Year: 1877

I. PUT YOURSELF in HER PLACE.


The long summer day had crept slowly
away, and it was nearly five o'clock: Tht
hours at the railway station were marked a.
by some gigantic clock, that told the laggaro
minute by screaming whistle and changing
bell. The 4:3O accommodation had gone
east, the western express, due there at 4:55
had thundered through the village, gone or
over the great viaduct, and disappeared round
the vast curve beyond.


So one counted the hours BY the trains
Lydia by name, a girl Of the best New Eng
land type, quiet, and yet with an immense
capacity for doing and daring should love and
the occasion demand. The local freight would
come next and then-then she would see him
again. She laid aside her work, put some
split zephyr vanity upon her head and wen!
out toward the railroad As she approached
the station she saw her brother, the station
master, opening the little freight house on the
farther side of the track By this she knew
that the local freight would stop this time
Her heart beat the faster and she quickened
her step. ~"


On reaching the passenger station where
the village street crossed the railway, she
looked up and down the line and then crossed
over and turned to the left and walked be-
side the track towards the freight house.


To understand all that took place on this
occasion, and to fully appreciate her consum'
mate skill in controlling the events so quick
lyto crowd upon her, We must study the con-
struction of the road at this point The main
line for more than q mile to the right, or to.
wards the east, was perfectly straight and
comparatively level. To the left, or the
west, it crossed deep valley by a lofty stone
viaduct, and beyond the valley it curved to
ward the north and mounted the hill by a
long grade. Just east of the passenger sta.
ton branch road entered the main line and
there was, as might be supposed, cross over
switch Beyond the passenger station, on
the west, was short siding ending in small
freight shed and coal yard. At this point
there was also another cross-over switch.


lydia walked on past the freight house,
and, crossing the side track, found a large
fiat rock beside the way and there, under the
shade of an ancient apple tree, she sat down
to wait till her lover should come. .,....,,.,,,
He comes! She heard the three long whis.
ties sounding far down the line, and bright
blush mounted to her face The train would
stop. That was the signal for the station
master. Her brother came out of the freight
house, spoke pleasantly to her and then
walked on toward the switch at the head OF
the siding. .... .....


Suddenly the main line track before her
began to sing in sharp metallic mnrmurs
The train had entered that section of the road
and he was near. Then there came the sound
of escaping steam. The engine was slowing
down and the steam, no longer employed, was
bursting with a loud roar from the safety
valve as if impatient of delay. =,


With jar that shook the ground, the i'm
mense freight engine rolled past her, and the
engineer, leaning out of his window, nodded
to her as he slid past. Then the cars, in long
procession. came into sight and moved past,
with slowly decreasing speed. -Four brake.
men, busy at the brakes, went past, and still
he came not. At last, the rear car appeared,
and young man swung himself down from
the iron ladder on the car and sprang to the
ground at her feet.


A sooty man, clad in blue canvas now
black with smoke and dust. Only brake
man! No; trihe better-the conductor of
freight train. A year ago he had been glad
to take the place of brakeman and already
he had been promoted. Love did it. He
had met and loved Lydia in the days Of his
foolish idleness, and she had insisted that he
do some manly work or she could not-yes,
she could and did love him but he must
show himself worthy of her love- Already
he had advanced, and she was we'll pleased
with his progress, and they had become en-
gagged. -. .""'''- .''' '"'' 1.'.. 10


A grimy, dusty man in unlovely garments,
butin her eyes he was man made for better
things. As he stood beside her, one could see
in his clear eyes and sensible face that he had
good stuff in him and was worthy of her love-


1t becomes US not to linger while they talk
quietly together beside the track. The train
moved slower and slower, till, finally, it
stopped with the last car just beyond the
switch. The iron horse was moved on, the
station master signal!ed with his arm in Gu.
rious fashion, and each Of the four brakemen
repeated the motion in turn. White puAs Of
steam rose high in the air from the farther
end of the train. A curious rattling sound
spread through the train, and the last car
backed down, turned aside, and entered the
siding. The station master left tie switch,
and came hastily toward the lovers.


"Good day, Alfred. Light freight to-day,
only one car-by the way, the brake chain
is broken, and you had better drop the car at
the repair shops. The freight can be thrown
out without leaving the car"


So saying, the station master went on into
the freight house followed by the rattling and
rumbling cars. They gradually lost their
speed and then came to stop with the end
of the train lost in the dark cavern of the
freight house. There was shout from the
building, and then one of the brakemen began
to move his arms as signal to 60 on. Again
tance, and with jar and quiver the train
started again. = So:


Car after car rolled past thesh There
we're hurried whispers, warm Res1shake
and perhaps kiss, and then the young man
swung forward, grasped the ladder OH the last
car, climbed quickly to the top and sat down.
She stood gazing after him as he was drawn
away from her, and smiled and waved fare
we'll to him with her handkerchief.


"Here, Lydia, you must help me-"


1t was her brother who stood beside her
with bunch of keys in his hand.


"The passenger train follows this at once,
and must 60 to the station. Will you
please close the switch after them p


She took the keys mechanically, and then
turned again to gaze after her lover seated on
the last car of the retreatiug train. 1t had
passed out of the switch and was crossing the
great viaduct and moving more and more
swiftly away.