The Monitor., 1888-06-15
WINNING HIS WIFE.

gineer, as he opened the draft of the little
caboose stove, lit his pipe with hot coal
and sat down on the edge of the bunk.
II don't know what | can find to talk
about, :" said the fireman, as he tilted his
chair back against the side of the car and
looked at the roof.
''Tell him how you got Lizzie, . said the
rear brakeman, who was whiting bass
wood broomstiek into a chain with twist
ed links and numerous little cages with
balls in them.
"That's as pretty story as ever heard
and Ed hasn't heard it, I'll bet
"Never heard how got my wife?" said
Billy.
"No," said the engineer, and immedi-
atey several of his companions remarked
that they had never heard the story and
were anxious to hear it,
"Well, said the fireman, sit amt much
of a love story, but its true and | never
have seen the day that l regretted it hap
pen!ng. | was running coal train on the
Susquehanna then with Big Jim at the
throttle and VIC never spoke from one days.
start to another. Not because we were
either of MS sulky but because Jim was
one of those silent fellows that did the
right thing at the right time and said moth
ing, but kept mp sight of thinking ali the
time. This got me in the habit of watch
ing the road pretty closely and studying
the country on my side so that | got to
know the faces of the people living in
every house along the line and could tell
a stranger every time | got to be pretty
near as glum as Jim on and off the train
and the boys thought me uIsocial know,
but all the time | was Keeping my eyes
open, and it seemed to me that knew as
many people along the road as anybody.
There was little old shanty in a hollow
just this side of the junction, that often
attracted my attention. II was close along
side of the railroad, and sat between two
Willows Just off the wagon road, with
smart and pretty brook running alongside
of it. used to think that If was the pret-
tiest place for a nice house between the
North River and the Gap, and wondered
that nobody lived there, for the house was
always vacant, the door hung OF and the
windows were broken cut, and everything
seemed gone TO rack and ruin. Only once
in two years did see sign Of human
being around the house, and then | judg-
ed that tramp had taken shelter for the
night.
One spring morning, six years ago, as
we were climbing the grade, | happened
to glance at the house and saw an old man
backing a wagon load of furniture up to
the door and an old woman looking on. 1t
was a mean looking lot Of furniture, look
ed picture ef poverty. OF course | didn't
have much time to see nything, but my
curiosity was excited, and on the after
noon run stood in the tender and took
good look. The horse and wagon was
gone, but could see that the folks had
cobbled up the door and swept the place
up little. Nobody was in sight. how
ever, though a thin smoke coming out OF
the chimney told me that the house was
occupied. Next day when we passed
saw mighty good looking young girl dip
ping up pail of water from the brook.
Then was gone. 1t was dead sure case
of mash at first sight, but it was all on my
side, for she did not see inc. Coming back
that day chucked off a big piece of coal
and il fell under one OF the trees. Now
wasn't like you brakemen; all the time
chucking coal off for friends along the
road. I've seen half ton of coal chueked
off for the widows and orphans many
trip. but il didn't come ont Of your pocket
and W ith us on the engine it's different
thing you know, 'canse we are allowed for
what coal we save and it's our owh look
out il We throw it away. Coming down
next day chncked off another hunk, and
afterward | noticed that the first piece
hadn't been touched. The gal was pick
ing up chips near the house whom | threw
the second hunk ont and she looked re-
proachfully at me. waved my hand and
laughed, bat could see that she didn't
like it. Coming back ! wrote on a block,
The coal is yours; we have to pay for it,
and ehuelad n of so that IL fell mar the