The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-14

1850
but men were usually dismissed for Civ
ing lap order.
1T will not be necessary for US to re
view this ma tier began the superin-
/ tendent when Mr. Goodlough had seated
himself in the private office of his old
chief Under ordinary circumstances
should feel it my duty to discharge you,
/ but in consideration of your excellent
! record and other extenuating c.rcum-
stances, the confusing nature of the num-
! bers of the locomotives and trains, and
the names Of stations, / have con-
/ Guided that / shall serve the company
/ best by allowing you to return to your
/ former place In doing this l wish you
! TO understand that the matter of per-
/ s0nal friendship, which has grown strong
/ in the years that we have spent together,
makes no difference in my decision. The
/ 60 days, which / must now give you, is
( meant more as a punishment for your
refusal to listen to a well-meant warming
which might have saved you than for
your carelessness in giving a wrong or
| der. 1t is more your misfortune than
your fault, however, that you have lost
these 40 days, therefore your suspension
will date from Dec. 90"
"Goodlough thanked the superintend-
ent warmly for his consideration and
went out to begin the hard task of wait
ing 20 days, for to him, every day spent
away from his work was wasted.
| The old trainmaster spent the greater
part of the 20 days where he could hear
/ the rattle of the instruments and the
slow, measured ticking of the great clock.
He was interested in, and then amazed,
at the work Of the young woman who
was now handling the trains on the first
| trick At first he felt half angry with
/ her for being able to do what he had
once made mess of, but she was so
sweetly modest, and so utterly uncon-
scious Of herself and so faithful to her
work. that he soon found himself wish
ing she were a man. He said so to
Dreamer, once, and she heard him.
Long before his time was up he had begun
to wonder where he could put her, for
he had no thought of letting her go. But
she was a lucky soul, and 1t seemed that
the same power that sent the ravens
to Elijah looked after her Just about
the time Goodlough was to resume his
Office q connecting road wanted a train
master and the place was offered to Mr..
Creamer. He accepted it, of course. Mr..
GOodlough was ordered to report for
duty and having mo one he considered
competent at hand allowed Miss Nor
gan to remain where he had found her
1t was understood by all that this ar
rangement was only temporary, but
Goodlough soon learned that he would
lose an able assistant when he parted with
Miss Morgan, and so was a good while
in making a change which all precedent
made necessity. The second trick man
was entitled to the first, the third man
was in line for the second and if he kept
Miss Morgan she must do the death
trick"
The two men were notified by letter of
their promotion, and then the trainmas-
ter braced himself to tell the young lady
that she would be transferred to the
company's telegraph Office, unless she
chose to take the third trick, which he
felt asham to ask her to do 1t was
only right and fair, she said, and she
would be glad to take the third trick
All she wanted was an equal show with
the men and no favors. If he could over
look her sex and forgive her for having
been borp a woman she would be con-
tent to take whatever he had to offer
her. ayes gods" said the trainmaster to
himself, "she makes me ashamed. She's
as brave as she is gentle, and as bril-
liant as she is beautiful" He wondered,
now, knowing her, that he had failed
to see that she was a very superior wo-
man when he sent her away without the
promise, even, of employment.
When the two dispatchers who had re-
ceived notice OF their promotion came
into the trainmasters office they did not
appear oyerioyous. The man who had
thus honored them saw that something
was wrong, and inquired the cause of 1T.
ITS just this" said the second trick
man. If you are setting Miss Morgan
back because she is incompetent to handle
the heavy business on the first track we
the heavy business on the first trick we
have nothing TO say; hut If the change
is made because she is a woman as
matter OF justice to us, we most respect
fully decline promotion that win work
hardship to this most deserving girl"
'"The change was ordered as matter
of Justice 10 You, and in keeping with
the policy OF the management. How
ever. if Won gentlemen are disposed TO
de the gallant the yssas lady can renaam