Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-04-15

| the fast recedlng carriages. Ihefe was {
shouting behind me as ran !; one porter
stood in my way looking after the rec
lights, and, id passing, [ knocked hin
over. The platform past, and bounding
along the ihciEe at the end, l was out II
the snowy night, when tripped over ore
of the point handles and fell heavily, ut.
terihg a cry of despair then I was up
again directly, and running along the
rough line amidst crossing metals and rods
that threatened to throw me every In
slant.
It seemed the act of madrnan to run
} now, for the red lights were some dis
tance ahead, and gradually growing dim
and bury amid the fog; but through
the thick snow ran painting on, with my
breath coming shorter and heavier, and a
hot, burning sensation at my chest: while
it seemed that [ could tasud Of blood;
though my mouth was dry and hot
All at once my heart leaped, and every
nerve tingled. From the fast vanishing
train came long shrill whistle, which I
knew we'll enough meant red signals in
front, while to my unutterable Joy, the
end lamps of the guards van showed
plairer and palmer as ! painted on.
/ Fifty yards passed, and the red lamps
still receding. but bigger and less dim.
Or still, gasping and choking, drawing
my breath with difficulty. Not twenty
ysTds off, and, if could have run anoth-
er few seconds would have seen me hold
ing On to a carriage handle, bat I could
only go at a heavy trot
"isang bangW went couple of fog
signals and hope rose again, as the engine
slackehed pace once more, and, almost
walk painted on-nearer, nearer, nearer
the red lights growing brighter and
| palmer; and at last, just as the engine,
gave final shrek, and dashed on all
clear, | laid my hand on the red bulls
| eye, and the next moment was sitting
clinsing to the foot-board Of the guards
van.
The fog had been my friend. En- an
other few seconds must have dropped
while, in an ordinary way, the train
would have been miles down the line by
this time .5....
Bang /! bang" went the fog signals
again, as sat helpless there, with my
legs drawn up, and again he slackened
for a second but all was clear once more,
and we were dashing on, and fast getting
into full swings as [ rose up, and, open
| ing the door, stood with the guard of the
train
| '.Pooh nonsense !" he said.
"Y You're mad / shan't stop the train"
'Then shall" / shouted, making to-
ward the wheel connected wiath the gong
upon the engine,
"Not if know it, you WON'T" he said,
stopping nae.
was too weak and done up to souffle
with him.
will you come with ME to the next
carriage ther?" I said
He only shook his head
| "Will you lend ne your key ?" I said:
fer [ had dropped my own when I fell.
| He shook his head again. and then it
struck me that perhaps he might stop
nae, seeing how rough and wild and ex-
cited [ looked. I backed slowly toward
the door, facing him all the time. He
told nae afterwards, if he had not felt
afraid, he would have pinned me while [
turned my back.
But didn't turn my back, aud the
next moment [ was outside on the long
step, clinging to the door handle, and
with the guard leaning out and watching
me.
Come back p he shouted as we dash
ed along at full speed now, rushing
through the darkness ahead, and giving
a wild shrek as we passed a station The
lights slooking like one streak There
were the carriages shaking and the wind
tearing at me as if to beat me off but [
was recovering myself fast, and in few
momeDts [ was at the end of the guard S
van, leaning toward the carriage [ want
ed to reach.
So far my task has been easy, though,
of course, very dangerous, with the train
dashing along at fifty miles an hour but
now there was a gap to pass between the
van and the carriage, for the buffers keep
the carriages at some distance apart
For few moments [ stopped in dread
but, as got my breath more and more,
courage and the recollection of her wild ap-
pealing face came to me, and, clinging to
the buffers [ contrived to get one foot On
the step of the carriage, and, still holding
on by the iron, tried to tthe other there.
Just then the train gave jerk, and
thought 1t was all over but the next mo-
ment | was on the step, and had hold of the
door-handle.
"At last" [ muttered, as I drew myself
up on the next step and tried the door,
which was, as [ expected fast Then /
looked back. There was the guard with
half his body out, and his hands screening
his eyes, trying to follow my motions; but,
with the darkness all round, the snow cut