The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-07-26
"MUCH ADO" ETC.
A True story.

A True Story.
'Papa, | want TO go TO Hartford with
youh called out little Lofty Park, as she
saw her father open the door to go down
stairs, for it was almost train-time, and
Mr.. Park was station-agent at West
Warng.
Not to-day, Lofty. I can't go till
tomorrow; you may come along then,
if mamma says So
The next morning, Lofty was duly
dressed in her prettiest clothes, and
looking like a dolly, only far sweeter
and prettier than the best of dollies,
she went down to the platform, for Mr..
Parks house was the upper story of
the picturesque passenger depot.
Before long the train came screaming
and Kissing in from the west, and MIR.
Park locked up the office and came out
to where Lofty stood. Tom Scott, the
baggage-master on the train, looked
out of the sliding door to see Lofty, for
whom he was always prepared with a
flower, an apple, bit of candy, or
some other dainty, for he loved the rosy
little thing dearly, and all the more that
his own little girl lay asleep in the
Sharon graveyard.
Mr.. Park swung Lofty up into Tom
SCOTS arms, "Herer' said he; "check
this bit of baggage through to Hart
ford
Catching her, with laugh and
kiss, he sat her down on big trunk
and gave her cooky out of his dinner
pail.
just then Mr.. Park caught sight of
the very man on whose account he was
going in to Hartford. Mr.. Coe was a
manufacturer in Waring and there had
been trouble about his freight rates,
which Mr.. Park had to 90 into the office
OF the road to see about; he had not pot
all the information he wanted, for MIR
Zoe had been West, but here he was.
Just come back, on his way to the
Maring station, half u mile below
West Waring.
80 MIR. Park talked to him all the
tlme the engine was taking in water,
ana then got into the car and sat beside
MN, still talking so earnestly that he
got off at the Waring station, quite
iorgetful of Lofty, Hartford and eyery-
thlng else, and followed Mr.. Coe to the
wagon which was waiting for him IN
ms earnestness to fully inform himself
about this matter.
Inc elatter of car wheels called
MN back in moment; the train was
on oil beyond his reach, but il would
go easily down to the Tuck Junction.
lew rods off, and stop there, accord
ing TO law, to cross the other track.
M Fark tore after ii like crazy man,
caught ms foot in rail, fell, scrambled
up ana rushed on, but all too late!
Inc train hissed away far ahead of
the frantic follower; there was but one
inlng to do: telegraph to the next sta
tIon, East Hartland, to have her put off
tigre and sent back on the next train.
le ran back to the Waring station,
put the telegraph operator had gone
i.e holle 10 dinner, and he had to hunt
.nl! nm up and get the key; but now the
laln was overdue at East Hartland, he
must signal to Parsonsville.
ms village happened to be a mile
from its station, and before tbe o,oya-
.or could send up MESSAGE the train
nad gone. Mr.. Park could have cried
10 he nad been woman being a man,
- expressed his distress otherwise, but
y iulte as forcibly. The next thing was
70 signal Hampton.
n ASK Conductor Cone to stop train NJ
d.. d, brook siding; fetch girl Tom Scott
me train in from Waring went on to
q sung Just before You reached Hamp-
.on' anu waited for the Hartford train
,',.l oem minutes. AT Hampton the tele-
SraPh operatorwas also gone to dinner
-.o No answer came back tin Mr.. Park was
.y .eauy TO despair, then it said "Both
uaIns ~, gone before your message came. y
Ihere was but one thing left to do
nO% auS ne must telegraph to Hartford,
aiua. SGu another message spun along the
G ASH Cone to fetch the little Girl Tom
Se9It gI, took in out on the evening train. =
Inc answer that came hack was
uieaGiui 70 the anxious father.
NJ iom Scott left train at Wintonbury.
NO child on board.''
t.; oe sure Tom Scott's old mother
aNeu az Wintonbury. Once a week he
sooPped on the train at this last station
,Sose ~ pee her' and took the return train
snd NIL, / Ior she was very old and infirm,
"un lately had been dangerously I'M.
% put " No child on board ~ What
vouiu y TINS meanP Had Lofty run into
si; sre next car to find her father and
c,,lIeu calII unseen between the cars, while |
ana eless i Iom stepped off at Wintonbury
-" 'nought no more about herP Oh, |