The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-08-09
scientific club couldn't smell like bar


"Ned," said she, II never had fault
to find with you before III say that
You've been kind, and good, and loving
always; but | should be sorry we ever
met If you were to go on in this way.
Don't ask me what mean. You know"
"Jo.," said ! "it's only on club
nights
at viii grow" said she.
Then she put her arm round my neck.
''Ncd, said she, "do you think a
thing so much like bottled up and
strapped down demon as steam is, is fit
to be put into the hands Of drunken
man? And some day, mark my words,
the time will come when not only Thurs.
day night but al the days Of the week
will he the same. I've often heard you
wonder what the feelings Of an engineer
who has about the same rs murdered a
train full Of people must he, and you'll
know if you don't stop where you are.
\ steady hand and n clear head have
| been your blessings all these years
Don't throw them away Ned. If you
dou't care FOR my love, dout ruin your.
self"
Ny li,tle 10. She spoke from her
heart, and bent over and kissed her.
Don't be afraid, child, ! said; "ill
never pain sou again. -
And meant i, but at twelve that
night | felt that had forgotten the
| promise and my resolution
I couldn't 20 home to Jo | made up
my mind 10 sleep on the club sofa and
leave the place Tor good next day Al
ready felt my brain reel - IT never
had before. la an hour | was IN a kind
/ Of n stupor
IL was morning 4 waitcF stood ready
to brush my coat ] saw grin on his
black face My head seemed about Ia
burst; my baud trcmhlcd; looked at
my watch, had only just Eve minutes
to reach thc depot
jos words came 70 my miud Was
I iii to take charge OF the engine !
was no, it a. answer ough, to have
asked some sober man As Il was, |
only caught ny hat and rushed away
+ | was just so time
The san Francisco riittorcd IN the
morning sun The cars were filing
rapidly From my post | oould hear
. ia, people talking bidding each other
/ good bye promising to write aud 10 come
.ain Amongst ibtm was an old ccu-
tlcmau | knew hy .igh,--ooc Of the
shareholder, he Was bidding two timid
girls adicu.
Good byc. kitiy good bye Luc. (" ]
heard him say, don't be nervous. The
. San Francisco j. the safest engine ca
, the line aud Guclden tho most careful
engineer wouldn't be afraid To trust
every mortal love in batch 10 their
keeping Nothing could happen wrong
with the two together,
/ said I'm get through it somchow,
aud 10 shall never talk 10 tue again.
Aitcr all 1t WAS easy enough ! rcelod
as spoke heard the signal We
I were pH
Five hours from J.. 10 H.; five hours
/ back On the last ! should be myself
again, know now saw a red futtor,
aud never guessed what it was until wc
were passed the down train nt a wrong
/ place. Two minutes more aud we should
have had collision Somebody told
me. laughed / heard him say res.
/ poctiully,
cor course, Mr. Gucldcn, you know
what you are about p
Then | was alone aud wondering
whether should go slower or faster |
did something, the ears rushed on at
fearful rate.
The same man who had spoken 10 me
teiorc was standing near me. | heard
some question.
How many miles an hour were We
making? | did't know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle ! was trying
now 20 slacken the apecd Of the San
Francisco. could not remember what
| should do. Was it this, or that p
Fastcr--only faster. | was playing
with the engine like a child.
Suddenly there was horrible roar
a crash; | was flung somewhere. II
was into the water. BY miracle | was
only sobcred, not hurt | gained the
shore; | stood upon the ground between
the track aud the rivers edge, and there
gazing at my own work.
The engine was in fragments, the cars
in splinters dead and dying aud woun-
ded were strewn around-men and wo-
men aud ehildren-old age and tender
youth. There were groans and shrieks
of despair The manned cried out 10
pain the uninjurod bcwailed their
dead and voice, unheard by any 9TH
er, was in my ear, whispering Murder
er !"
The news had gone back to A., and
people came thronging down to find
their friends The dead we're stretched
on the grass went with some of the
distracted to find their lost ones
Searching for an old mans daughter, |
came to this, a place under the trees,
and five bodies lying there in all their
rigid horror--an old woman, a young
one, baby and two tiny children. 1t
was faney-it was pure fancy, born of
my anguish-they looked like--oh !
great Heaven--they were my old moth
er, my wife, my children all cold and
dead.
How did they come on the train p
What chance had brought this about :?
No one could answer. / groaned, l
screamed, clasped my hands, | tore
my hair. ! gazed on the good old face
Of her who had given me birth, on the