.
81 think they are mistaken about
that, Billy; but Ballou has more OPP
portunities than | can enjoy" he re-
piled, very slowly. 81 only get in here
two nights a week, you know; but do
the best | can"
"Then it Is serious, Tom?' l asked;
for liked this broad shouldered, fair
haired fellow, breakman though he
was.
81 am afraid it is with me. Billy" he
replied, his eyes gazing steadfastly at
the lantern between his feet. but,
good night; must go; shall 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 of these
things-thought them over again and
again. ! had known Tom for two years,
and | liked the boy. l 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 riches, her own beauty, and the
dozen suitors who had kneit at her
feet. Ever since Tom first sought her
society l wondered at his welcome. 1t
seemed so strange thing to me that
one so proud Of her position, so thor
uughly q slave to society as Kate Carr
appeared to he, should so openly en-
courage the attentions of mere
freight brakeman man of whose fam
ily connections we knew nothing, and
whose only wealth was his monthly
nav. Still Tom was young and good
looking fellow enough, and, perhaps
after all, she was little vain of hav-
ing SO handsome suilor, even though
so poor, to add To her lengthy string OF
victims. | never could believe that
she had the heart to return mis- 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
bankerot neighboriug town bad al
ready gained her promise, and from
many little things which had already
fallen under my notice, began to be-
gan to believe that rumOr for once was
right. And Tom loved her, and
thought it over all night when l wa;
not busy, and wondered in my OWL
heart how j. could end.
Tom never came back to the depot
that night, though l looked for him
and his train left eastward while | wa
taking my breakfast at the only note
the place afforded, and l caught but {
glimpse OF him as they swung rounc
the curve. | afterwards heard tht
whole story from his lips but can tel
il best for myself. From his car h'
passed up the long hill to the Car
mansion where twinkling among the
trees. determined to learn his fa e from
Hates own lips that very night. The
parlor-windows were dark when he as
cended the stone steps and rang thu
bell. and the ser"ant who answered II
recognized his face, told him be woull
find Miss Kate in the garden. In tht
moonlight, dreaming the ever-nev
dream of love, he passed with qulcl
step down the gravel path by tue well
trimmed fiower-beds 10 where thu
summer-house, thickly shaded b!
clinging vines, stood at the further end
This was her favorite restlng-plsce, ant
many a pleasant hour came hoodlnJ
his mind, passed there with her-hi
queen. AS he approached now, h
was surprised to hear, borne ON tn
still night air, the tone of voices II
earnest conversation. In all Tom
nature there was nothing cowardly
nothing base bat his own name
spoken in mans deep voice. cause
him to halt almost without knowing h
did so.
Il naturally supposed from all | sa'
and heard that you cared for MAJ
shall?"
1t was almost question, and to
silent listener outside in the moonhgf
bent forward 10 catch the low tones
the reply.
"Oh, George, how could you? VIII!
hes nothing but freight breakman
What would papa say If he hear
that?"
Ii was the soft, tender voice of Kate
"And you truly only cared for m'
darliug?'
~ only loved you, George"
That was all; and the strong ma
Who listened. whose only crime VS.