The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1882-08-24
What the Train Brought.

With roar and rattle the 6 O'Clock
express train rushed across the bridge
that sranned the narrow river on the
Derwent farm, near Concord, and Alice
Derwent, the farmers pretty, dark-eyed
daughter, stood on the vine-shsded
porch, looking after it with an uncon.
scious sigh.
$50 many come by you, SO many 60
by you, out into the great, wide, beau
tiful world" she thought, as she gazed
over the fe.+ila -yeaey farm ead out
through the break in Ne Sircling blue
mountains, from whence trail of white
smoke came floating back. 81 wonder
if you will ever bring me anything
or carry me away? or must I live my
life out to the end, shut in by these
quiet hills?"
"supper ready, mother?" called out
the hearty-looking farmer, halting in
the glow of the bright freight on the
open hearth, as he came in from fod-
dering the stock, followed by his son
Thomas, who was the living, breathing
"image of his sire"
"To be sure it is" replied his bust
ling little wife, who had just such eyes
and hair as bonny Alice, and just the
same sweet smile. "Isn't it always
ready, father, when the train goes by ?
Come. Alice!"
"Alice is. out there looking for her
fortune, mother" said Tom. cit is
coming by that train. knew all
about it."
Alice smiled snd shook her head at
her saucy brother, as she took her seat
at her fathers side.
Little did any of them think how
many true wo,d is spoken in jest, or
that the fortune which the evening ex.
press was to bring the daughter of the
house was even then nearing their hos
pitalole door.
"I've worked like beaver all day
-ong, Martha, and Tom has kept pace
with me, and we both said as We came
home, that we we're too tired to eat.
But this is comfortl It would be hard
to see anything much pleasanter than
this nice, tidy kitchen, and just as hard
to find any of their French cooks that
can beat you and Alice, my dear" said
Elihu Derwent, glancing thankfully at
the blazing fire, the table laid so neatly,
the tempting meal Of batter-eakes and
maple syrup. wheaton bread and golden
butter, and a large platter of cold
corned beef and vegetables that was
placed before the two hungry men.
Mrs. Derwent poured out the tea
strong, hot and fragrant.
esquire Seaton, up in the big house
yonder, don't often get such tea as this,
with all his staff OF servants" said
Tom, looking across the valley to the
brick. and freestone palace of the one
millionaire of the village.
"Poor man !" sighed Mrs. Derwent
Il do pity himl His wife and dsugh.
ter dead, and his only son so wild and
willful and a wanderer all over the
world. Only last week he told me, with
tears in his eyes, that he had heard of
his boy, and that he had been seen lately
in Leadville, intoxicated and poorly
dressed, in gambling saloon. Yet
when he wrote there to him-and wrote
kindly-he had disappeared. If it was
our Tom, Elihu, I should just break my
heart. Tom, if you ever do grow un.
steady and run away like Philip Sea-
ton, you will give your mother her
death-blow. Remember that!"
"Thank God, it isn't Tom, Martha
I'm sorry, too, for the man and for the
boy. Mr.. Seaton owns that he turned
him out of his house in New York in
fit of anger, and that the boy swore
he would never enter his doors again.
Bad temper on both sides you see; and
So Why Martha, what on earth is
that?'
Farmer Derwent might we'll ask the
question and rush from the tea-table to
the door, followed by his wondering
wife and children.
A procession of four of his neighbors
was coming up from his garden gate.
At the gate stood horse and a light
express wagon, and from the wagon the
four men had lifted an inanimate body
and were bearing it toward the house.
"The 6 O'Clock express has run off
the track, mile or two up the valley"
said Deacon Jones, as he and his two
SONS and his brother.in-l reached
the porch with their senseless burden.
"Ever so many people hurt, but able
to go on as soon as they got rishted.
But this poor fellow is so nearly dead
that we thought We had better bring
him here, being as it was the nearest
house, and send for the doctor. We
knew that your wife could nurse him
back into health again if any one could,