The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1864-12-17
T H E + L X

with scream and rush and roar, now
diving into tunnels, now ploughing our
way between deep banks, now among the
dark trees and hedges. On past the
lighted stations, where the signal was
made that the road vas clear, and where
policemen and portcrs, and passengers
waiting for some slower train that stop
ped there, were to be seen Watching US
as we few past. But they never saw
me as | clung, with desperate gripo and
aching limbs, to the swiftly hurryingz
mass ofwood and iron. Twice during
that phantom ride I heard the shrek OF
the steam whistle of a coming train, and
twice | saw the red lamps and fame oI
the advancing engine, glaring through
the dark like the angry eyes and lurit
breath OF some monstrous creature rush
ing down upon its prey. And then
with clong and clash, and delfening roar,
aud in the midst OF a gust ofwind caused
by its rapid progress, the long array of
carriages went by me. On, on, as if Z
impellod by demons force, we few
and still feobler grow my arm, and felt
despair and fatigue bcuuub NV faculties.
and was half tempted to let 60 my hold
and drop, and face the worst at once
beneath the grinding sway of the mer-
ciless wheels.
Should we never be at CT How
long would that hideous night continue?
Was it possible that my tired muscles
wonld much longer endure the strain
upon them2 And then came a new
thought. remembered that in dean
Carry's last letter she had made me a
halfplayful promise that she and my
sister Clara and the rest would como
down to the station and meet me there
on the arrival of the night train. That
recollection filled my tortured heart with
new anguish, as l thought of our
mutual love, Of the wedding day so soon
to come, aud Of poor Carolino's grief
when she should be left, widowed of
the be trothed bridegroom of her choice.
And then the mental pain was conquered
by physical weakness and distress, and
my dulled brain preserved nothing but
a vague terror lest 1 should fall-fall
beneath those pitiless iron wheels so
close to me. And then l seemed to fall
again into q waking dream, through
which the lights ofC--- station gleam-
ed very brilliantly,
Real lights a real crowd though the
figures seemed to wavcr dimly before my
saw saw commotion among those on the
platform. I heard shout of surprise,
ind men came running and lifted me
from where lay, and carried me be-
,wGon then ipte the station. ,ths, .esutre
nent and alarm. Among those faces
was that of Caroline Lethbridge, and as
the saw me, pale, bloody, and apparently
lead, and heard me called dead by the
needless tongues around her, 1 tried in
1ain to speak, as 1 saw her totter and
3ink fainting in my sisters arms. And
hen I swooned again, and when medical
care and rest brought back my senses, l
cad in the plying looks Of those about
ne that some fresh grief was in store for
ne. 1t was even so.
My Caroline was dangerously i'll of a
,rain fever, and though her lite was
vas saved: her reason, poor stricken y
hing, never was restored. As for my
elf, long illness followed, and left me
,roken in health and spirits, and with
lair that the horror of that hidcous night ~
lad sprinkled with premature gray.
)ur two happy young lives were bligh-
cd by one stroke.
AS for the Russian and his aocomplice,
II clue to them ana to the stolen jewels
Veretcst. s"Yot, sooner or later, cannot
oubt that Justice will claim her own.