National Republican., 1885-06-13
TRAIN TALK.

A aewly.married couple were en- route
to Washington by the Baltimore and Ohio.
There are many tunnels on this road the
other side of the Ohio river. All through
Ohio the face Of the young man wore
occasional looks Of pain; despite his great
Joy. He seemed to want something. APP
parently he yearned. Over in West Vir-
ginia the train entered tunnel. Upon
emerging into tho light the young mans
face was seen to wear studious express
sion. He was thinking. At first he
seemed perplexed, then interested, then
triumphant He had had a revelation.
Then ho smiled with firm, manly, con-
tinuous smile, and his eyes peered ahead
for the frat sign of q yawning cavern
in the mountain side. Tho bride
was happy and demure. Whish-
shadows s-rumble-darkness. The veil
is drawn. 1t is another tunnel. Light
again, and the young mau looks hap
pier than ever. The brides cheek dis
ports gentle blush--a modest, expert
enced blush. discoverable only to the
initiated and envious. No perplexity,
no anxiety now. The revelation has
been tested and found a success. There
are many tunnels, but not enough. II
the whole line were tunnel the bride
and groom would not care how slow the
train proceeded. The man who has not
lived TO bless tho builder of tunnels does
not know what happiness is. He is but
little above the brute which never
troubled the Creator for passing clouds
over the moon on prayer meeting nights
But our bridegroom was not one OF these
parties. Ho appreciated all the blessings
which man and nature had bestowed
upon him. He did not miss tunnel.
But all things must have an end. Day
light always comes to the newly married.
Strawberries and cream must be paid for
at the cashiers desk. Within the blissful
cucumber hides a microbe, Our young
husband goes for drink of water. While
ON this errand his eagor eye catches the
signs of another tunnel. OF course he
fears his birdie will be sore afraid If left
alone la the darkness, and ho hastens TO
hor side Quick are his feet, but faster
moves the train, Darkness gathers whilo
he is yet half dozen seats away. But
the bravo man does not falter He gropes
along, he reaches the seat (or thinks he
does) and slides into ii. Deep are the
shadows, and huns the train.
A scream, long aud vigOrous-a sound
OF seufhing-a thump or two-and the
bright light of May day breaks upon
the scene. The young husband frantically
endeavOrs to disengage himself from the
grssp of an angry colored woman sitting
n the seat just behind the bride. Ho at
Kpnth succeeds, and retires sullenly to his
SCAT, wiping his mouth and occasionally
splitting upon the floor rs If he had bitten
through worm in fig.
The tunnels come and go, but their
shadows arc scarcely deeper than those
upon the faco of the young honeymoon.
Did you ever notice how woman
crosses a railway track? She approaches
with great caution, her skirts In hand,
and looks anxiously up and down to see
If any trains are approaching. She is
quite deliberate and thorough in this
look. If there is no train in sight she Is
usually so slow that one comes along be-
fore she has satisfied herself. Then she
falls back from the track about twenty
feet and waits five minutes until the train
comes up aud whizzes by. Nor does she
step immediately upon the track; she is
not so reckless. Well does she know that
the train that has just passed is likely to
stop suddenly and run backward. She
waits until that danger is over, and then,
II no other trains are In sight, she yen-
lures TO start. Suddenly, behind freight
car. she ospies switch engine standing
still. With stifed shriok she hurriodly
retracos her steps. BY this time
she is nervous. Her eyes roll
from side to side, aud her hand
tTembles so violently as to shake the
mud off the skirts of her dress. No wo-
man crosses railroad track without got
sing nervous. She wouldn't be happy Ii