Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-05-27

fe ing OF disgust that [ was obliged
t, alight Mt the little station of ID. +,
where I had to wait five dreary hours,
before the arrival of the regular train
which would take me to the city.
Grumbling about the inconvenience
of "stop-overs," I got off. Hardly
had 1 overcome my drowslness when
the train started, and I was alone on
the platform. 1t was quite dark.
Around me + could see the dim forms
of bold and craggy mountains, rising
straight up into the misty darkness.
A single light shone from the window
of the little station, barely illumipat-
ing the gloom without. AS stood
for moment OF two, looking about
me, I heard the ever-decreasing rum
BILE of tho departing train, and finally
the sound ceased, as it went rolling
away among the ravines and hills.
/ turned and went inside. Not q
soul was there except the station mas
ter he came out Of his little Office
as / entered, and greeted me cordial
". Going to the stove in the middle
of the waiting room, he poked the
fire, slammed the door, and turning
to me, said
Ozark, amt it?'
eyes, quite So, replied.
Coin far?'
"Quite ways--to Boston,"
"Well, we'll! You've got quite q
stay here-tive hours I'm 'fraid
you'll find it somewhat tiresome wait
in. It's mighty inconvenient, but
we'll make the best Of it. Come into
myroom here and have bite OF some
Thing to eat-l'm just having supper. !"
This conversation made us friends
for the time being, and entered with
him into the little apartment which
was set aside for his duties as station
master.
My new acquaintnnce-and can
assure You that under the circum
stances he was a most agreeable one
was man of about thirty years Of age,
Of good size, rather slim, with long,
narrow face. His movements were
impulsive, and he was rather of ner-
vous disposition. 1t struck me at
first that this was not the man for n
station master, n position which often
demands person of steady nerves, aud
quick yet deliberate action. But as
the evening wore on, and our talk be-
came more familiar, my opinion OF him
changed. Although his actions were
decidedly impulsive, yet his brain was
very clear, and characteristic of one
who could meet crisis in proper con-
ditlon.
As we partool: of the luncheon which
he had spread before me. learned
much of his duties and life in the
midst of that lonely valley. He told
me many of his experiences as rail
way official, and for two hours or more
no closely held my attention to his
stories.
AS the evening wore on, l occupied
myself in examining the railway maps,
and in finishing novel which pur.
chased that afternoon on the train. At
about eleven o'clock I heard the dull
and laborious puff of freight engine
approaching i'll the distance. Louder
and louder the noise became, until
suddenly, with glare from the head
light, the great locomotive Numbered
by the little window, and in moment
The heavy train rolled away in the
direction from which l had come q few
hours before.
Silence again fell upon us. We con-
tinued our talk, interspersed now and
then with moments of quietness, broken
only by the frequent clicking of the
telegraph instrument on the table I'M
Ter the window. At last / finished
my novel, and once more sat idly toss
ing about my watch-charm. The sta
ton master was sitting opposite me,
with his feet on the edge of the tele-
graph table, while he carelessly ran
over the columns of newspaper. |
was on the point of making some re-
mark when suddenly there came
sharp clicking of the instrument. My
companion sprang to the table and
answered the call Instantly I saw
that something unusual had happened.
AS the little brass key clicked off the
message | saw the station masters face
grow white cad livid. Herose quickly
from the chair, placing his hands over
his eyes, and almost shouted, "My
God! My God! What have L done"
sprang to his side, asking him
what was the trouble. He rudely
pushed me away, and with look
which L shall never forget, fairly
yelled, "Don't speak to me!-don't
speak to mel" Then he sank into the
chair with his hands convulsively
grasping the arms. But it was only
for n moment. Quickly gathering
himself, he drew up to the table. and
thea followed some OF the most exciting
moments that l have ever experienced.
Wondering what it all meant, yet
realizing that something must have
occurred in which he was an impor
tant actor, ! closely fixed my eyes
upon him No sound save the