Stopped By Signal

' What station is this, Wilson 't" oried an old gentleman, looking out of the window. His servant, a demure-looking man in black, touched his hat and replied : " I dun't kiiow, sir ; l'll ask the guard. Yes, sir ; Sloughton station, sir." " There ought to be a board with the name on it," cried the old gentleman tes tily. " Guard, why isn't thero a board to this station 't" " So there is, sir, at tbe other end of the platform. " Thon why doesn't the train stop where people can read it 't How am I to know when we get to Pugborough, Wilson 't' " We shan't be at Pugborough for this hour, sir," cried the guard. " Come, jump in, sir," to Wilson, who resumed his seat. The whistlo sounded, and the train wont on. At the very next station they came to, the old gentleman put nis heart out of the window again. " Hi, Wilson." Wilson jumped out of his carriage and came to his master, and touched his hat once more. " Is this Pugborough, Wilson 't" "No, sir; this is Much Munkton." " Now, take your seat," cried the guard, for only one pissenger hadalight ed, and none had entered the tiain. At the next station the same scène was repeated " Come, sir," said the guard, who was tired of hearing the old inan's voice, " don't trouble yourself any more. l'll be sure and let you know when you come to Pugborough." " Will you 'r"' criod the old gentleman, apparently much gratifled. "Upon my word, you're very kind. I didu't like to ask you ; I know how much you have to do." " It's only my duty, sir," said the guard, slamming the door. " Hi, guard," cries the old gentleman. "Yes, sir!" replied the guard, itnpatiently, returning to the carriage door. " You're quite sure, now 't You're quite sure, eh ! You won't forget me at Pugborough 'f " Oh no, sir," said the guard ; " that'll be all right." "And Wilson - where's Wilson? Oh, here, Wilson, you won't forget my box, Wilson, when we get to Pugborough 'f' " No, Bir," says Wilson, scrambliug into his seat once more. " Trouble8ome old chap that," eaid the guard as he swung himselt into his van. " I musn't forget him at Pugborough. There's no other passenger for there." Now, Pugborough was one of those mysterious places that are marked with a cross or dagger in Bradshaw, and if you succeed in unearthing a corresponding dagger in some secure cornr of the page, you will find " Stops at Pugborough to cake up and set down first class London passengers only." Whether it was that the guard, in his excess of anxiety to remember, had blunted his taculties, or that some spitetul Puck had given his wits a bewilderïng shake, I know not but somuhow it happened that the guard forgot to wam the engine driver and when the man looked up trom his pareéis, he found, to his dismay, that the train was fLishing along some half mile past the httle Pugborough station. To signal the driver and put on the brake was the work of an instant. The train was brought to a standstill, and then slowly bncked to the station amidst the fierce denunciations of the through passengers. The guard was much out of temper, angry with hiinself for his forgetfuluess, augry with the old gentleman tor having given him so much trouble. " Now, then !" he shout6d to the manservant. "Sharp! Look after your mas ter's traps. Here you are, sir," he cried, opening the first-elass caniage. "Here's Pugborough. Now, sir, it you please." The old gentleman was asleep and could not be roused to a sense ot the situ.ition for some time. He growled and grumbled. At last, f ully roused, hestared at the guard, with lacklustre eyes. "Pugborough 'i Is it Pugboruugh 't Thank you, guard, I remember. Whtre's Wilsou 't Wilson, Wilson, where's my box 't" " Never mind your box, sir - l'll see to the luggage. Jump out, quick, please." " Jump out !" cried the old gentleman ; "jump out! Why should I jump out 't Who said anything about gettiug out 't" " What !" cried the guard aggrieved to the verge of desperation ; " Haven't you been bothering about Pugborough ever siuce we left Euston 't" " At your own request, guard," said the uld gentleman calmly, " I mtrusted you with the duty of warniug me of my arrival at Pugborough. I should have preterred to leave the task to my own servant. Ah ! here's the box. Thank you, Wilson," said the old gentleman, taking from his servant's bands a small pink box. " The fact is," said the old gentleman, calmly, opening the box and looking be nignly at the excited guard, " that my daughter gave me the most particular injunctions. 'Mind papa,' she said, ' be sure you take a pill at Pugborough.' " The old gentleman could never understand why the carriage door was dashed to with sueh violence, the whistle sounded with such a fieudish yell, and Wilson whirled into his carriage without being permitted to take charge once more of his