Connecticut western news., 1889-09-11

'.For the time being."
 \ STARTLING EXPERIENCE. Josie Mcclure was always plucky. Every one said so, and what every one says is pretty apt to have some truth in it. She was plucky from the hour of her birth, when, 8 poor, puny, post humous little creature, she was sent in- to the world to assuage the sorrow of . half-heart-broken widow-mother-a delicate creature whose near friends were few and whose resources were slender.
 Josie grew up the delight of her mothers heart. A quick-witted little red-haired termagant, some were pleased to term her, but these were, as . rule, such of her schoOlmates as had cause to fear her just wrath for mis- doings of their own. Big boys who tormented their smaller brethren and girls who stopped to petty meannesses were Josie's special detestation. But Josie's school life could not last as long as that of most girls. It came upon her all at once one day that she had mis- sion in the world, namely, to assist in providing for herself and her mother. l shall always believe that first put the notion in her head of becoming a telegraph operator. She used to come up to the depot of that sleepy village nearly every day on her way home from school and watch me at my work. l was station-master, train-dispatcher and general operator all in one.
 sI don't think I could ever learn to send . message" she said one day, az she stood watching me.
 ooh, yes, you could," I answered. ssID fact, think you'd soon become an expert"
 She looked up sharply with her bright, red-hazel eyes.
 "What made you think sop
 "Your quick nature and good sense, !" I said. s'I don't believe you'd ever lose your head"
 "No; I am pretty cool. Remem- Der when Crittenden's horse ran away with Grace and me? I made Grace drop out over the rear of the wagon. Neither of us was scratched. 1 was just as cool that moment as am now Grace was screaming murder"
 elf you had a position like mine, I laughed, "there wouldn't be much te scare you. It's all I can do to keeI swake-some days"
 sPd rather go farther Vest" sait Josie.
 Briefly it happened to suit her.
 She took a few lessons of me. gave her something of & stat. TheI she went to the city and took 8 regu lar course of instruction. The nex I knew she had been assigned to station five hundred miles furthe toward the setting sun. Her mothe and herself removed at once from ou midst and Josie was lost to mo, say for . sparkling little epistle l used t v,ocosuo xuool- for, dave Hotuil ing her various experiences.
 Pm sure don't know how I shoul, have gotten on without her letters, missed her so at first. It turne, frightfully dull and sleepy at my sta ton, but managed to keep awake an, attend to things as they deserved Several months passed. Winte slipped away and spring moved alon slowly. Josie's letters came regularl to gladden. my heart.
 0Haven't much excitement on here," she wrote. ssNo Indians an only an occasional train robbery. N smash-ups, no collisions, nothing live ly. Not many messages. Sometime think I'll call you up and chat 8 lii tie; then the roundabout way puts m out of the humor. Take a vacation an visit us soon. Mother will be so gla to see you. She's crazy about he chickens; raising an enormous nun Der. And such luck! They're are a ways falling into the soft-soap keg C something else. Mothers health just splendid. As for me, Pve gaine fifteen pounds" etc., etc.
 It was this that put the notion ini my head. I obtained substitute an took my vacation in early June.,
 The evening of the next day alighted from the way train at tl town where Josie and her motht liyed-at the station where Josie he sG11 was . fixture.
 \ trim little figure came runnir