Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-02-20

"Ohi how thankful was to see you enter
the car felt presentiment that you would
in some way save me from these horrid men,
Here the poor girl burst into tears.
don't knoW what did OF said, only that
comforted her, and vowed | would never
forsake her,
The time was now approaching when the
two o'clock trainwas due. There was DEATH
like silence, broken only by the mournful
tones of occasional gusts of wind, which, like
evil spirits sporting round US, rushed to and
fro through the ill-made cars, unseen, but
painfully heard and felt.
Everyone had haldled themselves in what
ever they could find as a protection from the
biting cold. Although hardy and strong, |
began to feel exhausted and benumbed and
probably should have fallen into dangerous
stupor but for my mind being racked with
thought. 81 Efss
How should | act?
If gave these two menup to justice (sup-
posing the Overseer suryived) what proof
was there that they had poisoned the par
alytic ?"
l asked Alice-so we will now call her
whether the overseer had the spoils with him
or not: She said he had admitted to her
that he had gold, notes and securities TO a
very large amount upon him.
then searched the still sleeping Doctor :
he was so motionless and deathlike that be-
gan to fear lest the chloroform had had a
fatal effect upon him. l found nothing but a
few dollars, and revolver, which l took
and, with his own neck-handkerchief, securely
tied his hands behind him.
1t was now showing heavily again; but
sailed forth once more into the snow, and
found the overseer still under the engine
frozen as hard as the iron which covered him.
and doubtless quite dead.
With fingers almost as lifeless as his own,
searched him, and found, besides the expected
loaded revolver and bowie knife, large can-
vas belt, fastened round his waist, containing
the stolen money.
fastened back with it to Alice, fearing
she might be overcome with the cold, and
fall asleep.
just as had my hand on the door of the
car, heard a well known sound; there was
no need to think twice-the driver of the
expected train, blinded by the snow, had not
seen the danger signal With criminal neg
ligence they had not telegraphed our non
arrival from R; the train was rushing
on u.s.
l shouted loudly to the occupants of the
cars to save themselves, and sprang into ours
for Alice
Even in the short time / had been absent
she had nearly gone to sleep.
No wonder, poor girl She had experienced
hunger, thirst, (for she dare not take fooC
from the overseer, lest he should poison her,
excitement and cold-bitter cold, such a.
happily we don't know in England.
/ seized her in my arms, and had scarcely
leaped from the car before the crash came
will not dilate on the horrors of the col
iision-we have too many such descriptions
in our daily papers. Happily, my shouting
had aroused most of the passengers, but some
three or four never knew how death came.
laid the fainting body of Alice for few
! moments, carefully wrapped up, on the snow
whilst | searched for our late evil com
panions.
The murderers had met milder fate thar
they deserved. The frozen overseer was com
pletely smashed beneath the engine. Wheth
er the "doctor" really died from the effects
of cold and the chloroform | cannot tell, anC
do not like to think.
He also was bruised and almost shapeless
mass both had died painless deaths.
The engineer and stoker of the train which
run into US had jumped into the snow, anC
were unhurt The passengers were very few
We made great fires of the Debris, and wait
ed the morning, when help should come.
Amid all the horrors of the scene / felt
thrill of happiness in having Alice looking a
me as her sole protector, and through the
night laying her head on my shoulder, in shee
WEAKNESS and exhaustion, suffering my arm
| to support her.
felt as if | had known her for years Wa
| the gentle girl who leaned unconSciously OF
me, whom had met under such strange cir
cumstances-was she soon to be severed from
me? No! never! And with that thought
clasped her closer to my heart.
At last help came; about o'clock in til,
morning an express came fran R, ex
pecting to find breakdown they took III
up, and we arrived at R about eigh
o'clock.
asked Alice what she would wish to do
In some confusion she said:
81 know not what to say ~ But, putting
| her little hand in mine, she said: evil
YOU who have watched over me through tina
| dreadful night, who have saved me from the
| horrors of which l cannot think, see me safe
| back to my own hOme-my own, indeed
now; it will be very lonely, no one to wei
come me but the servants; but it is my right
placei Am | asking too much ?"
offered myself, poor surveyor, as hei
husband as well as protector.
She did not say no.
X X
Veg up the plantation for | could
not reconcile myself to my owning slaves, al
though theirs was anything but bondage.
The railway accident was universally be
| lieved 30 be the cause of the death of Alice's
uncle, the overseer, and the "doctor;" AL
ice with pardonable deception, explaining
that the doctor" not finding Dr. W al
his own town, insisted on going to the next
to some other surgeon.
Alice and / have now lived happily in England
many years; but we never see the snow ly.
ing thickly on the ground, without shudder
ing at the recollection of the night which we
passed in the snow drift.
THE GOLD MEDAL FOR GEN. GRANT.-Leutze
is making design for the gold medal ordered
by Congress for presentation to Gen. Grant
in commemoration of his victories over the
rebels. The diverse of the medal will con.
sist of a profile likeness of the hero, sur.