The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-01

49, said L, ''its only on club
1T will grow, said she.
Then she put her arms around NV
neck.
Ned" p" said she edo you think q
thing so much like a bottled-up and
strapped-down demon as steam is, is
mt to put into the hands of a drunken
man? And some day, mark my words,
the time will come when not only
Thursday night, but all the days of
the week will be the same. I've often
heard you wonder what the feelings
of an engineer, who has about the
same as murdered train full of peo-
pie, must be, and you'll know, if YOU
don stop where you are. A steady
hand and clear head have been your
blessings all these years Don't
throw thci. away. Ned, if You don't
care fcl my love. don't ruin your
self
My little 10. She spoke from her
heart, and / bent over and kissed
her.
Don't be afraid. child. I'll never
pain you again.
And l meant it; but at II o'clock.
that night, L felt that | had forgotten
my promise and my resolution.
L couldn't get home to 10. [ made
up my mind to sleep on the club sofa.
and leave the place for good, the next
day. Already, / felt my brain reel as
1T had never before. In an hour, I
was In kind of stupor.
1t was morning. A waiter stood
ready to brush my coat. l saw a grin
on his face. My heart seemed ready
to burst; my hand trembled; I looked
at my watch; had only just five
minutes to reach the depot!
JOS words came to my mind. Was
L tit to take charge of an engine? I
was not fit to answer. I ought to
have asked some sober man. AS it
was, [ only caught my hat and rushed
away. l was just in time.
The San Francisco glittered in the
morning sun. The cars were filling
rapidly. From my post, L could hear
the people talking, bidding each other
goodbye, promising to write and
come again. Amongst them was an
old gentleman l knew by sight-one
of the shareholders; he was bidding
two timid girls adieu.
S'Good-bye, kitty-good-bye Lue,"
| heard him say; don't be nervous.
The San Francisco is the safest en-
gine on the line, and Guelden the
most careful engineer. wouldn't be
afraid to trust every mortal | love to
their keeping. Nothing could hap
pen wrong with the two together. -
l said I'll get it through somehow,
and 10 shall never talk to me again.
After all, it was easy enough. reeled
as spoke. l heard the Signal. We
were off.
Five hours from l.. to D.; five
hours back. On the last, Ishould be
myself again, 1 knew now. I saw
red hutter, and never guessed what it
was until we were passed the down
train, at the wrong place Two mi
nutes more, and we should have had
a collision. Somebody told me. [
laughed. [ heard him say, respect
fully:
'Of course, Mr.. Guelden, you
Nio" "iAoC y VIZ silC dOOuU.
Then l was alone, and wondering
whether [ should go faster or slower.
I did something, and the cars rushed
on ct fearful rate. The same man
who had spoken to me before was
standing near me. I heard some uues-
ton.
How many miles an hour were we
nlakinp2 I didn't knew
Rattle, rattle, rattle! I was trying
now to slacken the speed of the San
Francisco. could not remember
what / should do-was it this or that?
Faster or slower? [ was playing with
the engine like a child.
Suddenly there was horrible roar,
crash. l was flung somewhere. I
was in the water. By a miracle, I
was sobered, not hurt. I gained the
shore. stood upon the ground be-
tween the track and the rivers edge,
and there gazed at my work.
The engine was in fragments, and
the cars in splinters; dead, and diving,
and wounded were strewn around
and men, women and children-old
age and tender youth. There were
groans and shrieks of despair. The
manned cried out in pain; the unin-
jured bewai.ed their dead and voice
unheard by any other, was in my ear,
whispering ''Mnrder!''
The news had gone to A. and peo-
pie came thronging down to find their
friends. The dead were stretched on
the grass. l went with some OF the