Distant Dreams (2 page)

The crowd responded with oohs and aahs. Several men began to inspect the wheel mechanisms while Thomas continued. “I am pleased also to announce that this is but the first of many roundtrips to come between our fair cities. A regular schedule of two trips per day is planned, and should this prove inadequate, we are prepared to add additional trips to accommodate those who wish to ride.”

He spoke next of the future of the B&O Railroad, but Carolina heard little of what he said. Forgetting her mother’s warning, she ventured ever closer to the locomotive. It still hissed, with billowing puffs of steam erupting from safety valves on the side. Two men peered down from the engine’s standing platform, thoroughly enjoying the crowd’s reaction. However, for the ceremony they had been required to wear their best black frock suits, and they looked most uncomfortable. The younger of the two tugged at his starched white collar, while the older man mopped sweat from his brow.

Carolina smiled up at them sheepishly, knowing she was being quite brazen in her approach. The men could hardly fail to notice the pretty girl in her fashionable afternoon dress of powder blue linen, trimmed in navy, with a matching bonnet tied smartly at her chin. The men gave her friendly grins.

Mother will skin me alive, Carolina thought, brown curls bobbing as she cast a quick glance over her shoulder.

But she couldn’t stop herself. The black giant enticed her forward. What was it that drew her? The other women in the crowd were not so fascinated; in fact, many were absolutely terrified. Carolina was a bit scared herself, but more so at her own inexplicable reaction. But she’d always had a curious nature.

“Too curious for your own good,” her mother would often say.

Something inside her wanted to know the how and why about everything. She was constantly plying her father with questions. Poor, dear Papa! But he always answered patiently, even if her questions were sometimes not appropriate from the lips of a young lady.

Thomas’s words momentarily intruded into Carolina’s thoughts: “The development of our great nation will depend upon machines such as these. Today, we celebrate the innovation of man’s mind, but tomorrow we seek the dream of our future. And this, ladies and gentlemen, will be the key to all our dreams.”

It was as if the man were speaking directly to Carolina. How many times had her mother scolded her for her frequent daydreams? But she couldn’t help it. She knew she had too many lofty notions. She dreamed of far more than a proper young lady should. Of things fit only for a man. Or were they?

Was this train, then, the key only to male dreams? Or would it somehow involve her?
Could
it? In her mind it seemed as if its powerful bulk could do anything, even satisfy the nameless longing that had always haunted Carolina.

Suddenly Carolina reached out her hand toward the smooth black iron of the engine, but just as quickly, she pulled her hand back. Glancing warily around, she wondered if anyone had noticed what she had been about to do. Completely wedged in by the crowd, her parents were still talking, apparently unaware of her absence. The rest of the crowd was riveted either to the man on the platform or the commotion behind the tender where several workmen were busy detaching the other three engines and their accompanying passenger cars.

Thomas had finished his speech and the announcer was once again at the podium. “Who from our fair city will take the first ride?” asked the man. Then he looked directly at Carolina and shouted, “You, young woman! You may have the first ride!”

Carolina gasped. Was he actually speaking to her? Realizing she was suddenly the center of attention, her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened in horror. If her mother had previously been ignorant of her actions, she would definitely know now. But before Carolina could protest—not that she
wanted
to—she was being handed up to a small platform attached behind the engine. The back of the platform held a tenderbox of coal, but space had been cleared in order to allow several people at a time to enjoy a standing ride.

“This is usually filled full,” said the engineer. He was the older of the two men who had noticed her before. “But I reckon your company is better than coal any day!” He winked at her from behind a dimpled smile.

“ ’Fraid we wouldn’t get very far without fuel,” said the younger man over his shoulder. As the locomotive’s fireman, he was already adding a heaping shovelful of coal to the firebox.

“But why am I up here and not in one of the covered cars?” she asked hesitantly.

“Mr. Thomas thought this to be a bit more exciting,” the older man told her. “You get a real feel for the machine this way.”

“It’s more dangerous,” the fireman told her with a jaunty grin, “but more fun, too.”

Carolina nodded with rapt attention. She wished they’d tell her more, but both men had seemingly forgotten her as they went about their tasks. Her heart pounded so hard that Carolina feared she actually might swoon. This is dangerous, she told herself, but her mind refused to equate the relevance of such a thought.

If Carolina had previously known excitement, then this was pure bliss. She stared past the engineer in his frock coat to the wide mouth of the firebox. The younger man was tossing in coal, almost as if he were feeding a ravenous animal.

Four more people were selected from the clamoring crowd to accompany Carolina before the engineer gave the signal and the track was cleared to allow the locomotive to move forward. Carolina looked down upon the crowd, feeling lucky indeed that she was one of the fortunate ones. Her mother would never understand, and Carolina made a pointed effort to avoid those eyes she knew would be filled with disapproval.

With a lurch and a scraping of metal against metal, the machine strained to move. Bit by bit it inched its way forward. Carolina held her breath and gripped the platform railing. Her pulse raced. A young boy at her side puckered his face and looked as if he might cry, but the man beside him lifted him up and hushed his fears. The other two passengers were white-faced and spellbound while the train groaned forward another twenty feet, then stopped once again.

“Well, what did you think, young lady?” the announcer asked Carolina as he helped her down from the engine.

Carolina’s only response was a speechless stare. Then someone else shouted from the crowd, “What was it like?”

This broke her spell. “It was wondrous!” Carolina declared. Even her mother’s inevitable ire couldn’t spoil the moment. “Absolutely wondrous!”

Carolina watched as if in a daze as new passengers were loaded aboard and the train moved again. Swallowed up in the sea of moving people, Carolina felt the impact of the moment. She had actually ridden the beast with its churning, hissing, groaning voice. She had touched the future. Her future?

Looking down at her hands, she noticed for the first time black smudges on the white kid gloves from where she’d held on to the rail. In complete amazement she traced the outline of the stains, then smiled as if discovering a wonderful secret.

2

Repercussions

“Carolina!”

The harsh voice of Margaret Adams instantly jarred Carolina from her awed musings. She glanced up to see her family approach.

“How could you?” Margaret was pale in spite of the strength of her voice and appeared almost as if she might well faint. “Putting yourself on display for all the capital to see. When I think of what Washington society will say about my daughter in their homes tonight . . .” She ended with a shudder. Then, reaching out to take her daughter in hand, she noticed the soiled gloves. “They are ruined, of course.” With an indignant huff she dropped Carolina’s hand and continued. “Well, we’ve no choice now but to return to the hotel so that you can repair the damage to your appearance. I hope you realize just how you have disgraced our family today.”

“Nonsense, Mrs. Adams,” said Joseph. “Be reasonable. The child merely rode the locomotive. It isn’t like she robbed a bank.” Muttonchop whiskers and bushy dark eyebrows made his face seem stern and unyielding, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes, and the corners of his lips twitched as though he might break into a smile any moment.

A giggle escaped Carolina’s lips at her father’s words, further alienating her mother.

“You both find this so amusing. . . .” Margaret’s voice dropped to a whisper. “We will discuss this back at the hotel. I, for one, desire no further public display.” With a snap of her parasol, she turned on her heel and strode away.

Joseph winked at his daughter before hurrying forward to take up his wife’s arm. Carolina’s older sister, Virginia, fell into step beside her. Virginia’s face was so grim Carolina wished she could be swallowed up by the earth.

“I think it’s positively horrid what you did to Mother,” hissed Virginia.

“I did nothing wrong.”

Virginia snorted. “You embarrassed our whole family and have the nerve to say you did nothing wrong! Why, Mother might not even be able to attend the social coming up next week at the Baldwins’ all because of how you behaved today.” Then her glare turned especially rabid. “There’s a good chance she won’t even allow
me
to attend. If that happens, Carolina, I will never forgive you.”

Before Carolina could respond, her sister stormed off to join her parents.

“Looks like you’ve ruffled Virginia’s feathers again.”

Carolina turned to see her oldest brother. “Oh, York, I never meant to put everyone into a stir. But did you see it?” She quickly forgot her sister’s anger as she noted how her brother’s eyes lit up.

“Yes, I did!” He squeezed her arm affectionately. “And I might add that I am pea green with envy. I had planned to take the locomotive to Baltimore on my way back to the university. But you’ve beaten me to the chance of being the first in our family to ride the Washington rail.” He spoke with more pride, however, than envy. “What was it like?”

Carolina smiled like a child. “Terrifying and wonderful all at the same time.”

York laughed out loud, bringing a glare from Virginia, who turned, unable not to notice the happy duo. Attempting to be more decorous as they walked on the street, York quieted, smoothing back an unruly lock of dark brown hair from his forehead. “They’ll come around,” he said softly.

“Joseph Adams!” a voice called.

Leland Baldwin, one of Washington’s private bank owners, had spotted the family and spoiled Margaret Adams’ hopes for a hasty retreat back to Gadsby’s Hotel.

“Good morning, Baldwin,” said Adams, tipping his hat in greeting.

The rotund Baldwin panted to a stop as the family paused for him. “Good morning!” he said, out of breath. “Ladies.” He lifted his top hat with an embellished sweep toward Margaret and the girls.

“Good to see you, Baldwin. How are you?” asked Joseph.

“Splendid! And you?”

“We are well. I must say this new rail line is quite the ticket for our city. And what a celebration! I heard you personally had a hand in arranging the fine feast of French cuisine Gadsby’s is supplying at the party afterward.”

Baldwin seemed pleased that Joseph would credit him with the accomplishment. “A well-deserved celebration. I wanted to show those Baltimorians that we here in Washington City know quite well how to entertain. Maybe even persuade a few of them to invest their money right here in the capital.”

“Seems it will be a likely possibility, thanks to inventions like that grand locomotive.”

“A mere flash in the pan.”

“You weren’t impressed?”

“From a purely business standpoint,” answered Baldwin, “I don’t believe it has proven itself enough to merit all the attention. It’s a novelty, a toy so to speak.”

“So, you don’t consider it a sound investment opportunity?”

“I could name ten better.” Baldwin became animated as he launched into a speech on money and investment, obviously his favorite topics.

Carolina listened to the interchange for a moment, hoping to hear more about the train. But when it quickly turned to other topics, she grew bored and let her mind wander. She glanced over her shoulder as the steam whistle of the locomotive blasted a mournful call. What was it about that monstrous machine that so consumed her? Staring down at her soiled gloves, she lifted them to her nose and inhaled the scent of oil and smoke.

What have I done? she wondered. What have I done?

Inside the stately elegance of their hotel suite, Carolina awaited her mother’s further reprimand. Virginia had taken a seat beside her mother, as if hoping to bear witness to the punishment of her sibling. Joseph and York uncomfortably wandered to the window and gazed at the street below as if they hoped that might fend off what was surely coming.

Carolina stood by the mantel twisting the ruined gloves in her hands. Silently she wished she could get the matter over with. Taking up her handbag, she crammed the incriminating gloves inside, hoping that with them out of sight things might go better for her.

Just as her mother opened her mouth to speak, a child’s excited voice called out. “Father! Father!” Georgia Adams burst into her parents’ hotel sitting room without warning. Behind her huffed and puffed a portly black woman, holding the hand of another younger girl.

“You should have seen it!” Georgia exclaimed.

“Georgia Elizabeth! Remember you’re a young lady,” Margaret admonished her daughter.

Joseph grinned. It was well known that his wife’s scolding was doomed to defeat when it came to Georgia. Caught between her desire to be a refined southern belle and her love of tomboyish activities, at thirteen, Georgia struggled to find her proper place.

“Now, what’s this all about?” asked Joseph.

“You should have seen it, Father!” Georgia barely remembered to restrain her unladylike excitement. “It was loud and smelly and hissing and evil. It frightened me to the bottom of my boots!”

“Ah, you must have seen the locomotive.”

“We did, Papa.” This came from ten-year-old Pennsylvania, who wrenched away from her mammy’s hold. “I wanted to ride on it.”

“Not me!” Georgia said, pulling off her gloves and bonnet. “I thought it perfectly awful.”