Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-01


time L shouted the word / seemed in DESPAIR,
nerved up to greater power Of speech, and call
| ing louder and louder each time Did he hear
There was no answer-all was still! Oh, mer-
ciful Heaven was this last chance of life de-
| MED me?
"Halloo!"
The voice was distant, but oh how nv blood
leaped with joy at the sound
Again called with all the strength of nv
lungs, and again was answered. In Ii tile
while a figure appeared advancing towards me.
but 1t was growing already SO dark that could
not recognise him, nor did care to but when
ne came close to me, one glance showed me that
1t was Arthur Wesley, Should let him pass
| by, nor ask him to assist me Would be do So
AS he approached he asked:
| are you hurt ?" ''
No, thank you, am not much hurt, but
see, am so nicely trapped here, that could
not iree myself all alone, and L think it is
nearly time for the down train to be due ,,
1t was growing dark very fast. So dark. in
deed, was 1T that / found it impossible 10 dis
cover what time 1t was by my match He never
nesltated moment, but seized the detested
plank with both hands, and at the same instant
also Initiated his movements. The accursed
tning resisted all our efforts, and remained eb-
stlnately immovable What should be done
In half an hour the train would be due-wouId
there be time to go for assistance-to bring an
axe and hberate my foot He would try.
" For God sake, Mr.. Wesley" said /. as he
started to go, 90 be expeditions 1t too horri-
Die to be obliged to sit here and face death un-
willingly"
was alone again. The winds sighed mourn-
fully about me, but 1 felt relief even forgot
my danger and turned my attention once more
TO the thoughts with which had been occupied
when unwittingly stumbled into nv present
unpleasant dilemma
Nevertheless, | was apprehensive that he
might Do delayed until the train should pass
Ii lact, mad no assurance that he had time to
go to Mr. Ames and return before it should be
TOO late Another thought rushed upon INV
frantic BRAIN Had he deceived me Would
ne not be only too happy in being thus easily
rld OF my unwelcOme presence l knew he
never would como to me again-he would leave
me TO the mercy of such a cruel death Heay-
ems There is no mistakng that sound-tbe
whistle at the P Station, only five miles
distant o
How well do remember the thoughts that
passed through my mind, as patiently await
Ell the return of Arthur Wesley; for, although
l had every reason to believe he would not
come, still L instinctively awaited him. and
hoped, oh, how l hoped he would return
hour alter hour had sat there all day, and
now was still waiting and vibrating between
the hope OF delivery and the almost certain
conviction OF destruction. The fearful chill of
despair was creeping over me; my trembling
limbs already announced that my nerves were
sinking in exhaustion. At every moment
Kept watch for his returning footsteps, but
no welcome sound fell on my ear
Hark 1t is the train The low. distant
thunder cannot neceive me now. 1t will be
hero In few minutes.
Help, help
Ihe walling cry faded away, and there was
no answer. Louder and louder came the tbun-
DER Nearer and nearer came the train The
rlslng moon disclosed to me the white column of
smoke and steam, arising above the hill beyond
The curve; and now the regularly beating puff
anu cough OF the engine struck my ear, like the
gloatlng chuckle Of some terrible monster re- |
garding his victim. How like a pbrenzy the
Thought came on me that it was now too late for
assistance No human being would venture
on the bridge when the train was within hear
ing distance when it was too dark to distip-
guish objects In time to stop the impetuous fire.
morse ana yet furious and frantic at the
thought OF such death, | stretched my tremb-
ling limbs TO their utmost and shrieked again
ana again until L grew hOarse, and the t6up-
derIng train drowned the feeble effort of my
voice. And now deiirium seized me- fancied
some giant fend held down the plank which 1
yalnly tried tn wrench from its firm position
could hear the chuckle of satisfaction that it
gave to think it had Inc there 10 safely in its
power.
The loud roar that now reached my ear an
nounced that the train had struck the bridge
theTe came an end to hope-Oh, God, no power
eouid avert the death that stared mo in the face.
for an instant saw countless demons hoyerinp
through the air. Fire and smoke enyeloped m.
-there was crushing blow, a convuision. a
aim recollection Of keen pains shooting through
my imprisoned limb and all was darkness L
knew no more
when l returned again to consciousness,
was lying on an easy couch, in o room dimly
lighted, but neatly and tidily furnished While
L lay, wondering where l wa. and trying to re-
call what had passed, the door was slowly
opened and Lucy Ames entered the room. In
moment she was by my bedside, watching the
motions and the expressions OF my cOuntenance.
doubtieSs imagining that was still delirous.
Lucy-Miss Ames,''
She started back rs uttered the nam. ..
though unwilling that should discover her
real thoughts; but, in moment recovering, all
self-possessOn, she looked calmly toward me
and asked, with tone Of affected Indifference
do you not feel easier, now 90
- Indeed, scarce know how L do feel " re-
Piled, " but there is a pain and soreness in nv
head, and, in fact, in all my limbs. I must
have been badly hurt
had dim recollection Of the occurrence
narrated above; and / surely felt surprise that
L should have again awakened to life The
pam which felt, on regaining my reason, in
creased no" mOmentarlly. physician was at
hand, and every effort was made by him as
well AS the members of Mr. Ames' family lin
whose house was then lying) in which, also
Lucy and Mr.. Wesley joined, to alleviate my
suherings.
In spite Of all their attentions, my pains rap
idly augmented, and, in short time, L was
again lost in the unconscious delirium of feyer
In my vague dreamings, L was again on the
narrow bridge, bending every effort, and strain
ing every nerve, to remove the piece of wood
that bound me there. Again was chained TO
a hugo rock, in which unconscious laborers
were drilling holes, which they filed with
| powder, to blast the unsoemly mass to atoms
friends, shapeless and hideOus, flew about
me, chattering in glee-delnons danced on the
shaFp edges Of the rock, chuckling again like
.he measured puff Of the engine; and, ut
intervals, they stopped to bind the chains
eioser, until the links festered in the very
aesh' and turned my blood to gall with the
po.Son IN which they had been dipped. Cav
eihs ya"hed on every side To receive me- All
at once was heard the long shrill whistle Of the