Year: 1872

sure, and it had been settled long before
that we were to spend that evening at
mothers, but, nevertheless, her visit had
somewhat disturbed me, and I had felt
vexed and worried all day over 1t,
suppose that was one reason had broken
down so easily tonight. gg5T .,s.,.s ,a.lI v...


The carpet was certainly old and, faded,
for we had lived Oh 1t ever since we were
married, and it had not been anything to
boast of in the first place. The alpaca |
had worked over SO long would cut a
sorry figure by the side Of Sues brown
poplin walking suit, and velvet paletot of
the same color, surmounted by pretty
turban with pheasant's wing. Ny soli-
tary wrap was plaid shawl, decidedly
more useful than ornamental; and my
hat was fabrication Of my own, Any
body might have guessed that by looking
at it; and the feather was SO small and
"scrimpy" that I could not give it d styl-
ish twist, turn it as might. had liked
it we'll enough. at first, and Joe thought it
a marvel, but | hated it now. ~~


had finished my mending,, and as l
laid Eddies striped stockings on top of
the pile. I thought how Susie could come
and 90 as she liked. with no little tod
dler to hinder her footsteps. had moth
ing to sit up for after my menoing was
done, so I went to bed and tell into an un-
easy slumber. go .rroess 1f<e


Some time in the night I was awaken
ed by hoarse shouting, mingled with the
sound of running to and fro. listened
moment and knew what 1t #as-some-
thing had happened up the road, and, OF
course, to Joe's train.


I sprang out of bed, into slippers and
wrapper, and ran to the back door,. I
threw it wide open, ran down the walk a
little way, and listened. could hear the
rumble of the derrick car, the setting of
switches, and catch an occasional word,
but no connected sentence. It was
"Smash"-"Joe Thompson" and that
was all. ] knew it all, then; Joe was
killed


went back into the house, never even
closing the door. 7 calight Eddie out of
his crib, siid crouched down in corner
of the room with him in my arms, as if |
were afraid some one would take him
away. / wondered why they did not
come to tell me-perhaps they dared not


| had dim vision that when they came
in the morning I would be stark mad or
dead. Would they eTeT guess now cruel
I had been to Joe-kind, faithful Joe?
He had never given me cross word in
the world, but had lavished upon me all
his heart. Why could not have seen it
before?


1t was growing light now, and I heard
step; they were coming to tell me Joe
was dead. I looked up-a tall figure with
pale face stood in the doorway-it was
Joe's wrath come back to haunt me!


Dear old Joe! When opehed Thy eyes
was lying on a lounge dripping with
water, and Eddie was screaming at the
top of his voice.


never understood it very well, but
there had been an obstruction on the
track, which Joe had seen in time to ap-
ply some patent contrivance for stOpping
the cars, which had lately been put on
the engine.


Jack Henderson, the regular engineer,
understood its working, and had explain
ed the principle to Joe, who was greatly
interested in such things-and he had
run the risk of his life by stopping to
work this when he might have leaped off
safely. The engine was nearly a wreck,
but the cars stopped all right, and Joe's
courage and presence of mind had saved
fearful loss of life. What had I done
to deserve such husband?


He had some cuts and bruises, but moth
ing serious; they did not prevent our
going to mothers to meet Sue. The boys
were coming, also, with their wives On
the way we met stout, stern looking old
man, stumping along with q gold headed
cane, who stopped in front of Joe and
calculated:


"Well done, young man; shall keep
an eye on you"


He vouchsafed me keen look from his
bushy eyebrows, and passed along. 1t
was the President of the road. walked
on air the rest of the way, even although
wore the old alpaca and plaid shawl.
Only mother need not have peered at me
through her spectacles and said


Chow nicely you have altered your
dress, Matte; one can hardly see the
piecings"


And Edwards stately wife added in a
way she meant to be kind


'You have quite genius for that sort
of thing, child"


CA poor mans wife needs to have" I
said, little .hotly.


suppose they saw did not like it, for
they changed the conversation and began
to talk about Eddie. Mrs. Edward, whose
four perfectly trained children were the
wonder Of all beholders, was pleased to
admire his pretty ways; and when Char
ley's wife caught him to her bosom, in a
passionate embrace, I knew she was
thinking of her one little child that had
lain under the daisies these two years.


The evening train brought Will, and
Will brought the diamond. Sue put it
on and flashed it in our faces, but glanc-
ed down at my forget me not, and up at
Joe, and was contented. Anybody could
have diamonds-I had Joe.


They did not admire it so much after
all Edwards wife had diamonds of her
own, larger and finer. Charley's wife
said-"It is very pretty, Sue, dear, but
she had many more words Of admiration
for the dimple in Eddie's chin.


eyes," 1 explained, when she spoke
of its beauty again; ''he inherits it from
his father; the beard hides it, but you can
see where it grows little darker in the
center of his chin; Joe has lovely great
dimple just there. yrxv1-


could see Edwards mouth twitch a
little at the idea of there being anything
''lovely" about Joe, but | did not care.
Then Will pulled an evening paper from
his pocket and read an account OF the ac
cident, and my tall, awkward husband
was the hero of the hour. I oS1I1 Gz@ s
VIII even Sa1Q-by george, Nc sHouiu
like to do such thing as that himself;
as if he could-as if there could be any
comparison between short, fussy Will
Lindley, and my Joe!


suppose President Hart is still keep
| ing an eve on Joe-at least he is running
the same train for the same pay as ever
| But I think I can never be discontented
any more; l will keep my husband and
| nv how and Sue can keen the diamonds.
-LocOm0ta0e Engineers Journal.


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