The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-11-22

II bad been snowing steadily all d
long. not Ia . boistsrous. tsmpsstue
vsy. but quietly and psssistsnsly. = u y
fsathery fakes which vsre npidiy pilis
themselves one upon another on the frcs
ground had como for : long stay. Toval
sisht the wind began 10 rise. and wbs
darkness settled down moderate winter
storm va raging.
We wsrs waiting in the littls ststiou |
L. for the down train. tclssrsphed .
hour and hall behind time. and we're er
desvoring TO keep warm around the sma
air tight stove which served ~ the onl
heating medium IN the low studded room
L. is place Of little importance el
cspt ~ . railroad center, for hors "
trunk lines cross each other, and Il Il ale
tho point where locomotives are changes
on the different trains. With the excep
tion Of the hustle and excitement inciden
70 . Junction station there was but little !.
aitsAsS srssusist. ard ths low sstsrA
charms the place possessed. Al this tim,
we're hidden bedesth the soft covering o.
. snow. So the weary walters we're forced
BY dsarth Of amusement. - we'll ~ ths
storm, 10 while away The tims - best they
could in the dingy depot The different
time tables wore psrused. the flaming sd-
vertisements scrutinized. all to no purpose
for tho hands OF the monotonous ticking
clock crept around tho dial with that tar
dy pace peculiar to railroad time pieces
when one Is waiting for bclated train.
Tho conductor who WAS to take charge
Of the express came in TO warm his hands
BY the little stove. and soon the party Was
increased BY the engineer. whose machine
could be dimly seen far down the track,
rcady for its expected charge
bad night, Bob" said the conductor.
Better come in and warm up. We shan't
start for an hour yet"
The engineer made some reply. and
joined the circle around the stove. He
was man Of slight build and dropping
shoulders and perhaps not up to the aver.
age height. Rather sffeminate at first
sight. until one noticed the square. firm
chin, the quick, steady eyes. aud the lines
about the mouth which showed that be-
meath the calm face and quiet manner lay
the will both to do and dare. He had
been selected especially to run this night
express on account Of the danger Of the
position. for the down train was frequently
late. and the lost time must be made up
before reaching the end Of the road in or
der to meet connections. Time and again
nothing but the GOODNESS and judgement
81 the engineer had brought this train to
ts destination in safety, and Bob Jennings
iad been remarkably fortunate, and had
lcver met with . serious accident. The
'unning Of the two trains up to L-- and
back constituted his days y ork. The po-
ition was . responsible one, the remuner
'tion good, and the Job, ~, they termed.
t. was looked upon with eyes Of envy by
Bob's fellow engineers.
After some minutes passed in converse
ion between the engineer ard conductor
he latter suddenly remarked:
How was it. Bob, yos happened to get
his express? The superintendent Of the
Portland 4 Ogdensburg helped you to it
iidn't he. on account Of that affair up in
he mountains? Tell us about it,"
"Yes, yes, spoke up several who had
overheard the conversation. "Let US have
he story by al means.
"Well. boys" said Bob. g. he bit off .
generous chew and deposited the quid
ovingly in his cheek, "it amt much Of .
'arn. and it'll make you laugh, for you'll ,
hink me spooky like. Howf,omsver. its
rue as Gospel. and il Dan was hero he'd
~ 80 too" I,
ut was when was runDin' 40 on the
J. & o. road. which hadn't bser goin' ,
nore'n couple Of years. You may. per.
laps, b acquainted with the line. She ]
uns through the White Mountain Notch, Z
nd 10 built right on the side ofthc hills.
low they ever had the spunk to start such I
road beats me, for at first sight 1t seems i
ext to hopeless to get around some Of
hem short curves. to say nothing OF tho +
ig up.grades. Near Crawford's is that
pider-likc Frankenst elm trestle. We lived h
} Portland then, Nell and /. She is my 4
life, and We was as happy As could be. 0
he only drawback was that every other i
ight ! had to take the late express up to !,
abysn's and come back next day on the
Nell used TO be afraid to Z
ave me go. particularly as the road Was b
sw, aud accidents would happen in spite .,
oil ws could do. kept telling her il I
~ safe enough and the pay WAS good. 90 .,
had better stick 70 my place fors while O.
AWAY, though TO tell the sruth / didn't b,
10 the route, twas 20 awful gloomy like Ii
o big towns to go through, only now and &C
Yen . little village, and they would be - x
lrk and quiet - graveyard when ws d
ruck EN- at night. Sumwers IL want 80 "
ld. but winters was awful. Well. one 10
ght in January. when it was my turn to y
~ in Portland the superintendent sent th
Z me aud said: n
bob, there's party Of directors Who u
ant V 80 through The mountAins tonight. b.
ID they're going 10 start sbout 10 o'clock. "
u have 70 send special. but haven't Ii,
! engineer that I can trust Now. it's II
'ur night OF. I know, but il you'll pull 10
. throttle for them fellows I'll make IL 81
right With You" ia
"weIl." said !, IN 60. Of course, but b.
: going 70 b bad night among the n
umnisina