The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-15
By Maxie Pepperman.

It was Christmas eve. The httie ia way station at Chester ,Montaha' crowded with holiday travellers eh rou;s p;., to spend Christmas with loVeu o t.~as h,ndles and niles of yalises and boxes with other things that suggested Sahta Clans. were packed up on the seats. was dark and bitter cold without The wind vhistled around the corner or the waiting room and sang song as it swept up the railroad track' It was past train time ana the 'icnel ,r,e man had about completed ms idDors. Ane on the bulletin board one hour and half late There was much grumbling among tbs travellers in the waiting room.
 "Confound that train, it never is on time" said one
 And of course it had to be late on Christmas eve," retorted another.
 The door opened and the white headed old station master came in. He cast refreshing glance ot the discontented travellers and marked an additional thirty minutes to the belated train.
 Tt is worse wreck than at hrst thought" said he. "The west bound freight jumped the track near Renfroe and the track is blocked, with the ex- press on the other side.
 The wifes say a tramp who was riding the rods was crushed to death. It's
  into eternity Christmas Eve night, "con- tlnued the old man. "The boys say let ter from his mother WAS found on him in which she asked her boy to come home Christmas. The boys think he was on the way, but he wont get home this trip" and the old fellow ambled of to a corner of the room and sat down.
 The story of the unfortunate tramp caused the grumbling about the late train to cease.
 We are in for a two hours wait. said a traveller, and we had better make the most of it.
 Let's have story" called one young man. That Is the best plan to pass the time away" entertainer. Intuitively their eyes rested on the old Station Master who was sit- ting in the far corner.
 "Tell us a story" several asked.
 Tell us some of your Christmas ex- periences," said a young man with a kindly face.
 The old man sadly smiled as he saw he was the center of all eyes and attention. Why, young people, I can't tell you a story that will interest you. I never go anywhere. I stay here all the time and don't know much about what is going on in the big world outside. Some of you who have travelled much can tell a better story than l. l travelled much when I was young, but that was a long, long time ago."
 The pathos in his voice, the far away look in his eye and the sweet. though melancholy smile which rested on his face told istakably that he was thinking of the past.
 l was just thinking. dear friends oi Christmas Eve nigh on to forty years ago The night my sweetheart and parted"
 She Is dead now" he murmured.
 The others. already interested in wha the old station master had said crowded about him. The travellers insisted on { story and finally the old man yielded.
 Well it's two hours before the trail comes. It's long story, but I will tel you. Sometimes it does rle good to liv over the old scenes and incidents 8 familiar to my mind. l am 60 years oi now and it has been forty years since ssh and I parted. have only seen her ono since that time and l have suHered few men have.
 'Mv parents lived in Chelsa. Ky. l Wa an only child and had everything l de sired I grew to mans estate and whe had reached my majority and returne home from college I met the girl love and to whom I have been loyal to thi night The Harris family came [ ChelSa while l was away lHe ldhl consisted of MT. Harris and a daughter The girls maternal parent was name Ruth. her father LeShell. The daughte inherited the gentleness and beauty ( her mother and the strength and char acter of her father and they called he Rushel.
 q soon learned to admire her and the to love her She seemed to encourae me. so I thought and I was happy. Br little did I know of womans ways. B' ing young and impetous, I wanted know whether Rushel loved me and or afternoon late I strolled over to her hom That scene is with me, friends, as thoug it occurred yesterday
 The old mans thoughts seemed inspil ed as he drew a word picture of his loV story.
 The evening was waning; the grea hall that sent it's flood of light divir over hill and vale had already sunk bt hind the western horizon, and the shade of night appeared.
 Inside 8 "oZy parlor was 8 youth an q maid: she was young and fair: he cheeks were like the sea shell and ( her eyes the dew-drop was jealous; h face was illumined with the joy thu thrilts vonth when first he loves.
 Gazing into her smiling face and witt 'o the radiance of her bright eyes. forgot all. except that he loved. and ths the woman he loved was at his side; r serve. restraint and conventionalitv weI swept aside and he told the old Q tory; tofd It with an eloduence and