Year: 1873

In the year 1861 l was Superin-
tendant of the HeWrich and Rocky
River railroad.


1t was q line which did a good
run of business, connecting as it did
a great city with a flourishing back
country, and we ran a pretty good
number of trains over the rails in
the course of twenty -four hours.


The daily trains were run every
hour, but after nine in the evening
there was only one train, until the
steamboat accommodation at half
past three in the morning.


This intervening train was the
Belport mail. It was made up at
Belport and run rs far as Clinton,
express all the way.


Belport was the large city of
which l have spoken, and it was
there that my Office was located, for
the business Of the road was all set
tied and arranged at that end of the
line.


OF course / give fictious names,
and the reader need not expect to
find Belport on any railroad map.


The 1880 train, or the midnight
mail, as 1t was frequently designated,
was run by Earl Rogers, a young
man of seven or eight-and-twenty,
who had been employed on the road
for several years.


He was the best engine driver on
the corporation, and for that reason
he had been selected for the train.
it being expedient to place men of
the best judgment on the train, be-
cause there was better lookout re-
quired by night.


Earl, taken all in all, was one of
the finest fellows I ever saw.


Frank, handsome, generous to a
fault, and well educated.


He had fallen into the avocation
of engineer more from his love of
excitement and danger than any
thing else, perhaps; and if there was
ever any particularly perilous bust
ness to be done, Earl Rogers was
always our man.


For some time he had been despe-
rately in love with Laura Demain,
the daughter of rich old fellow,
just on the other side of Rocky river
half dozen miles beyond Bel
port.


This love was fully returned, for
Laura was q noble-hearted girl, and
did not care for wealth or ambition |
when weighed in the balance of |
love; but old Domain and she were
two, and there was no probability of
his ever giving his consent.


He had set his heart on her mar
rying Prince Carlton, a young blood |
of the vicinity, reputed wealthy and
of an old family.


Demain's opposition naturally |
made the lovers more determined,
and they only waited an increase of
Earps salary to be married, in spite
of Papa Domain.


Earl was faithful fellow, and was
doing my best to get an advance for
him, with every probability of sue
cess.


Somehow took strong interest
in EarPs love affairs.


l am an old codger, and love mat
ters are rather out of my line, my
forte being the calculation of ac-
counts, the regulation of freight
rates, and the management of busi-
ness 50 as to secure the fattest diyI-
dends to stockholders.


Perhaps my interest in Earl's
love for Laura might be because l
most thoroughly detested Prince
Carleton.


He was always "blowing" our
road, finding fault with the rate of
speed, with the grade, with the car
riages, with the ventilation, with ev-
erything in short, for nothing suited
him.


Then upon one occasion, he and /
had a few words, neither very pleas
ant nor very choice, and he had call
ed me an old scoundrel, and had |
returned the compliment with inter-
est. After that we were worse
friends than ever.


One dark rainy night in November
just after the nine o'clock had been
got off, l was sitting in my Office
trying to balance an account that
would not balance, the door opened |
and Earl Rogers walked in. He had
on his waterproof suit, the hood |
over his head and collar buttoned |
closely, but 1 saw that his face was
very pale and his eyes cleaned with
an unnatural fire.


"What in the world has happened |
RogersP" said 1. "You look as glum
as if you were going to your own
funeral"


"Mr. Woodbury." said he earnest
ly, "do you believe in PRESENT.
ments?"


NO." said ], 81 certainly do not.
They are all an old woman's whim."


perhaps so. 1 wish l could
think so, said he sadly. Il have
been trying hard to-


"Whatis is 1t, Earl? Anything gone
wrong with Laura?" for did not
know but the little jade had been
playing off with him, after the man
ner Of women.


'No, You will laugh at me, Mr..