The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-16

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 shadow Of anxiety on his
companions fair face. ut doesn't
happen SO often. They're short. you
see."
at oughn't to happen at all" insist
ed Dell, Indignantly. 81 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 well what that meant. There was .
little house talked over and arranged to
every detail of its simple furnishing, for
which they two were planning when
Jim should obtain his hoped-for promo
| ton.
mo, l won't insure any necks to-
night, but I'll take the risk of crushing
a few other peoples heads rather than
laughed Jim. ats pity that fellow
who is so sure of his mission couldn't
turn NV brains right side up; they feel
crooked enough. But don't worry,
DELL" he repeated. hurriedly.
The crowd began to thin. Hungry
men, swinging their empty iinner-psils,
presently found the prospect of supper
more alluring than the strangers
promised millennium. Jim looked at
his watch, and found he had not even
five minutes to spare for part of the
homeward walk with Dell. He parted
from her with reluctant good-by. and
she walked away alone. She had gone
but few steps, however, when she
turned and looked back.
You'll be careful, Jim? Don't let
anything 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 for serious trouble-all these ext
gencies were so familiar to her. Bell
and whistle, messenger and dispatch,
with their always imperative and often
unwelcome orders, were part of the
daily life. Jim would be tired and
worn out, of course. That had hap
pened often, and doubtless must hap
pen again, but her thoughts turned tc
pleasanter pictures of the future-to ar
ranging once more that tinv house with
its dainty room 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 net
work of tracks below, crossing and in
terlacing in a seemingly ineNtricable
tangle.
The gray twilight of the short autumn
afternoon was already deepening to-
ward night. and the headlights OF the
engines, passing and repassing as they
changed from one track to another,
shone out brilliantly. Men were run
ming here and there. waving heir sig
nal lanterns, and shouting hoarse orders
that to one uninitiated only mingled
confused with the heavy breathing of
locomotives and the clangor of bells.
Farther back, looming in rugged out
lines against the faint rose of the west
ern sky, were the great shops, grim and
silent. The brown eyes watching from
the bridge presently discovered 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 unob-
served. Then her face grew grave and
sweet with a passing fancy that so,
from their height above the din and tur-
MOL, the unseen angels look down up
on our mortal life.
"Only, l suppose, all the tangles and
bewilderments grow clear to them. as l
am sure they do not to me-" she added,
with little sigh. "And their watching
is of some use, while mine can not help
poor jim"
He had some need of help as the eve
ming wore on, though he but dimly rea-
lizsd it. Getting everything in readi-
ness for starting was harder work than
usual. There was dull pain in his
eyes and trobbing in his temples.
This trips rather rough on you,
Jim?" remarkeda fireman, half ques-
tioningly, half commiseratingly.
''Rather!" Jim laughed, family. 'I'm
stiff and used up, but I'll get ever it
when we're fairly off, 1 expect"
When the station with its din
and dancing lights was left be-
hind, however, and the long line
stretched away straight before
him, his occupation became but mere
routine so treacherously familiar that it
would scarcely hold his eyes or thoughts
Mechanically he attended to his engine,
with his mind straying far away from it
to Dell, and then running oddly into a
confused memory of the speaker at the
depot, until the swift movement of the
polished rods before him seemed the
motion of gesticulating arms. and the
sound in his ears resolved itself into a
measured monotonous repetition of
meaningless words &c Crooked and
straight! Right side up!''
Hello! Caught myself mapping, l
do believe! Jim Barclay, what are you
about? See here, Bill''-to his fireman
-"just keep an eye on me, will your"
The young engineer shook himself,
looked about him and stood stiffly erect.
He whistled tune vigorously to assure
himself that he was wide awake. What
a drowsy rockaby motion the train had!
Even the jar and rattle seemed to lull
and stupefy, though he stood erect at
his post. He was glad this sort of work
was nearly over. At least he hoped it
was nearly over, for he did not see how
the desired promotion could be much
longer delayed, and then such calls as
this would be fewer. He was looking
anxiously forward to the day when he
could carry the longed-for tidiEgs to
Dell. Dear little girl, how her face
would brighten What cosy, happy
home she could make! and she said the
curtains wouldn't cost anything. and
hammock on the porch to rest in.