Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-06-02

thirsty" she asked. This here's
nothin' but buttermilk."
+ lie took a long gulp from the drip
ping dlpper she held out to him,
It's mighty good" he said as he
wiped his mouth with the back of his
hand, but / didn't stop my train for
buttermilk. expected I'd git a pas
senger. Ever been up to the mine ?"
She shook her head.
Come ahead, it's a bully ride!"
She hung back.
Il got lot O. things to do up
home" she said.
Got to cook yer old mans supper,
chr"
Amt got no old man-yet." And
she laughed.
Got somebody in mind?"
Not you, anyway"
"oh, amt candidate"
Lost the nomination too often,
guess"
He laughed ruefully and was about
TO confess that he already had an
odd woman" in New York when she
broke in
Say, will you let me work the
handles an things? l want to make
it go!"
Sure! Come ahead!"
A moment later having run the
gauntlet of curious brakemen and
Pete, tho grinning fireman. she clam
bered into the cab of the Streak, and
stood quivering with childlike excite
ment before the confusing multiple
ity of valves and levers.
This was the first of many delight.
full rides for little Jen Barnes. -Four
times day for six days in the week
Smoky SAINT passed Culver's Jump on
his way to and from the mines. and
two train-loads Of coke were brought
by him to the greedy mouths up there
al the summit. Then followed the |
risky descent over a track which |
wound In and out. down the mountain
side. and in the course Of its IL miles |
dropped 1000 feet-a trip never dull. |
and now made even more exciting for
Smoky SAINT by the possibility that at |
one point of the road he would find |
Jen waiting for him.
Meanwhile the silence of SAINTS |
"old woman" in New York continued
unbroken-a silence that had been
responsible for Smoky SAINTS taciturn.
ity She had been proud of her hus.
band when she gave up teaching In
the city school and started out in life
with SAINT, then a promising young en-
gineer entrusted with the Big Flyer.
They were happy and prosperous
when the baby came, and the proud
father fairly worshiped the little chap
who sat growing on his shoulders.
In the course of an unusually rig
orous winter SAINT succumbed to the
grip, and recovered from it a weak
ened man. It was then that he be-
gan to indulge in an occasional drink
to brace his nerves. The habit had
grown and presently he was found
then the company dis
missed him from his post on the Big
Flyer.
Slow to relinquish a man once so
they tried him In less
positions. But SAINT was
now too discouraged to pull up. ana
fell lower in the company's
forces until he was finally dismissed
He fell into debt, the little house in
the suburbs slipped away from him.
and at last, to escape vagrancy. his
wife went back to her mother. taking
the boy with her. Their door was
closed against SAINT. He would have
gone utterly to the dogs had not the
Brotherhood Of Engineers secured for
him this position on the little noun
lain railroad, which required a GER
tain desperation for its successful en-
cheering SAINT had kept II several
months without mishap, and the min
ng company was beginning to feel
sasier.
One morning. early in November.
he found Jen waiting for him on his
iown-trip, looking like a picture In
he clear, frosty air, and with a be-
ated spray Of golden-rod fastened at
Ter belt
They had not gone very far before
lis passion rose and claimed utter
nee. "Jen. Jen," he cried. Let's S
.uit Won't yea clear out O this with
me-"
"Why-why-I-"
Don't be afraid. little woman. YoB :
vii never be sorry-T'n see to that
II stick by You an work for you like =
niger. Is it all right?"
There was no doubt in her MIND d
hat he meant honorable marriage i.
nd she looked up with shy but m.
1istakable acquiescence, and then mt
er head on his oily shoulder.
BY degrees. however, It dawned