Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-05-25
w0MAN's WILL.

Business had brought me to the little
town of D.. up among the New Hamp-
shire hills, and here, much against my
will, was detained for several days while
waiting for instructions from my employ.
ers. The nearest periodic Il store was
twelve miles away, and without books or
Iapers. time hung heavy on my hands.
The only break in my monotOnOus life
was the arrival of the trains twice dav.
and in the dead calm of my existence this
little ripple of excitement became as much
circumstances. 1t was while lounging up.
on the platform that became acquainted
with George seaforth, engineer on the B.
C. and M. railroad.
He was man about thirty-6ve years Of
age. Not what would be called an educa-
His home was in c. where he had wife
and two children. He ran from c. to
D., and for two hours, while waiting for
the down train" he was in D..
The acquaintance at first begu to while
away an idle hour, on my part at least,
grew to strohg liking. and to-day there
is no one among my acquaintance. for
whom feel greater respect and esteem
than for George Seaforth.
He had been on the cars since he was
sixteen, first as train boy. then as brake
mau, fireman, and for the last ten years as
engineer.
You must have had some strange ad-
ventures in that time" said one day, as
we sat upon the platform of the little sta
tion waiting for the train.
'Strange adven, ures!" he repeated, TAX
! ing his pipe from his mouth. aid looking
meditatively across the green fields.
"Ssrangs a1vantnre,! Ym nay we'll
say that. sir. We train men ara always
having adventures
Suppose you tell me some of them,' -
| suggested"
"Well," looking at his watch, tas there's
plenty of time. [d'n't mind telling you
of one qneer one had six years come fall,
though don't often speak of it; for you
see when mans been face to face with
DEATH he can'C talk Of it very well.'
settled myself on the rough bench that
did duty as chair. as comfortably as
could took fresh cigar, and he began
ut happened in this way. was run
uing the old Lion from Lee to F ,irtnwn.
| If you know anything about New England.
you know that September is a great month
for fairs, and this particular September
was no exception to the general rule. We
had lots of extra work to do, but as we
had extra pay there was no grumbling. 1t
was toward the last of the month that the
| fair at M came off. Two or three extras
were put on, timed so as to run between
the regular traius. Jim Turner fred for
me then. Jim was as good fellow as ev r
lived, with but one fault he would GO off
on a time once in while. He didn't do
it very often, and as he'd do more work
than any man on the road, the COMPANY
kept him. But Jim had been pretty sober
lately. l believe he hadn't drank anything
got out of the habit of watching him, and
he went and came pretty much as he
chose.
"Well. we go. along all right this time,
till almost night. we stopped at D. for
wood and water. While we were waiting.
March, the depot-master, came along, and
says he, ''Seaforth, 1 want you TO do me a
favor"
"What is 1t ?" says I, for March and 1
we're pretty good friends.
Jewell. says he, there's young wo-
man here who wants to go to Fairtown,
and she hasn't a cent of money. She came
here to get work. and she's lost her pocket
book, and hasn't any way to get back
home. I don't feel at liberty to pass her
over the road. They'd been making row
about free passes). and she amt that sort
you'd feel like Offering money to. So 1
thought maybe you'd let her ride on the
engine'"
"Well, didn' t like to refuse M arch, for
as l SAID before, he and l we're good
friends. and he had done me many al good
turn; but must say the idea of having
woman in the cab all the wav to Fairtown.
wasn't very pleasant, and said 80 to
March. but he was bound to have her 60,
and said SO much that I finally told him
to bring her along. She came out upon
the platform. a little. pale faced thing,
who looked at me with great. frightened
eyes. as though she thought was bear,
and would eat her up as soon as we left
The station. March introduced her as Miss
Lord. and seemed to expect me to say
something to make her feel at home, but
W. all out of sorts, and only nodded In
4 suriy sort of way. I saw the tears come
into her eyes, and you better believe felt
kind of mean. but didn't say anything,
and March helped her on to the engine.
II saw her put out little white hand, |
not much bigger than chlld's and lav it !
IN his arm, as she said:
"'(iod bless you. MIR. March,
"And then 1 went off to look for Jim,
who was late.
IL found him the other side of the depot, J
with two-gallon can of kerosene in his I
hand.
''sYou see, he said, as asked rather
sharply where he'd been, can get this
good deal cheaper here than at Fairtown, ,
an my wife thinks it's sight better,
too.'
"'Well, come along said, for we're
two minutes behind time now
when We had got back to the engine