Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-10-13
ONLY A BREAKMAN.

"ACcIDENT.-An extra freight train
on the b. & c. 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
" escaped injury. a breakman by the
name of Marshall was the only person
killed"
II was only short dispatch cast into
one corner of the morning paper, amid
q 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 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 at Carlyle--noL 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
q 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 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 i'll for some
time, and had nothing to disturb me
but my thoughts.
"Well, Billy, how's No. 81" a voice
suddenly asked, as the outside door
was pushed ajar.
"One hour late" | replied, hastily;
and then, looking up, | saw Tom Mar
shall, a breakman Oh the last freight,
filling up the doorway. Come inside
and have q chair, Tom," | added, as |
recognized the face of my questioner.
"Only for moment tonight" he
answered me, as he sat down on my
invitation, his lantern resting between
his feet on the floor. have q 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 'tis said they
are engaged, You know" And | looked
up Mt his strong Saxon face from
where lay stretched on u 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 IL week, you know; but do
the best | can"
"Then it il serious, Tom?" | asked;
for liked this broad shouldered, fair
haired fellow, breakman though he
was.
al am afraid it s with me, Billy" he
replied, his eyes gazing steadfastly at
the lantern between his feet. "But,
good night; must go; shall zee 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
thugs-thought them over again and
again. had known Tom for two years,
and | liked the hoy. | 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 knet ut her
feet. Ever since Tom first sought her
society | wondered Mt his welcome. 1t
seemed SO strange Il thing to me that
one so proud OF her position, 80 thor
oughly II slave to society as Kate Carr
appeared to be, should 80 openly en-
thn uti of
freight hrakeman-a man of whose fam
lily connections we knew nothing, and
whose only wealth WAS his monthly
pay. Still Tom was Il young and good
looking fellow enough, and, perhaps
after all, she was little vain of hay
ing 40 handsome asultor, even though
40 poor, TO add To her lengthy string of
victims. | never could believe that
she had the heart to return his great.
honest love- and be willing in exchange
10 sacrifice all her hopes and pride for
his sake and then, besides, rumor had
1t that George BallOu, the son of a rich
banker of n neghboriug town had 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 | was
not busy, and wondered in my own
heart how it could end
Tom never came back to the depot
that night, though | looked for him,
and his train left eastward while was
taking my breakfast Mt the ally hotel
the place afforded, and l caught but
glimpse OF him as they swung round
the curve. | afterwards heard the
whole story from his lips, but Gao tell
ii hest for myself. From his car he
=. passed up the long hill to the Carr
mansion where twinklng among the
trees, determined to learn his fac from
Hates own lips that very night. The
parlor- wiudows were dark when he as
cended the stone steps and rang the
bell, and the servant who answered it.
recognized his face, told him he would
find Miss Kate i'll the garden. In the
moonlight, dreaming the ever-new
dream of love, he passed with quick
step down the gravel path by the we'll
trimmed ilower-heds TO where the
summer-houSe, thickly shaded by
chnging vines, stood at the further end
This was her fayorite resting place, and
many pleasant hour came flooding
his mind, passed there with her-his
queen. As he approached now, he
was surprised To hear, borne on the
still night air, the tone Of voices III
earnest conversation. In all Toms
nature there was nothing cowardly,
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 Mar
shsll2'
1t was almost a question, and the
silent listener outside in the moonlight
bent forward to catch the low tones of
the reply.
"0h, George, how could you? Why,
he's nothing but freight breakmsn
What would papa say if he heard
thatF"