The evening Republican., 1902-09-03
JIM BRADF0RD'S
PROMOTION.
BY MRS. MOSES P. HANDY.

Folks in Bradford were both glad
and sorry when the old Bradford
homestead was sold to Eliphalet
Simms, the great iron master.
Everybody liked the Bradfords,
and the land had been theirs since
the country was first settled. But
they had come down in the world,
as to money. Jim Bradford IS grand
father had gone security for a
friend and had to mortgage house
and land to pay the debt. Jim's
father struggled with the burden
until he died, but a mortgage,
where there is no money to pay in.
terest, mush less principal, is worse
than the locusts Of Egypt.
When he died the holders FORE
closed and the place had to go;
there was no help tor it.
Mrs Bradford had good house
with Il five acre lot on the edge of
the town 1t came from her father
who had tied it tight to Der petti-
coats, SO she and her daughter and
Jim went there to live. An old
friend of the family got Jim the po-
sition as station master at the rail-
road depot.
1t was come-down for a Bradford
OF course, but you never would have
guessed thatJlm thought So lie had
taken his diploma as q ciyal engineer
just before his father died, and had
place offered him out West.
But his mother was delicate, aud
chung 70 jim 40 that the doctors said
It night kill her II he left. And Jim
buckled down to work on the railroad
as cheerfully as If they had elected
hin Governor. The wages were
enough to provide for his mother
and sister, 80 lie worked with will
| think the folks thought more uf
him tuaneyer because CT that's: |
know dld: was one OF til. men at
Tie depoto and SO was under him.
The Simm,es we're certainly AMI
QUESTION to the town. They made
their summer home at Bradford.
and lived there from May u Novem.
Der. Mr.. simms left the old stone
house standing. only he built wings,
aud reslureu 1t as they call it, add.
Ing all the modern improvements,
until it was far and away the finest
place in the country round.
There were several children, but
Miss Constance, the oldest daughter
was the flower Of the flock IN my
opinion, aud | wasn't the only one
who thought So. either.
She took hold as If she had beeu
boro in Bradford, taught III the
sunday school. sang in ths choir,
aud the Congregational mini ster
said, was instant to every good
word and work Ml!ly Bradford was
another church worker, aud Jim
was The Tenor in the choir, besides
the Tact that the Bradforis had al
ways been the finest family in the
place, 50 OF course, the young peo-
pie soon got 10 know each other.
My vile was always wishing that
jim and Miss Constance would
make match OF it. She, my wife
lsa great reader, and she said it
was what they would do in books,
but told her to hold her tongue,
and not to be advising Providence.
The truth was that | was pretty
sure from what | saw for myself
that Miss Constance liked Jim while
lie was head over ears in love with
her, aud had IN ade up his mind not
TO let her know it. coulun' 8 see
why not, she was rich aud he was
poor, but the Brldtnrds went buck
to the May flower. and beyond. whils
Eliphalet Smms began lite as u
striker 10 blacksmith shop and
wasn't ashamed OF it.
However, Jim paid Miss Constance
no more attention than p)Iitcness re-
quircd, and got real provoked at
the way he missed his opportunities.
The Snmse, ways had u houscfnl
OF company, aud | was afraid Miss
ConstAuc, would marry somebody
else, because jim did mt ask her.
| said as much to him one day. |
had known him all his life, and he
shut Inc off 50 quick that it WAS tile
last time | let of any steam.
Things went on in this way for two
or thee years, until / hal about
given uphopes. The two families
were fairly intimate.
Mr., Simms liked to show Off the
Bradfords To the people who came to
sec him. and so Jim and MilIy were
asked to all the parties at the great
house.
Jim always declined when he could.
his business was an excuse, and he
would have died sooner than make
love to Miss Constance and have peo-
pie calling him Il fortune hunter
Bradford was on u main line, and
all the express trains on the road
passed us. 1t was one evening in
October; night had fallen early be-
cause Of cloudy weather. Jim was at
the telegraph, and the instrument
was clicking away, when suddenly it
stopped short, and | saw him grow
white.
Then it clicked again, and he
started up In d hurry. MILLER" lie
said, "the wires have been cut be-
tween mere and Weston, and the
FLYER il due IN halt an hour. The
line is clear to Easton, but there's
mischief the other way. Here, Frank
lie called my bay, bright chap if
teen years old, who was wild about
teIegraphy,, 'look out for the wire.
Come On, Miller, you and ! must
hurry, Jones can stay here" And
before knew where ! was we were
OF on a hand car down the road.
l knew what was to pay; there had
been some daring train robberics in
the state, and Jim was uneasy. l
didn t feel safe myself. We made
mad 1 pno IN Ia IA H.. i