The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-03-30
YOU learned above, Baby Louise?
DELAYED DISPATCH.

L Iuu never Dooll lelt dIOu5 Ill charge
Of the Office before. 1t was a cold, blus-
terry day i'll January, one Of those dreary
winter days that make one feel so mel.
ancholy and blue, the wind shrieking
about the building and the snow falling
thickly in great white flakes, which
seemed to be vying with each other for
q comfortable spot on which to fall
when reaching the friendly bosom of
earth. Old Sol had not favored us with
a smile all day, but had sulkily hidden
his face behind the gray restless clouds.
1t was truly a dismal afternoon.
The office building in which l was
domiciled was one of those dreary old
country stations which seemed to be
dropped along the side of the railroad
track at intervals without an effort at
making them other thar what they are,
both uncomfortable and unsightly.
The little town of B. was a sleepy
little village of about 900 inhabitants,
built down in a valley, surrounded by
hills, from which flowed an abundance
of beautiful, clear, pure spring water,
supplying the humble, contented citi-
zens Today the place presented a pic
turesque appearance. The snow had
been falling heavily during the night,
and the trees, fences, h%ousetops, bushes
and streets were completely covered
with the ''beautiful."
The principal street Of the village end
ed at the foct of the long winding hill
which served as acoasting place for the
merry young people. The only sign of
life about the place this memorable aft
ernOOn was the occasional Jingle of
sl~eighbeils waited to my ears on the
frosty air as some farmers boy took ad-
vantage Of the deep snow to exhibit his
new sleigh, and a merchant now and
then coming to the station for his small
shipments. One or two ~disconsolate
looking tramps passed my office, trudg-
ing along through the snow, casting an
envious glance in my direction as I sat
in the bow window.
This cold wintry day, as I sat in the
little office listening intently to the tick
of the two instruments Oh the table il
front of me, little did l dream that it
was to be the one ~eventful day of my
life. Looking from the windows, I could
see east and west of me the straight line
of track stretching away like two silver
reptiles running side by side over a vast
white sheet. A short distance north OF
the Office was the old wooden mill OF
Bartlett & Sons, from which issued the
sound of the merry wheels as they hum
med in busy unison with the click OF
the looms, keeping company with my
wandering thoughts.
At q distance of perhaps a quarter OF
a mile on each side of my Office Were
two curves, preventing my seeing a train
approach the station from either direc,
ton until the shrill whistle of the en-
CINE called for my signal OR down brakes
l had just learned telegraphy, o.
thought | had, having studied it abou'
four months, and had become proficien
enough, as my sanguine teacher avOw
ed, to fill the place with perfect safet.
while lie made a pleasure trip to Louis
VILE, the center of gravity for him.
remember | had serious misgivings a
to my ability to take care of the ofic
work and sat with tears trembling OF
my eyelashes long after the train bear
ing my only assistance had disappeared
and felt very much depressed, as thougl
on the eve of some great calamity.
To throw off this dreadful feeling
walked to the waiting room and bac
several times, humming a popular air t
keep up my spirits. l think had bee
thus occupied an hour or so when
heard the train dispatcher at "M." civ
ing an order to the operator at Whining
ton for No. as. a freight train comm
east. 1t read: Train No. 48. enRiu