The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-28
[Copyr light, 1893. BY
the Author.i


Il sss.ss !: s int n
with call sorts and conditions of men.
and it is astonishing what curious an'
immense amount one thus gets at o
odd experiences, minds and information
which never finds it's way into an.
book lore Each unit of the great hl
man family, be he ever so humble ant
ignorant, will know something which
another does not, or have had some ex
perience. however tritling, whicl
another has not.
You will find, too. II you keep you
eyes. ears and sympathies open, tina
under the surface of these so-callet
hard prosaic days there lies far NOR.
of romance and dramatic element thar
many folks suppose. 1t is human ma
ture in its very essence from its Alpha
to its Omega-which occasionally
bursts forth in some grand form that
all the world must need recognize, but
is mostly scattered hidden away in
humdrum lives and secret hear
inches. These have to be got at, where
perhaps they are least suspected.
Amongst my many such experiences
and free and easy ''chummings," l re-
member one which may interest you, as
it did me.
Some few years ago I found myself
obliged to wait a couple of hours at a
little wayside station for the train that
would take me on to my destination.
soon noticed tall, powerful-looking
man, about forty-fve to fifty, sitting
on a bench at the far end of the plat.
form. His dress and whole appearance
told the railway employee.
OF course 1 speedily ranged up along.
side and got into chat, and 1 found
that he was an engine driver also
awaiting my train, on his way back
home, after having been called to
London to give some evidence for the
company in damage action
We sat backing the track. but facin 2
a long disused coal siding, on which
stood derelict truck. On this was
playing as we talked small country
boy of tender years; but presently the
child climbed down and began to roll
its ball between the disused metals,
which ended at the truck.
Nothing could possibly come from
the main track; the brat was as safe
as at home. yet my new friend startled
me by suddenly breaking off his con-
versation to call out with a sharpness
that belied his kindly face:
''Get out of the track, at once, boy!
Dye hear? Get outl'
The urchin stared, laughing at what
he thought fun.
"Mc shan't," said he; "me plays in
dis always"
The man sprang' into the siding,
snatched up the astonished and now
frightened child, aud set him on the
platform with rough push and Get
out when you're told, you little beggarl
Get home.'
And. as the urchin ran away in ter
ror, the man came back. and almost
dropped on to the bench He was
deadly pale and shaking from head to
foothills fine, strong fellow.
1 felt at once that there was some
thing more behind this upset. which,
doubtless, the trifiing incident had re-
called. Had the poor fellow had child
killed on the line? But ! didn't speak.
| only put my hand gently on his arm
for minute in silent sympathy. and in
a few moments he recovered himself
with a grateful. earnest Thank you,
ma am"
Then. after pause. he added, husk-
ly. with shiver: Il beg pardon. but
couldn't help it; l can't bear to see
,hild on the line; I never shall again
Just upsets me like as if it was all yes
.erday."
Yes" ! said. gently. that Is the
way too often after great shock to
IlIe nervous system. One never quite
yets over it if anything recalls it Wv
diy"
Just so, ma'am-vou take me quite"
aid the engine-driver. with the eager
badness OF being understood, and of
having put into words for him the feel
ng he had no language to adequately
xpress TN tell you how it was II SO
,e you'd care TO hear"
Care | shall be more than pleased |
nd interested. I answered: that IS.
/ it does not pain you too mucn to tell |
ne the story.
No. no, ma am. thank We kindly. !
eel honored by your being interested /
I amt much 10 Aound so fur. but 10 /
there, can't never see /
id twixt them metals again without /
baking fool Of myself. SO it's no use /
o say can
He paused 4 minute, and then. some
...-eS looking straight out before him. /
oE3ctimcs at me, he said:
Well, i, happened FIVE years ago or
! was on this line. as
N stiii-havc been these fifteen ycars.
10 you know the line when it gets Up
orthwarls into Blankshirc9~
'No. not intimately" I said; sits
ears since was through Elsal1shire
All. well. there's a part where The
ountry's very hzt - leGstways. not
iliy-bus when you've passed L.
here's a splcndid running bit, where