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


here was a struggle going on Inside.
Directly AFTER, one Of the little side panes
Of glass was broken, and | heard faint
cry. 81
fdaahed In the door window in an in.
slant, cutting my hands with the thick
glass, and then, beating out the loose pieces,
made place for entrance, and had halfmy
body in before I felt myself seized by some
one who tried TO force me back.
Two hands held me by the throat, while
grasped the door with one hand, half In
and half out of the carriage. Ny blood
was up. Ihad hold Of my unseen enemy
by the collar, and had dug my knuckles
into his neck as / held on for life like a
bulldog
| had the advantage Of him there, for,
while had on a stiff collar and buttoned
up uniform coat, he had only a thin dress
shirt collar, and one Of those black wisps
Of ties. Il was a struggle OF life aud death,
but l got further In. At last / suppose
feeling half choked, he started back and
drew me with him, so that | fell heavily on
the floor. Here, though, l lost my hold,
and he had me again at a disadvantage,
For what seemed good five minutes, 1t
was an up and down struggle, while more
than once / felt myself dashed against
somebody who was crouching In corner
| of the carriage.
Sometimes got the best and sometimes
thaworst Of 1t. After the struggle had
been going on for some time, It seemed
that the Car door was open, and that there
was no one else in the carriage but us two,
hanging on to one another like pair Of
wild beasts. Then came such horrible
reaction, that my strength seemed to leave
me; for felt that in her fear and dread the
poor girl had leaped out.
But she had not for she was outside,
clinging for life to the handles, as In one
brief glance l saw the end light of the
train flashing upon her. In the last fierce
struggle my foot tripped, and ! and the
man was struggling with fell headlong
out of the door. There was fash of light,
the sound Of rushing wind, and then ]
seemed to be dashed with fearful violence
upon the ground.o
The next thing recollect is the sound
of voices, and the kissing of the steam Of
an engine close by me, while some two OF
three people were moving about with Ian
terms found some one supporting my
head, and then l gave shudder; for there
were horrible red patches and marks on the
white ground. As the men spoke in whis
pers, | could see they were collecting
something terrible that steamed in the cold
air. A mist came over me and tainted
dead away.
When could think again, found that
| had been some time in London hospital
and was lying there In a ward, looking al
pair Of soft white hands that didn't seem
TO belong to me, while my head felt cool,
through my hair being cut off.
But got stronger every day, and soon
had vis,torsto see me; and one face that
came, and used to lean over my poor bare
pallet, was, as 1t were, the face of an angel
so sweet, so loving and so tender in its
compassionate look; and once, while the
old lady stood back, two tiny, soft hands
smoothed my pillow, and a tear fell on my
cheek as a voice whispered:
"God ble,s you, my brave preserverlp
l shut my eyes then and trenrbled; for
there was bitter feeling of sorrow came
over me, and spite of those tender words
/ seemed to be standing on the brink Of
great gulf, far away from her
As grew stronger, Learned from he
mother how they had been deceived. 1t
was through answering an advertisement
for governess that the poor girl had met
with insult. She had been deluded into
accompanying the gentleman, under pre-
tense ofhis taking her to his home, q few
miles down the line. He had paid the PEN
atty of the crime he had meditated with his
life.. An up train tore him to pieces--an
up train which must have passed within a
a few inches of my head.
The train from which he fell had been
stopped by the guard few miles further
down, when the poor girl was found cling
ing outside the carriage, An engine and
tender were sent back In search Of US, to
find US, as have already told.
only saw her once again, when she
gave me this-this little purse, just as you
soc. She spoke to me kindly and tenderly,
and words that were ofpraise, Think; but
saw her only through the mist, and the
thought that It was for the last time seemed
to ill my mind so that only spoke huskily.
kissed one Of her hands as she said, Good
bye,0 and then wasstanding alOne-alone
in the world, without aim or hope. You
will please to remember that she was q
ady, and that l am-only railway SER
Yant, L..tf