The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-09-11
LOVE IN A SIGNAL BOX.
ONY SMITH had said
his last good by to the
little knot ofacquaint-
ances he had made in
the country during the
two years he had been
night operator in the
flower. = Itwas with

Ino small degree OF pleasure he
had received advice from the di-
vision operator that he would be
transferred to a yard Office, and that
| his successor would be sent on at
once to relieve him, That same day
the new man arrived. Smith met
him at the sta ton. The newcomer
was a quiet, well built young fellow,
rather handsome, Tony thought.
tie took him up to the tower, intro
duced him to the day men and in a
general way explained the peculiari-
ties of the blocks controlled by them.
how the third track was used jointly
by east and west bound trains, how.
as the next tower east was a number
OF miles distant, the rule Of allowing
but one train in a block at a time
modified and so on, to all Of which
the stranger listened attentively.
Tony then offered to take him up
to the farm whore he had beed board
ing, saying that no doubt he could
arrange to stay there if he liked. and
as the the neighbors had a prejudice
against the night operators on ac.
count of their untimely hours IS
would be the best plan to 90 with
him. 1t was a short distance down
the track and up the lane to the
house. AS the pair drew near a
young woman who had been sitting
on the porchrose and with heightened
color as she saw the stranger would
have retreated had not Tony called
her Familiarity as Mollie and bade her
await their coming. He introduced
his companion, Will Kaye, as his
successor, and after a few words had
been spoken the maiden went IN
search OF her father, while the two
opera tors seated themselves on tha
edge Of the porch.
Smith was one Of that class of
men who make confdants of every
one, Judging all from their own
Tree hearted generous stand
point. Kaye listened to his talk
with a quiet smile, which grew
more pronounced and kindly
as his companion proceeded. The.
twain were the best Of friends ere
the farmer came up from the 20 tato
patch, hoe in hand, to welcome his
new guest. Mollie accompanied him.
and and now, when Kaye got a good
look at her: he was more than anx-
lous to take the place Of Smith at
the farmers table. - ~
That night Tony and Kave went
together to the tower, and tl1e tlav
men leaving at z O'Clock gave them
possession for the next /
I'VE hours. There was little time
or conversation that night. What I,
between the usual number of extra
relghts in both directions causing
many train orders, and the necessa,
y explanations OF the working of
;be blocks, Tony was bept busy. Ha
noticed, however, that the new
nan 3s was 9 good operator, and
although he said that he had never
worked on train wires, quickly grasp.
q the details, and before morning
vas working the semaphores and
70 tlfylng the tower ahead Of passing
rains with the regularity Of q yete,, ]
an. Promptly at o clock the next s.
corning they were relieved BY the b
lay men. there being two operators
n duty ~ daylight, the work being 4
leavler. Tired and sleepy the night (,
nen We're soon il bed at the farm So Is
Turing the afternoon Smith left.