The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-04-07


devoted to the suburban traffic the
gateman liked best the little blue eyed
girl. She reminded him SO strongly
of that other little blue eyed girl who
in happier day had greeted his com
ings and goings and had called hin
father"
That was before the tunnel wreck
three years back, when they had car
ried her and her mother home-twc
victims of the worst disaster the road
had ever known.
The claim agent had learned that
ellison was without work and had set
tied the damage claimed by providing
him with a life position as gateman
on the big station Ever since Their
Thomas ellison had watched the tide
of humanity ebb and flow through the
iron gates and had found solitude in
the crowd.
Until the blue eyed girl had come
not quite three months before, he had
watched indifferently the hurryine
throng. The busy clicking of his
punch kept time to the dull monotone
of the announcer's megaphonic voice. =
Then one night he glanced up into
the face of girl SO like his own dead
daughter that his punch dropped from
his nerveless hands, and he held them
forth yearningly if unconsciously.
The ring of the metal on the con-
crete pavement reused him. His hands
dropped to his side, and he took up bis
dull routine of inspecting tickets, but
the grimy train shed, with its smoke
stained walls and its wastes Of cindeE
bed tracks, held a new interest for
him
The monthly ticket which she pre-
scented was brand new and proclaimed
her a recruit to the army Of workers
who daily took their places in the
city's commercial field, and he knew
that each night he should see her come
hurrying down the concourse toward
the gate. ast
Later, when she learned that the reg
ular commuters never displayed their
tickets, she would perhaps give him
the little nod and smile of friendly
recognition that the more experienced
always vouchsafed the guardian of the
gate. Gilson's memory for faces was
remarkable. He knew all Of the com
muters by sight and had a nod for
each
1t was not long before ellison "got
her trains" She came IL on the 1927,
and every night she hurried to catch
the 6:45. Sometimes she was late and
missed that train, having to wait for
the 1853 and thereby missing also her
dinner,
She never went out for dinner when
she missed the earlier train, but sat n
the great marble waiting room. Gill
son, quick to deduce, knew that the
money she earned was so sorely need
ed at home that she could not spare
the sum that would buy an extra meal
in town.
The old gateman did not go on duty
until 8 o'clock in the morning, but he
was always there now at 1927, stand
ing by the exit gate when the subur-
ban trains came rolling in, and that
was how he came to know that Met
calf was becoming interested in her.
Usually they came together down
the platform, and only a glance at the
girls face was needed to tell that she
liked Metcalf. Later on Metcalf took
to going out on the 6:45 instead on the
6:43, which was an express and stop
ped only at the more important sta
lions. No matchmaking mother ever
watched the social progress of her
daughter with greater solicitude than
did ellison watch the growth of love
between Metcalf and Miss Traynor.
He had known Metcalf Che had learn
ed the names on the Communication tick
ets) ever since he had come to the sta
ton. Metcalf seemed nice, steady
going young fellow, for he seldom walt
ed over until the theater train, and
each morning his eye was clear and his
hand steady. His appearance betoken-
ed his prosperity, and ellison rejoiced
that his little girl was making 80 good
a match.
Then came the day when the little
girl came down the platform by her
self, her head held high and her cheeks
flaming. Metcalf fingered in the rear,
and he, too, was flushed and angry.
Gilson's heart was troubled, though he
tried to tell himself that all would be
made smooth that night.
But it was not made smooth. Met
calf did not appear until just In time
for the 7:O3, and there were traces Of
tears on the little girls face as she
passed through the gate to take the
6:45.
Once during the week they both
came in by the same train, but Metcalf
was in the smoker and the little girl
was in the last car.
She tried very hard to look as though
she did not care, but Gilson's sharp
eyes could see the change, and be wor-
ried so that he let fussy old lady
take the next accommodation in the be-
lief that 1t was the through express,
which fact was duly reported to head
quarters and resulted in Gilson's being
forced to economic for a week to COW
er his fine
Then came the night when the little
girl, hurrying to catch her train, found
the gate shut just as she approached.
You are meanp she cried, with q
stamp Of her tiny foot II could have
made it easy"
"Orders to close the gate on signal
reminded ellison stolidly.
"But the train had not started to
move" she stormed, pointing to tn.
tracks.
'1'm sorry''-Gilson's voice was fun
Of apparent orders are to
close the gate on signal
1--WE gone through lots OF times"
she reminded him. 'sThey don't start
until the passengers are all on. Often
I've lust made it. You used to be
obliging. Now shall have to walt for
the 7:58; more than an hour. shall
report you to the office
DUTY" murmured ellison, trying to
look properly regretful, for he saw
Metcalf passing through the swinging
doors of the waiting room.
Il shall report you just the same"
declared the little girl as she turned
away to come face to face with Met
calf.
Lost your train?" cried Metcalf.
"That is shameI The service on this
road is a disgrace. There is not an
other train that stops at your station
for over on h011r- - a
81 am not in the habit Of discussing
my Inconvenience with strangers" de-
clared the little girl, with toss Of
her head, as she moved away.
Metcalf followed, and as ellison NOV
ed over to the other gate where the
express was made up he smiled in sat
isfaction, for had he not heard Met
calf declare that, angry or no, she
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