Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-05-14


q. 80 that the terminus was wet and cold, /
nd miserahly dirty. People don't seem
o mind Il though; for the station was
hronged with coneFs and goers-fFiends
coming to meet those from the country, |
md as many coming to see others of. "By |
YER leaVe," !" Il was an day long; as the bar
rows full Of parcels and luggage we're run !
here and there along The platform, The
place seemed alive with fish baskets. oys-
ter barrels and poultry; while, somehow or
other, from the poorest and shabbiest third
class people up to the grandest ofthe first
class, every one looked happy and COM
Portable
So there was l at 1t, helping to get train
after train ofF--all late, Of course; or, do
what you would, there was no finding
room enough for the people, and so II got
to be past four, with the gas all allght and
the fog and snow thicker than ever. A
train was just starting when there was a bit
az confusion at the door. Some one shouts
"Hold hardln and then from where ] was
some distance up the platform-I saw q
gentleman hurry up to first class car
rage, almost dragging lady with hlm-a
lady In black. Before any QUE could stop
him, he had opened the door and pushed
her In, and then followed just as the train
began gliding of.
This happened to be carriage just put
on, and the compartment the gentleman
entered was locked; but he had one Of
the pocket railway keys, for before the
carriage reached to where stood, with my
heart somehow beating very strangely, l
saw his hand out of the window, locking
the door again. In the momentary glance
caught, as the lamps Of the station fash
ed into the carriage, could see there was
no light inside, while two little gloved
hands pressed down the window the man
tried to draw up; and there, pale and hor-
ror-stricken, eyes starting and lips open, as
if she were crying "help," 1 saw the face
Of the young governess.
The time did not appear long enough to
see much, but / saw all that, and my mind
seemed to keep up with my eyes, and ex-
plain it all, and knew that there was some
internal piece of villainy on the way.
"What to do?" seemed rushing through
my mind, and In the agony l felt I turned
all of tremble. Telegraph to the station
liOub w Sup MllCu was luO
express, with fifty miles to run before pull
ing up l--send special engine and tender
after themp Should l go and report it? l
should have an hour wasted in questioning,
and then perhaps be told that 1t was poor
ground TO work upon. And what had | to
advance? Nothing but the appealing look
for aid from her loved.
s'Her loved? ?n Yes, l know 1t now !;
and knew, too, that to be Of service l
must act-act at the risk of lite or limb.
l thought all this running after the train,
fast gliding along past the platform.
had lost too much time already as
darted along, for In few more seconds it
would have been impossible to overtake
the fast receding carriages. There was a
shouting behind me as | ran; one porter
stood In my way looking after the red
lights, and In passing, knocked him over
The platform passed, and bounding along
the inclined plane at the end, l was out in
the snowy night, when ] tripped over one
Of the point handles and fell heavily, utter
ing cry Of despair; then l was up again
directly, anC running along the rough line
amidst crossing metals and rods that threat
ened to throw me every instant.
It seemed the act Of madman to run
now, for the red lights were some distance
ahead, and gradually growing dim and
blurry amid the fog; but through the thick
snow i ran painting on, with my breath
coming shorter and heavier, and hot,
burning sensation at my chest, while il
seemed that could taste 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 |
knew well enough meant red signals in
front, while, to my unutterable joy, the end
lamps ofthe guards van showed palmer
and palmer as l painted on.
Fifty yards passed, and the red lamps
still receding, but bigger and less dim.
On still, gasping and choking, drawing my
breath with difficulty. Not twenty yards
off, and If l could have run, another few
seconds would have seen me holding on to |
! carriage handle, but ! could only 60 at a
heavy trot.
"Bangl bang! went couple Of fog Sig
lals, and hope rose again, as the engine
Iackened pace once more, and almost at
walk / painted on--nearer, nearer, nearer
he red lights growing brighter and palmer;
md at last, just as the engine gave a final
brick, and dashed on all clear, laid my
land on the red bulls eye, and the next
moment was sitting clinging to the foot
Ioard Of the guards van.
The fog had been my friend. In another
ew seconds must have dropped; while in
n ordinary way, the train would have
'een miles down the line by this time.
Bang! bangl went the fog signals again,
8 sat helpless there with my legs drawn
p, and again we slackened for second;
ut all was clear once more, and we were
ashing on, and fast getting into full swing
8 Il rose up and, opening the door, stood
nth the guard Of the train.
"Pooh, nonsenseIn he said; "you're
lad; ! shan't stop the train"
Then shall" / shouted, making to-
'ard the wheel connected with the gong
pom the engine. |,
"Not if l know It, you WON'T" he said,
'opping me. |,
l was too weak and done up to scufae
'ith him.
''Will you come with me to the next car
age, then?" Isaid.
He only shook his head.
twill you lend me your keyHn said;
n had dropped my own when fell.
He shook his head again, and then 1t
ruck me that perhaps he might stop me, 6
eeing how rough and wild and excited / {
'oked. ! backed slowly towards the
oor, facing him all the time. He told me
fterward, If he had not felt afraid, he ]
Iould have pinned me while I turned my !
ack.
But Ididn't turn my back, and the next :
loment ] was outside on the long step, =,
linging to the door handle, and with the
uard leaning out and watching me.
"Come backlp he shouted, as we dashed
long at full speed now, rushing through
he darkness ahead, and giving a wild .
hriek as we passed station the lights all L
Ooking like one streak. There were the j
arriages shaking and the wind tearing at (
ne as II to beat me of; but ] was recover
ng myself fast, and in few momentsI was i
t the end of the guards van, leaning to-
yard the carriage wanted to reach