The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-24

We didn't wait for an income to
marry on, little Kate and I. We had
no rich relations to leave us legacies
or to send pearlnecklaces, diamond or
namcnts, or thousand dollar bonds
for wedding presents. Twas simply u
brakeman on the Eastern Michigan
railway, long and lonely stretch of
rails over desolate marshes, steep
mountain grades, and solitary sweeps
of prairie land; she was the bright-cycd
waitress in one OF the restaurants
along the line. But when fell from
the platform when the great accident
happened, you heard OF the great ac-
cident, l suppose, when thcrcwas such
a shocking loss OF life-it was Kate's
care and nothing else that brought me
back into the world had so nearly
quilted for good and all!
81 would have done it for anybody,
Mark" said she, when tried to thank
her.
would you?" said I. "But it isn't
everybody that would have done it
for me, Kate!"
So asked her to marry me, and she
said yes. And took little cottage
on the edge of the Swampscott woods,
and furnished it as we'll as ! could,
with u red carpet, checsecloth curtains
at the windows, real Connecticut
clock. and set of walnut chairs that
! made myself, with seats OF rushes,
woven in by old Billy, the Indian, who
carried his baskets and mats around
the country, and Mrs. Perkins, the
parsons wife, madeus n wedding cake,
and so we were married. Pretty soon
found out that Kate was pining q
little.
"What is it, sweetheart" said L.
Remember, it was contract between
us that we We're to nave no secrets
from each other! Areyou not perfectly
happy?"
ooh, yes, ycs!" cried Kate, hiding
her face on my shoulder. "But it's
my mother, Mark. She's getting old,
and ii could only go East to see her,
Just once before the Lord takes her
away"
1t was then l felt the sting OF my
poverty most. Ii had only been u
rich man to have handed her out q
check, and said: "Go Mt once" l
think could have been quite happy.
"Ncrer mind, sweetheart" said 1
stroking down her hair. "We'll lay
up II few dollars from month to month,
and you shall 60 out and see her be-
fore she les!"
And with that little Kate was forced
to be content. But there was hun
CRY homcSick look upon her face which
went to my heart to see.
"lf was RICH" kept saying to my
self. ooh, if was only rich!"
One stormy autumn night we were
bclated on the road, for the wind was
terrible, shaking the century old pines
and oaks, as ii they werenothing more
than tall swamp grasses, and driving
through the ravincs with u shrek and
n howl like whole pack OF hungry
wolves. And the heavy rains had
raised she streams so that we were
compelled to 90 carefully and slowly
over the bridges and keep q long look
ahead for fear OF accidents.
was standing at my post, in front
OF the second passenger car, stamping
my feet on the platform to keep them
warm, and hoping little Kate would
not be pertulbed at my long absence,
when the news agent came chuckling
out:
We're to stop ut stumpville sta
ton" said he.
Nonsense" said I, 81 know better.
This train never stops short of Wau-
kensha city, least OF all when we are
running to make up for lost time, as
we are tonight"
"Oh, but this is an exceptional oc-
casion," said Johnny Mills (Which was
the news agents nancy "We're GO
ing to put an old woman off, She has
lost her ticket, she says. More likely
she never had one. Goes on as though
she had her pocket picked"
Its most pity, isn't it, toput one
off tonight" said I. "Least OF all at
such u lonely place as Stumpville sta
ton, where there are only two houses
| and blacksmith shop"
Eyes, know" said Mills, adjusting
the newspapers that he carried in a
rubber case under his arm. But the
superintendent of the roadha got out
q new set OF instructions, and he's
that particular that Jones wouldn't
dare overlook acaselike this. There's
been so many confidence games play.
ed on he road lately"
(Which is the one?" said I, turning
to look at the end window OF the car
which was at the rear.
Don't you see? The old party at
the back OF the two fat women in the
red shawls. She's haranguing Jones
now"
~ sec," said I. It was little old
woman in black silk poke bonnet. a
respectable cloth cloak, bordered with
ancient fur, and long, green veil, who
was earnestly talking and gesticulating
with the conductor. But he shook his
head and passed on, and she sank
back in a helpless littleheap behind the
green veil, and could see her take q
small handkerchieffrom small basket
and put it piteously to her eyes.
cts too bad,' said l. Clones
might remember that he once had--if
he hasn't now a mother of his own"
"And lose his place on the road"
said Mills. mo, no, old fellow, allthat
sort OF thing does very well to talk
about, but it don't work in real life. 4"
So he went into the next car, and
the signal to slack up came presently.
turned to Mr.. Jones, the conductor,
who just then stepped out on theplat-
form.
as it for that old lady?" said I. He
answered, "Ycs." Said l, show fat
did she want to go?" "To Swamp
scott" said he.
you needn't stop, Mr.. JONES'" said
], "Tll pay her fare"
"You!" he echoed.
eyes, L." said l. "I'll take her to
my own house until she can telegraph
to her friends or something. My wife
will be good to her, know, for the
sake vi her own old mother out east!'
",lust as youplease, said Mr.. ones
"But when you've been on the road
as long as | have, you'll find that this
sort OF thing doesn't answer"
81 hope l shall never be on the road
too long to forget my Christian chart
ty," | answered, little nettled. And
] took out my worn pocket book and
handed over the money.