Little Falls transcript., 1886-04-09
REVENGE OF A GIRL.

kENENUE UF A UlkL.
In 1865, having lost an arm in the
war, I accepted the quiet position OF
station agent at Big Lick Junction in
one OF the widest mountain sections
in Tennessee. The north and south
accommodation trains passed Big Lick
about IL in the morning, at which
hour the branch time train left for
| Riverville, the country east, and the
north bound express passed at II at
night. II I had passengers I stopped
her; if not, she thundered past the
junction at the rate OF thirty five miles
an hour.
One warm July evening l was wait
ing for the north express to pass. In
five minutes it would be due. Through
the still night air l could hear the
putting OF the locomotive, and at the
same time I saw a man hurrying up
the track. :He came almost BREATH
less into the depot and surprised me
by asking for a ticket to Nashville.
"Tm no tramp, but I haven't a
cent" said he. "Say quick, if you'll
let me have {, ticket for this, and stop
the express"
He threw down a curious old sleeve
button as he spoke, and I saw at q
glance that it was valuable. There
was only moment left, but l tried
to size the manup. Helooked strange,
somehow, but before / could deter
mine whether he was a scoundrel or a
crank gave him the ticket and went
out to wave my red light. AS the
train slowed up lie said:
"You needn't try to sell that trink.
ct; will be down here in week or
so and will redeem it by paying you
cash for the ticket. Much obliged to
you. Good night"
The sleeve-Dutton was Il large topaz
in quantity wrought silver setting.
Apart from its intrinsic value it was
quite u curiosity on account OF it's
evident age. AS I had but one shirt
sleeve it was as valuable to me as a
pair would have been to any other
man, and | wore the button acc ord
ingly. -.
A month later another strange visit
or came to Big Lick. this time a lady.
The train which daily made the round
trip on the branch line from Riverville
to the Junction and return one morn
ing brought a very beautiful young
lady. She was rather tall, with per-
feet figure. and face which, while it
was handsome in the extreme, was
particularly noticeable for it's deter
mined expression. 1t was fascinat-
ing face.
This young lady, who apparently
came to Big Lick with no particular
object, loitered along the road which
led over the mountains, loitered back
again and prepared to take her seat in
or so before.
She was very pleasant, said she was
staying at Riverville, but thought
she would like to sketch the wild
scenery in the neighborhood OF the
Juunction.
After the main line trains had cleared
away assisted her to the car. AS 1
did so displayed the sleeve button on
my cuff and as she caught sight of it 1
fancied that she started.
However, thought nothing much
OF that, because twenty people had
each asked twenty different questions
about it since it came into my DOS
session.
Well, the next day the lady came
again, this time bringing a. complete
artists outfit. For two weeks Miss
MiIner-she had introduced herself
had been q regular passenger on the
Riverville accommodation. She talked
to me a great deal more than she
sketched, and always about war. l
suppose at the end of those two weeks
I had told her of every item ofinterest
Tor otherwise) which had come in my
way during my army life. But she
never tired, and would ask a thousand
and one questions OF things I should
never myself have thought of.
Then for two whole weeks saw
nothing Of my amateur artist, when
one morning Miss Miner alighted from
the train and shook me most cordial
ly by the hand. The conductor had a
letter for ME. It was addressed to
'The Station Agent, Big Lick juno
tion.' I opened it and read:
"Please have the trinket left with
you by q stranger two months ago,
handy on Tuesday night. He will be
on hand to keep his promise, and will
want to take the express for Nash
Vile"
This was Tuesday, so that l had only
q short time to wear the button, which
| had begun to regard as my own.
Miss Miner stood near while I read
my letter, and when l was through
asked me if ] could give her ten min
utes of my time where we could talk
without fear OF disturbance. We went
into my inner Office and / locked the
door. Then she drew from her pocket
small revolver and the mate to my
sleeve button, laying them upon my
desk. A curious smile overspread her
face as she said: "Mr.. Norton,
the first time 1 came to Big
Lick, I came with no particular
purpose, merely to while away
an hour or two Of q summer day.
Every time ! have come since, until
to-day, / have carried this pistol, be-
ing pursuaded at first that you de-
served to be shot. I have been eager
to identify vpu, that / might have the
satisfaction of shoe ting you, and, be-
lieve me, ] should not have hesitated
for q moment had been convinced
. that you were indeed the man at
first supposed you to be. The last
day I was here had some doubts as
to my being on the right track. am
now satisfied that my suspicious were
totally unjust. Before I 60 any fur
ther, will you forgive me, and prom
ise me your friendship and aid il the