The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-27
ICHABOD'S MISSION.
n the Continent.


been selected for rostrum. "All things have
gone crooked in this world, and I've come to
set em straight-to undo the snarls. give the
power where it belongs and put men in their
places. Oh-h-h, my friends The world
is topsy-turvy; the tops at the bottom and
the bottoms at the top and I've come to
turn things right end up."
The o'clock whistle had sounded the
close of another days work at the shops, and
the men. pouring out from the various
smoke-stained archways paused to listen. 1t
was motley grouD-some bedaubed with
many colors from the paint rooms, some
with grimv hands and faces from foundry or
machine-shop, while farther back on the
long platform that extended along the track,
were gathered that inevitable adjunct OF any
csowd, the boys, and a sprinkling of women
some of the latter with children in their
arms. The speakers excitement seemed to
deepen as his audience increased. The keen
eyes under the old hat darted lightning-like
glances here and there; he gesticulated wild
ly and his voice rose to a still higher pitch.
''Oh-h-h yes! Look at mel Pm Ichabod
Turner, and the mission I'm sent on is to
mend all crookedness and turn things right
end up!''
The men seemed to find grim pleasure in
the harangue. They laughed as they ex-
changed comments
Chosen a good point to begin at, eh,
Jack?' questioned one.
II should say sol He'll have tough con-
tract, even if he doesn't extend his terri
tory"
Coin to set all things straight It'll take
mightier than you to do that job. l wish
to massy he'd begin it soon" murmured an
old woman on the platform as she picked up
her bundle and trudged on again.
| The two men looked after her and the
elder shook his grizzed head.
Poor SOUL No doubt things seem crooked
enough to her. her boy crushed between
the cars last year. Does seem as if somebody
might invent way to get along with killing
fewer brakemen."
jim Barclay, sauntering down the long
walk stopped before bright young girl who
had paused for a moment on the outer edge
of the crowd.
IF that fellow would begin his work by
altering the days ard nights a little, or my
means of enjoying them, I'd be obliged to
him." he laughed.
The girl turned with a little start of sur
prise and pleasure.
why Jim!" Then a glance at his lunch
basket brought the swift question: You're
| not going out tonight? It's not your run. >"
! ~ must make it. though, they say. It's
an extra train, and they're short of men,
somehow-off or disabled. feel considera-
| bly, disabled myself"
| you were out last nightW
And all the night before and nearly all
yesterday. didn't get in to-day until after
noon, and l was scarcely settled into a COM
Portable sleep before 1 was called. I'm not
| fit to go, that's fact. Don't worry, Dell"
He broke off his sentence abruptly, as he
saw the shade OF anxiety on his companions
fair face. ut doesn't happen so often.
They're short you see,"
| htrft tn of oil fal
! Dell, Indignantly. Il wouldn't GO"
Then my head would come off at short
notice." laughed Jim. 1--WE can't afford
that"
Pretty Dell flushed rosily. She knew so
we'll what that meant. There was little
house talked over and arranged, to every de-
tail of its simple furnishing, for which they
two were planning when Jim should obtain
his hoped-for promotion.
mo, 1 won't insure any necks tonight,
| but I'll take the risk Of crushing few other
peoples heads rather than the certainty of
losing my own" laughed Jim. cts pity
that fellow who is so sure OF his mission
| couldn't turn my brains right side up; they
| feel crooked enough. But don't worry,
| DELL" he repeated hurredly.
The crowd began to thin. Hungry men,
swinging their empty dinnerpails, presently
! found the prospect of supper more alluring
| than the strangr's promised millennium.
Jim looked at his watch and found he had
not even five minutes to spare for a part of
! the homeward walk with Dell. He parted
| from her with a reluctant goodbye, and she
| walked away alone. She had gone but a few
| steps, however, when she turned and looked
| back
You'll be careful, Jim2 Don't let any
| thing happen"
why, DELL" he laughed, half touched.
| half wondering. II oughtn't to have talked
| such nonsense. Don't be uneasy"
| She smiled in answer, and the cloud slowly
| faded from her face as she walked on. A
call for extra service was no cause tor serious
| trouble-all these exigencies were so familiar
! to her. Bell and whistle, messenger and dis
patch, with their always imperative and Of
| ten unwelcOme orders were a part of the
daily life. Jim would be tired and worn out,
| of course. That had happened often, and
doubtless must happen again, but her
thoughts turned to pleasanter pictures of the
| future-to arranging once more that tiny
| house with its dainty rooms. which should
| be very haven of rest to one who came home
weary. She paused on the long iron bridge,
! and looked down on the network of tracks
below, crossing and interlacing in a seeming
| ly inextricable tangle.
The gray twilight OF the short autumn af-
! ternoon was already deepening toward night,
and the headlight of the engines, passing and
repassing us they changed from one track to
! another, shone out brilliantly. Men were
running here and there, waving their signal
lanterns and shouting hoarse orders that
to one unintiated only mingled
confusedly with the heavy breathing of the
locomotives and the clangor of bells. Farther
back looming in rugged outlines against the
faint rose of tine western sky. were the great
shops, grim and silent. The brown eyes
watching from the bridge presently dis
covered the figure they sought winding its
way in and out among the trains. He did
not look up, and the girl smiled at the
thought OF watching him, herself unobserved
| Then her face grew grave and sweet with a
Passing fancy that so, from their height
above the din and turmoil, the unseen angels
| look down upon our mortal life.
only, | suppose all the tangles and be-
| wilderments grow clear to them, as am sure
they do not to me" she added with a little