The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-10-18
HIIE FIREMAN.
An .DHL OF THE Mad, BY FLORA
HAINES APPONYI.

ioOhGu NCtui( Out Ol INC Car WINDOW
upon a monochromatic picture, in dul
tones of gray, the heavy leaden hue:
extending even to the distant hills which
bordered the horizon and the broodine
sky above. Three hundred miles fur,
Their South the very isolation and ster,
l'lty of the great desert waste invests
the region with a charm all its own and
imparts peculiar interest to each bit
of rock, spriS of vegetation, or rarel
token Of animal life. On the Mojave
the traveller is oppressed with the sense
of the hopelessly common
place. 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 scan
ty vegetation and why grasses, which
only serve to accentuate the poverty of
the soil, and the occasional dusty roads
csrcling about like aimless wanderers,
weigh down upon the hopeless medi-
ocrity CT an individual to whose society
he is condemned.
We're any clement needed to cmpha-
size the forlorn situation, it was sup
piled in the abortiye attempt at a town,
where the train slowly drew to stand.
In the rear Of the long railroad ware
house, and hundred yards across a
stretch Of gray sand, which repeated in
Its dull neutral tmts the prevailing
tone of the landscape for miles around,
a row of pretentious business houses
| had been marshaled into existence and
gazed forth upon the world in painful
vacuity Of purpose; yet III their dismal
fronts and empty, staring windows
lurkcd suggestion of guilt, like human
btllga who are conscious of having
missed their destiny; and. various ag-
gressive signs Haunted before suffered
windows and barricaded doors, helped
to deepen the impression.
The Pullman conductor, blandly apol-
osetic, mildly sympathetic, advanced
through the car, stopping for few
words at each section. Behind him
came the conductor of the train. lofty
and memorable. \ new washout had
occurred fifty miles fur
ther on, Al d the train had orders TO
stop at Nojave until the road was re-
paired.
The passengers looked out upon the
town with newly acquired personal in
terest, and smiled grimly at its cheer
less aspect. y group of lowly cabins
would have seemed more in accord
with the scene, and offered some sug-
sestion of lowly comfort; but the dou-
BE row of SNOWY modern buildings
struck a sharp discord in the melan-
choly waste, like the tinkling notes of
a fashionable waltz sounded in the
midst Of a 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 young lady. the former leaning
heavily on the arm of the latter. They
looked about them with the helpless
air Of strangers unused to travel and its
attendant train Of misadvcntures.
''lf you please" The girl addressed
a stout young fellow hurying past,
whose blackened hands and grimy
countenance, surmounted by a close
fltIin9 cap, proclaimed him to be the
fireman Of the locomotive. With the
quick response Of man accustomed
10 obey orders with unquestioning
promptita,Ic, he Immediately came to
a stand, and, touching his cap courte-
ously, awaited what she had to say.
Il wish you would direct us to some
quiet place Ny father is an invalid
and cannot bear the noise and disturb
ance of hotel" Her voice, though
gently moduIajed, had in it the subtle
accent Of command with which we'll
bred person addresses an inferior.
The man hcsitated and looked away
before replying, With unusual tact he
appeared to grasp at once the full per-
pleAity Of the situation.
The Car is at your service, you
know but / presume that would be
even worse than hotel, with the con-
slant switching up and down the track.
As to the town, with the exception OF
two badly kept eating houses, it's real
" dead letter. Still, there may be a
chance at Granni3s'. Wen see."
He had taken from her hands the
small travelling bag the glrl was carry
ing, and giving the invalid the support
of his arm, led the way across the
stretch of sand which interviewed be-
tween the railroad building and the
outPosts of civilization beyond. Over
the young lady's face aickered a mo-
mcntary smile, half amazemcnt, hall
vcxation, as she realized the odd COM
panionship which she had unthinkingly
invited. No question of social distinc-
tons vcxed the invalid, who was too
glad to have a strong arm upon which
to lean to ask the material in the stuff
that covered it. y keen wind swept
down from the Northeast, filling then
eyes with sand and cinders as they
plowed their way through the soft soil
Gaining the sidewalk at length, they
passed along over successive grades