National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-18
THE FIREMAN.
An Idyl OF the Rond, by Flora Hnines
Apponyi.

An Idyl OF the Road, by Flora Haines
Apponyi.
Two o'clock on February afternoon,
on the northern confines of tho Mojave
desert, tho southern train. like some
huge tire-eyed serpent, trailed its sinuous
length uorthward. The passengers looked
YEARLY out of the car window upon
monochromatic picture, in dull tones of
gray, the heavy leaden hues extending
even to the distant hills which bordered
the horizon and the brooding sky above.
Three hundred miles farther south the
very isolation and sterility of the great
desert waste invests tho region with q
charm all its own, AID mparts peculiar
interest to each bit OF rock, sprig of vegc-
tation, or rarcr token of animal life. On
the Mojave the traveller is oppressed with
the sense of the hopelessly commonplace.
The level and sterile ground, lying in
close proximity to productive and fertile
districts, the ranks of tall cacti, filing in
endless succession at all angles from his
line of vision, the scanty vegetation and
why grasses, which only serve to accent
uate the poverty of the soil, and the
occasional dusty roads, circling about the
aimless wanderers, weigh down upon the
helpless mediocrity of an individual to
to whose society he is condemned.
Were any element needed to emphasize
the forlorn situation, il was supplied in
the abortive attempt at a town, where
the train slowly drew tn stand. In the
rear of the long railroad warehouse, and q
hundred yards across a stretch of gray
sand, which repeated in its dull neutral
tints the prevailing tone of the landscape
for miles around, row of pretentious
business houses had been marshaled into
existence, and gazed forth upon the world
in painful vacuity Of purpose; yet in their
dismal fronts and empty, staring windows
lurked suggestion of guilt, like human
beings who are conscious of having missed
their destiny; and various aggressive sign:
'. - -L--t"-oa ,.iudauts and
impression.
The Pullman conductor, blandly apollo
getic, mildly sympathetic advanced
through the car, stopping for few words
at each section. Behind him came the
conductor of the train, lofty and inexora-
bic. A new washout had occurred fifty
miles farther on, and the train had orders
to stop at Mojave until the road was re
paired.
The passengers looked out upon the
town with newly acquired personal in
terest, and smiled grimly at its cherries
aspect. group of lowly cabins would
have seemed more in accord with the
scene, and offered some suggestion of
lowly comfort but the double row OF
snowy modern buildings struck sharp
discord in the melancholy waste. like the
tinkling notes of fashionable waltz
sounded in the midst of funeral dirge,
recalling the mind from the woes of the
grave to the vain frivolities and shallow
ambitions of life.
The last persons to descend from the
sleeper were an elderly gentleman and Il
young lady, the former leaning heavily
about them with the helpless air of
strangers unused to travel and its attend
ant train of misadventures.
If you please" The girl addressed
stout young fellow hurrying past, whose
backened hands and grimy countenance
surmounted by a close-itting cap pro
claimed him to be the fireman of the To-
connective. With the quick response of a
man accustomed to obey orders with un-
questioning promptitude, he Immediately
came to u stop, and, touching his cap
courteously, awaited what she mad to say.
wish you would direct us to some
quiet place. My father is an invalid and
cannot bear the noise and disturbance of
hotel" Her voice, though gently
modulated, had in it the subtle accent of
command with which well-bred person
addresses an inferior.
The man hesitated and looked away
before replying. With unusual tact, he
appeared to grasp at once the full per-
plexity Of the situation.
The car is at your service, you know;
but presume that would be even worse
than hotel, with the constant switching
up and down the track. As to the town,
with the exception of two badly-kept
eating houses, it's really dead letter.
still, there may be chance at Granniss's.
Well see."
He had taken from her hands tho small
travelling bag the girl was carrying, and,
giving the invalid the support of his arm,
led the way across the stretch of sand
which interviewed between the railroad
building and the outposts of civilization
beyond. over the young lady's face
Hlckered q monentary smile, half amaze
ment, nall veXatlon, rs she realized the
odd ompanonship which she had un-
thinkingly invited. NOquestion of social
distinctions vexed the invalid, who was
too glad to have strong arm upon
which to lean to ask tho material
IN the stuff that covered it.
A keen wind swept down from
VIZ HNAehNNoNi illluR NLclT eyes WIN butlu
and cinders as they plowed their way
through the soft soil. Gaining the side
walk ut length, they passed along over
successive grades and varieties of plank
ing, 10 where restaurant sign swung
laaily in the breeze. Here their guide
paused and took Il brief survey of the
premises through the uncurtained win
doSs. The long room WAS untenanted,
save by u half dozen large tables, set OF /
with cheap casters and stoueware, as if in
expectation of coming guests, but the
thick coating of dust over napory and
dishes, and the testoons of cObwebs which
hung from the low ceiling and had been
permitted to gather undsturbed about
tho dreary equipment Of tho tables,
seemed TO indicate that the arrival of
hungry guests had been long deferred.
If Miss Wilbur was disposed TO cherish
any romantic notions in regard to tho Gu
rious, scene, her guide was prompt to
dispel Thorn.
"Granniss set up restaurant" no ex-
planned, lOconiCally. Busted the first
week. on to the mines, and loft his wife
here to make out the best she can. They
must have spare rooms up stairs, and she
looks like tidy body"
sad-eyed little woman, with two chill
dren hanging to her skirts, answered