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

ltLC. ne pdIiOI NlHNuNo NNiN
dark when he assembled the stone
steps and rang the bell, and the old
servant who answered the bell, rec
ogniZing 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 gravel path OF
the well-trimmed flower beds, TO
where the summer house, thickly
shaded by clinging vines, stood at
the further end This was her fay-
orite resting place, aud many
pleasant hour came flooding his mind
passed there with her-his queen.
AS he approached now he was sur
prised to hear, borne ON the still
night air, the tone Of voices in earn
est conversation. In all Tom S ma
ture there was nothing cowardly,
nothing base; but his own name,
spoken in mans deep voice caused
him TO bait almost without knowing
he did SO.
Il naturally supposed from all |
have seen and heard, that you cared
for Marshall :"
1t was almost a question, aud the
silent listener outside in the moon
light, bent forward to catch the low
tones of the reply.
"Oh, George, how could you !?
Why, he is nothing but brakeman
What would papa say if he heard
that ="
1t was the soft, tender tones of
Kate.
And you truly only care for me,
darling 2"
Il only loved you, George"
That was all; and the strong man
who listened, whose DOLLY crime was
poverty, turned back quietly in the
dark ness-turned back through the
low hedge and out into the moon
lit road, with pale face and heavy
heart. He had loved her with all
the giant strength of his strong,
manly nature-he never knew how
much before, as he did now, alone
in his misery, his suffering, and
those cold, heartless, singing words,
Hes only freight brakeman, .
ringing in his ears with every step
he took. He was poor, was nothing
but a brakeman, had neither wealth
nor lineage Of which to boast; but,
after all, he was man, and like one
he suffered his loss-sutfered through
the long, still night, patiently ana
silently.
And the long summer days faded
into the shorter ones of early fall,
and his train passed back and forth
by the station on its daily trips. L
watched Tom, and knowing so much
as | did, | could read his sufferings,
though he tried so bravely to hide it
all aud appear outwardly as cheerful
and light-hearted as ever. Poor
Tom the blow was hard one struck
by her little hand, and the strong
man bent beneath it, whether he
would or no.
1t was nearly winter when the end
finally came, and that ending was
indeed terrible.
For several weeks heavy storms
had been raging along the entire line
of the road, any many fears were eX-
pressed 10y railway officials about the
safety of the rOad-bed between Car
lyle and Farmersyille, the next sta
ton east. All along these few miles
there were heavy grades and numer-
Gus small bridges and culverts al
ready loOsened by previous storms.
That night when | went on duty it
was raining hard-a cold, bitter rain,
half sleet, blown Acre AMI there in
gusts Of heavy wind. The night it.
self was intensely black from swiftly
scudding clouds, broken now and
then 10y vivid glares of tOrked light
ming that seemed almost TO tear
them in twain. My instruments
were almost uumauageable, owing
to the electricity in the air, but
about midnight message came
through in jerks from the division
uperintendent at Balton;
"OPR., Carly lie: Send Bond with
extra east, to report track a Far
mersville for No. ,. Move cautious
ly. w. b. c."
Bond was Toms conductor, and |
handed the order to him immedi-
ately An engine was ready at hand,
and they soon had the short train of
ten ears made up in the yard, Just
as the engine backed down from the
tank and was being coupled on,
George Ballou, muflled up to the
chin, and holding a small leather
valise in his hand, came hurriedly
around the edge OF the depot build
ing.
"Bond, " he said to the conductor,
who stood there with his lantern
raisad IN Uiva tho SIGNAL for Sf ART no
81 want to go down with you. |
must be home tonight.
Bond looked around rather sur
prised at the request.
"We are likely to be wrecked be-
fore we get there, Mr.. Ballou," he
said quickly. But, if you must go,
take your own risk and get on. |
don't care"
"Ballou, don't go!"-it was Toms
voice. speaking very low. Take