The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-11-04
Selected storm.
An Awful Charge.

bank of the Dee1tield river waits pa
tienty on its narrow-gauge side-track
until it's larger contemporary from Bos-
ton comes up and empties out whatever
of its freight and whoever of its passen-
gers are destined for the little villages
farther up in the mountains. AS soon
as the Fitchburg train has pulled out
of the station and into the tunnel the
smaller combination is left master of
the field, and after backing coquetlishly
from its side-track with many puff
and futter and much ringing of a not
untuneful bell, it starts sturdily around
the curve and begins its journey of
twelve miles over an up grade track
There is something humorous about
the little engine and the balf-grown
cars, but the region that it traverses is
beautiful beyond description, and if
you have plenty of time the humor of
the railroad is good-natured rather than
ironical.
O1e quiet evening in the earlier part
of July young woman, accompanied
by a girl who seemed 10 act in the
capacity of maid rather than companion,
alighted from the five O'Clock train from
Boston, made some inquiries of an
official at the Fitchburg station, and
then made her way across the track to
the other train, which was waiting re-
specially at a distance. Just as the
train from Boston was about to start,
young man came hurriedly to the plat
form of the car, looked earnestly across
the track and then disappeared inside
the car, to return moment later with a
leather satchel, an umbrella and cane.
He looked nervous and annoyed, but
crossed the tracks and climbed into the
single passenger car on the narrow
gauge road. The car was a combina-
ton passenger and baggage car, and he
climbed in at the baggage-car end.
Presently the train backed from the
side-track and started along its up
grade journey.
The young man took up a position
before the open side-door of the bag
gage end of the car and seemed to give
himself up to admiration of the coun-
try through which they were passing,
though he cast furtive glances into the
other end of the car where the young
woman had taken her place. She was
seated near the middle of the car on
the sunny side, and her maid was two
or three seats behind her, with wraps
and umbrellas and the various other
parapherna)ia that a fastidious young
woman carries with her even on a short
journey. Having made these observa-
tons, the young man gave more per-
feet attention to the landscape and
looked less frequently into the car
proper. The girl was evidently uncon-
scious of his presence, or at least I'M
mindful of it. She looked steadily out
of the window and seemed to be enjoy
ing also the beautiful scenery. Far be-
low and to the left was the clear water
of the Deerfield, now slipping along
with the quiet dignity Of a river, now
tumbling and tossing on stone and rock
with all the art and foibles of noun
tain brook. Above on every side rose
the mountains, where point and peak
and sky and tree blended in perfect
harmony of form and color. Here and
there an open field stretched across the
mountain, or a bare brown rock lent
its coloring to the nearest landscape.
The road bed curved and santed, turn
ing here and there as it wound in and
out among the hills, but always and
everywhere remained the beauty of the
green hills and rugged, sky capped
mountains.
Meanwhile the little engine plodded
sturdily on its way, stopping now and
then to drink of its own peculiar cup,
but starting on again determinedly,
with admirable resolution. Once it
slowed down while the engineer or fire.
man refreshed himself from some early
raspberries that grew along the road,
but otherwise it never fallered on its
way. Bat presently the young man
began to grow more nervous and res
tive. He moved uneasily from his po-
sition at the open doorway, and sat
down on box in the middle of the car.
Then he went back to the door and
leaned away out, looking up the track
Then he went back to the box again
and arranged his four-in-hand nervously.
Suddenly he got up and walked reso-
lutely down the car to where the young
woman was seated. He walked much
in the manner of one who has deter
mined to take bath in very cold wa
ter, and goes at it with his nerves at
the sticking point and his eyes shut.
The young woman was much interested
in the landscape as he came up, and
she did not notice him. He was obliged
to call her attention.
Grace" he said.
She turned from the window with
wondering eyes and looked at him
moment. Then the light of the recog-
milton drove the wonder slowly from
her eyes, and she held out her hand
languidly.
"Why, how do you do, Mr.. Marden2"
she said.
He took her hand slowly; he almost
CROPPED for it. He had been irving all
the way from Boston to get up courage
to speak to her, and now her cool,
surprised elbow do you dor" was al
most too much for him. There was
not even traceable note of resentment
in it. There certainly was nothing of
pleasure. However, he pulled himself
together and took the seat which she
made for him beside her.
1t used to be Frank" he said in
answer to her "Mr. Marden." She
laughed easily.
"Oh, yes, but that was ever so lono