The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-01-18
THE BRIDAL TRAIN.
"A Pathetic Story of Love on the
Rail-

nance that he was put on the fast eX-
press, which carried a greater number
of passengers than any other train on
the road, and consequently was the
most remunerativ run. With charac
teristic enterprise, he made the best of
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 just
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, "me
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, "rd go
with you right now, but amt been
paid off. Waitll 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
off and the express was to carry its
passengers. 1t was not until Marietta
was reached that Butch noticed any in
crease in passengers on account of the
accommodation having been dropped.
Here a drove of chattering schoolgirls
flooded the car and dived into every
available seat.
Butch noticed that dignifed, sweet
faced girl with school satchel on her
arm had not joined in the rush and
stood in the aisle without seat. He
had never seen a 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 seat since she
had retained her dignity.
Butch scrambled to his feet and, re-
moving his wares, make room for her
or the seat beside him. She took it
with a smile of thanks Butch watched
her out of the corner of his eye. His
customary ubiquity had somehow left
him.
"Do you miss the Communications" he
finally ventured. She frightened up at
the inquiry.
''Oh, very much" she said. ut was a
homelike train - everybody knew
everybody else, you know. And the
conductor was SO nice! l hope they'll
put him on this train
"Our trains the fastest" he said.
''Yes," she readily assented, 1.-THE ac-
commodation was always stopping.
Seemed to stop at every crossing"
''Cap'n Hollis" said Dick, hoping to
interest her, 'Hs going to run the
through train what lie ayes Atlanta at
noon"
SIS hep" she replied. 81 know the
people who ride on it will like him.
He's so polite and attentive. l suppose
you'll be a conductor some day?"
Did she? That was awful compli-
mentary, Butch thought. To be
conductor was to reach a 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 it's charms. To be po-
lite and atten tive conductor was a
grander thing than it had ever seemed
before.
''Mr. Hollis" she went on, was
newsboy, or something when he start
ed. No, it wasn't newsboy either. He
used to walk on top of the freight cars,
but 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'm
be runnin' train by Pm twenty-one
wouldn't be butch only I'm catch
in on. Me an Cap'n Dicks big friends
an when the baggage master or flag
man quits, he'll recommend me, an I'll
jes' keep goin' up"
That's nice" she said, approvingly.
81 think everybody should be ambi-
tious. Every one can do something.
Perhaps some day shall ride on your
train" she added.
''Oh, hope So" said Butch. enthusi-
astically. He was about to add that
he didn't care to have train if she
didn't ride on il. She had spoken the
first words of encouragement he had
ever received, and there was some sub
tie, indefnable quality in her words
that gave them potency and force
The next two days were important
ones in Butch's history. An obvious
change in his demeanor was inaugu-
rated. People to whom he had been
impudently saucy noticed that he was
now deferentially polite. Such irregu-
larities as dirty hands and soiled col
lars were modified. He appeared with
his shoes brightly polished, and, in
stead of the slouching, bose way, he
aeld himself in a manly manner He
made the round trip to Chattanooga
once in two days. When he returned
to that city he found the Red Birds at
the train to meet him. 1--we backed
out, boys he said, decisively, and then
in a tone of fnality: I'm not gong"
His decision was so manifestly ulti-
mate that the boys did not argue with