The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-03-03
THE BRIDAL TRAIN.
A Pathetic Story Of Love on the
Rail-

Butch's run was from Atlanta Il
Chattanooga 1t was tribute to hi
pert appearance and bright counte
nance that he was put on the fast ex
press. which carried a greater number
of passengers than any other train OF
the road, and consequently was the
most remunerative run. With charac
teristic enterprise, he made the best o.
his field. Even the distrustful, stern
visaged man who, from the long man
agement Of boys, had grown habitual
ly severe looking, was forced to admit
this.
One day he was seated on his box jus,
outside the Chattanooga depot putting
at cigarette when two of his newsboy
companions joined him.
Butch" said one of them, ''how'd
yer like ter jine de Red Bird gang?"
whats that?" Butch inquired.
Oats u.s." said the first speaker, tine
and Jim here and two udder kids.
We're tired O. hustlin' newspapers and
candy and are a-goin' ter travel and see
de country"
''I'll tell you what" he said. ard 90
with You right now, but amt been
paid of Waitll l come back mex trip
with my dough and I'll go with YOU"
The next morning his train left on
an earlier schedule. The accommoda-
ton at the Atlanta end had been taken
of and the express was to carry its
passengers It was not until Marietta
was reached that Butch noticed any in
crease in passengers on account of the
accommodation having been dropped
Here drove Of chattering schoolgirls
flooded the car and dived into every
available seat
Butch noticed that o dignified, sweet
faced girl with q school satchel on her
arm had not joined in the rush and
stood in the aisle without seat. He
had never seen face that impressed
him so deeply. Involuntarily he
Strengthened himself up as he caught
sight of her. There was something
womanly about the girlish face and
figure. Her eyes were calm and steady;
her lips were firmly set together; she
held herself erect with an air of perfect
self-satisfaction. She seemed not to
mind being without q seat since she
had retained her dignity.
Butch scrambled to his feet and, re-
moving his wares, make room for her
on the seat beside him. She took it
with smile of thanks. Butch watched
her out of the corner Of his eye. His
customary ubiquity had somehow left
him.
do you miss the 'commodation?" he
finally ventured. She frightened up at
the inquiry.
''Oh, very much" she said. 1T was a
home-like train = everybody knew
everybody else, you know. And the
conductor was so NIGEL hope they'll
put him on this train"
''Our trains the fastest" he said.
Yes she readily assented, "the &C
commodation was always stopping.
Seemed to stop at every crossing"
"Cap'n Hollis" said Dick, hoping to
interest her. lis going to run the
through train what lie ayes Atlanta at
noon"
rs hep" she replied II know the
people who ride on it will like him.
He's SO polite and attentive. l suppose
you'll be conductor some day?"
Did she? That was awful compli-
mentary, Butch thought To be a
conductor was to reach dazzling
height he considered, and it meant
years of hard work and attention to
duty. He had chosen to throw up the
prospect to join the Red Bird gang.
What would she say to the Red Bird
gang? This accidental contact with
her Invested the nomadic life of the
red bird of all its charms. To be po-
lite and attentive conductor was a |
grander thing than it had ever seemed |
before.
"Mr. Hollis" she went ON, s'was q |
or something when h start
ed. No. 1t wasn't newsboy either. He |
used to walk on top of the freight cars,
bnt he was honest and polite and they |
kept giving him better places, until |
now he's nice conductor think it's |
clever to work up like that"
Il mean to do that, said Butch. "I'll |
be runnin' train by I'm twenty-one.
wouldn't be butch only I'm CATCH
in on. Ne an Cap'n Dicks big friends
an when the baggage master or dak.
man quits, he'll recommend me- anil I
|es' keep goin' up"
That's, nice, /" she said, approvinQly. /
4 think everybody should be ambi-
,ious- Every one can do something.
Perhaps some day shall ride on your
rain" she added.
'Oh. hope So" said Butch. enthusi-
'sticaily. He was about to add that
'e didn't care to have a train If she
lidn't ride on IT, She had spoken the
irst words of encouragement he had
'ver received, and there was some sub
,le> inde6nable quality in her words
hat gave them potency and force.
The next two days were important
mes in Butch's history. An obvious
hanRe In his demeanor was inauQu-
ated. People to whom he had been
saucy noticed that he was
low deferentially polite Such irreru-
nrities as dirty hands and soiled col