The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-03-03

i
with the others. He passed through
the car and was delighted to see that
she recognized him. He tipped his hat
! politely.
During the year that followed Butch
made no visible progress toward the
goal of his ambition. He became
brighter, cleaner, larger, more polite
and popular, but remained q news
butcher still. Yet he was not discour-
aged, although half of the time Sadie
STANDINGS school was closed and she
ceased to ride on the train altogether.
He got glimpses of her now and then
as the train rushed through Marietta
and she would seemingly wave her
handkerchief in answer to his saluta.
ton. II guess she thinks I'm fraud"
he reflected sadly; II told her was
going to be conductor at twenty-one,
and here am news-butch at nearly
eighteen"
just when his hopes were lowest
what he had hoped for happened.
PRESLEY, Capt. Dicks baggage master.
was promoted to the conductorship
of a freight train, and Capt. Dick
recommended Butch for the vacancy.
The captain had formed strong liking
for the youth and saw in him the max
ing of man. In few days Butch
was given the place and became a rail-
roader. He was wild with hope; the
first taste of success fred him to
stronger endeavor and he worked
harder than ever The worst feature
of his new position was that it kept
him confined to the baggage car, and
then he could never see Miss Staining.
1t became habit of his to stand in the
door of his car of mornings and SEEM
ingly bow to her. Hoskins, the flag
man, was an accommodating fellow, and
Butch would call him into his car and
ask: IF Miss Staining was sitting with
anyone?" If Hoslxins shook his head,
there would be an instant exchange of
caps and places and Butch would pro-
coed through the car. In this way he
saw her frequently, but she discour-
aged his visits. saying: You'd better
get back to your car if you expect to be
a conductor at twenty-one. You look
that old now"
The hope that Butch fostered of some
day being conductor had something
more fascinating behind 1t than the
mere realization As the months
heightened into years he began to
realize what this was. With his aspira-
ton Miss Staining was inseparably
connected. Without her he would
have been-a Red Bird. And without
her. being conductor was scarcely
preferable to being a Red Bird. He
weighed the matter over many times
in mis- mind Each time he reached the
conclusion that Miss Staining had
been and must continue to be the
strongest factor in his life.
Her school days were over, but she
was occasionally a passenger on his
train He seemed an object of less in
terest to her now that he was fairly on
the way to the attainment of his hopes
than he had been when q mere news
butcher. She always talked to him
frankly, encouraginzly. He felt that
with her always by his side to inspire
him he could do even greater things
than becoming conductor.
Butch reached his twenty-first year
without receiving his promotion. For
three years he had toiled with trunks
and reports and added to his stock of
patience. 1t was hard work, but he |
did 1t cheerfully. The year wore away
without sign of his advancement |
He wondered what she thought of it
He knew he had done his best; he had
worked hard as slave; he had been
arraigned before the superintendent
Tor some apparent remissness. only to
pc saved oy Capt Dick, his stanch
riend. 1t was his purpose to go at
'nce 70 Marietta when he received his
and ask Miss Staining to
% ms wi1e, but 1t was SO long delayed
nat ms patience at last gave out One
lay ne asked that . man be put in his
pace Tor one trip. and when he said
nat ne was going to Marietta, Hos
Tins WINGED violently.
1t was q bold proceeding. and Butch
'egan to realize it when he reached
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