Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-07-13

his face cleaned, and his eve again sparkled.
J Gods thanks, Maryl Gods thanks, | am
pardOnedp and then covering his face with his
hands, he burst into a loud ii Of weeping; and
in moment sunk down. a sObbing, quiyering
mass, upon the engine mat.
Now was my time-now or never. Hook.
ed forth. Ahead of Us sparked the lights OF
D. They were miles-many miles away,
but ten minutes at our present pace would shoot
Us in spinters through the walls Of the station.
WesIhorpe lay sobbing hystencally; had
enough acquaintance with the locomotive 10
know the mechanical process Of shutting Off
the steam, and grasping the handle Of the lever
| turned the tide of the fierce Vapor from the
machinery.
The wheels had not spun round single turn
when Westhorpe, as il by instinct, sprung up,
and, with a roar Of hoarse fury, dragged me
from the machinery. One Of his huge hands
was clUlcned round my throat-I wriihed under
the workings Of its great iron muscles-whiIe
with the other he wrenched the lever and, feh
the steam let on again. groaned family. He
relaxed his hold Of my neck, and grasping me
BY both shoulders, drew me to him. | made no
efIor-one struggle. Twining my leg round
his, by sudden wrench succeeded in finging
him backwards with heavy clash, partly up
on the engine floor, partly upon box destined
TO contain grease, tools, and other useful impe-
menls in case Of accidents. The advantage was
but fora moment. felt his strength rising be-
meath my weight like Titan's. With one
bound he was on his feet, grasPng me, a strug-
Cling mass in his arms.
There, 90 after Jefferies,' he roared.
Ny muscles invoIunIarily contracted. SEEM
ed toshrink into a ball. as felt by the winding
up, as it we're Of the muscular power Of his
arms, that he was almost in the act Of finging
me down the high embankment we we're then
shooting across. All at once he screamed
OUT
D., D., there's the light Of D.,
the station lights-the green signal TO stop, stop,
stop-ha, ha, ha!-stop. D., the station,
we'll 60 through it-Ihrough-through walls,
houses, streets. Stop-na, ha, ha, hal
held my breath, was still grasped in his
arms. Ny head spun round and round; blue
and yellow flashes appeared almost TO iIlumine
my brain: the quarter mile stones seemed tumb-
ling past, one on the top Of the other, the sway
of the engine increased; il rocked, and bound
ed, and roared down the inclined plane to the
station. ! saw the cleaning post, The lights in
the baggage and engine sheds, heard the
exulting scream Of the maniac, mingled with
shouts and whistles and the ringing of bells,
which seemed to rise on every side. | saw the
dusky hue of standing carriages, saw the gilt
ter Of the brilliantly lighted station; saw the
flying groups upon the platform. | saw pillars,
lamps, engines; one mass, ont confused, gleam-
ing shouting mass. gasped; then with yell
which seemed TO transform all nature into that
wild, ghastly, death shrek, we dashed on
On nothing!
:Now, then, tickets, please, gentlemen, get
your tickels ready, D. station, gentlemen.
Ten minutes allowed for refreshments, gentle
men,
! started up with stammering cry.
"Holloa, holloa, what's the matter with youl
You've been groaning and moaning in your
sleep for the last half hour
'Westhorpe, Westhorpe,' gasped.
The mans asleep still. What the deuce do
you mean by Westhorpel Rouse up, man,
and let us have some stout and sandwiches
| sank back.
'It was dream then?' muttered.
'Ay, railway nightmare, my boy. Did not
| warn you ofthe beefsteak pie at Leeds! But
what was it all about! You were thinking of
some of your expressing work, were you not.
4 was. Thank God il was but dream; as
you say, Railway Nightmare