National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-11-30

'
Ny little 10. She SPOKE fro u her
heart. and | bent over AMI kissed
her.
Don't be afraid. child" | said -
" I'll.never pain you again"
And ! meant it; but at twelve
that night | felt that had torg gntten
the promise and my resolution.
| couldn't go home TO 10. | made
up my mind to sleel, on the club 50
fa and leave the place for good the
next day. Already felt my brain
reel as it never had before. In an
hour | was in akind of stupor.
1t WIS morning. A waiter stood
ready to brush my coat. saw "A
grin on his black face. Ny head
seemed about 10 burst my hand
rembled. / looked ut my watch
| had just five minutes to reach the
depot.
jas words came to my mind
Was | fit to take charge Of the en-
gine | was not fit to answer. ~
ought to have asked sulne soller
man. \ it was. | only caughf1y
hat and rushed away. | was jttSt
in time.
The San Francisco glittered in
the morning sun. The ears were fill
ling rapidly. From my post | could
hear the people talking-bideling
each other good.Me. promising to
writesand come again. Amongst
thena an old gentleman | knew
by SIN OF the shareholders ::
hawas bidding two tinid girls a;lieu.
Goodbye. Lon" | heard him
say: don't he nervous. The San
Francisco is the safest engine on
the line. and Guel,lon the most care
ful engineer. | would not he afraid
to trust every mortal | love in a
batch to their Keeping. Nothing
could happen WRONG with the two
together"
| said. :. I'll get through it some
how and 10 shall never have to talk
to Inc agnin.' After all, ii was
easy euough. reeled as spoke. !
heard the signal. We were off.
Five hours from L. to d.. five
hours back. On the last should
be mvselfaglin ! know now. | saw
Il red hntter and uever guessed what
it was until We were past the tla-. |
heard a shrek and We passed down
train at the wrong place. Two min
rttrS moro and "eisho Id have had II
collision. Somebody told me. |
laughed. heard liim say respect
fully
-. OF course, Mr.. Gueldon. you
Know what you are about"
Then | was alone and wondering
whether to so slower or faster. |
did something. the ears rushed on
at y fearful rate.
The same man Who had spoken
20 me heior" was standing near me-.
| heard some question.
How many miles an hour we We're
making | didu't know.
Rattle. rattle. rattle, | was try
ing now to slacl>cn thr speed of the
San Francisco. couId not femem-
her what should do. Was it this
or that FaStet-olly faster.
was playing with tn" engine like ii
child.
suddenly there WIS a horrible
roar-a crash was hyinp SOM
where. BY u miracle wa, only so
bercd. not hurt. gained the shore ;
! stood upon the @rouad between
the track and the rivers edge and
stood there gazing at my work.
The engine was in fragments, the
ears in Splinters dead and dying
and wotmdpl were strcWnaroEna--
men and women and childrtn-old
age and tender youth. There were
groans and Shriel>> of despair. The
MANNED cried out IN pain. The un.
injured hewailed their dead : and a
voice unlleard 10y any other, WAS IN
my ear. whispering" Murderer -
The news had gone hack 10 A..
and people came tlrongiag down tt
find their friends. The dead wcr,
stretched on the grass. went Will
some of the distracted. to find thei
LOST ones. Searching for an ol,
mans daughter, came to this ;
place unle. the trees. and tiv b ),)
les lNing there in all th,irrlgid hon
ror-i,n old woman and aNoung ON,
a baby and two tiny children-i
vas fancy-it was pure fancy. borr
of my anguiSl--;hey looked like
oh. great lleaycn-they were M
old mother, my wife, my children
all cold and dead.
How did they come on the train
What chance had brought tli
about screamed, | ciaspcd III
hands and tore my hair. gaze
on the good old face of her who ha
given me birth. on the lovely tcs
lures of my wife, on my innocen
children. called them by name
there was no answer. There nev,
could be-nevcr could he. And Il
| comprchcndpd this, onward upth
lrac, tlluudcrcd another train. II
red eye glared ~ me ! Hung IN,
self before it ! felt IL crushing III
to atoms!
" Ills head is extremely hot" sal
somebody.
| opened my eyes and saw n
wife.
/" How do you feel y she said, .
little better 7"
was so rcioiced and astonishe
| 49, Il, ~ h.p tI.t ....,,iI A..