Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-09-15

| DduS Oang went couple vi
fog signals and hope rose again, as
the engine slackened pace once more,
and, almost at walk l 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. I laid
my hand on the reds bull eye, and the
next moment was sitting clinging to
the footboard of the guards van.
The fog had been my friend. In
another few seconds | must have drop
ped; while. in ap ordinary way, the
train would have been miles down the
line By this time.
Bang! bangr' went the fog sig
nails again, as l sat helploso thoro, with
my legs drawn up, and again we slack
ened for q second; but all was clear
once more, and we were dashing on,
and fast getting into full swing as |
rose up, and, opening the door stood
with the guard Of the train.
" Pooh nonsense;" he said, You
are mad. | Shan't stop the train"
"Then | SHALL" l shouted, making
toward the wheel connected with the
gong upon the engine.
mot if know it, you won't" he
said, stopping me.
| was too weak and done up to
scuffle with him.
" Will you come with me next to
1 the carriage then ~ | said.
i He only shook his head.
Will you lend me your key?" !
said; for had dropped my own when
| fell.
He shook his head again, and then
it struck me that perhaps he might
stop me, seeing how rough and wild
and excited | looked. | backed slow
ly towards the door, facing him all
the time He told me afterwards, if
he had not felt afraid, he would have
pinned me while | turned my back
But | didn't turn my back, and the
next moment | was outside on the
long step, clinging to the door handle
and with the guard leaning out anG
watching me.
Come backr he shouted, as We
dashed along at full speed now, rush
ing through the darkness ahead, anC
giving a wild shrek as we passed {
station, the lights looking as one
streak. There were the carriage,
shaking and the wind tearing at me
as if to beat me off; but | was recoy
ering myself fast, and in a few min
ute8 | was at the end Of the guard
van, leaning towards the carriage
wanted to reach.
of course, very dangeff69Gase, f9ae &aSX %fth The tm'
train daShing along at fifty miles al
hour; but now there was a gap t.
pass between the van and the carriage
for the buffers keep the carriages a
some distance apart.
For a few moments | stopped il
dread, but as got my breath NOR,
and more, courage and the recollec
tion of her wild appealing face cam,
, TO me. and clinging to the buffers
, contrived to get one foot on the stel
of the carriage, and still holding OF
; by the iron, tried to get the othe
there.
Just then the train gave Jerk, ant
| thought it was all over, but the mex
: moment | was on the step, and hat
hold of the door handle.
At last" | muttered as drew my
self up on the next step and tried th,
door, which was, as | expected, fast
Then | looked back. There was th,
guard with half his body out, and hi
hand screening his eyes, trying to fol
low my motions; but, with the dark
ness all round, the snow cutting b,
like knives and points, and the dens
fog clouds we kept entering, | fel
sure he could not see me, though
could make him out from the light il
his compartment. Then | listened
,, and my heart seemed to stand still
for | fancied | could hear the soun,
of a struggle going on inside, thougI
; | was not sure, from the rafting mad
, by the train. was not wasting time
frr | had tried to look in at the win
dow; and opening my knife with NJ,
teeth was trying to open the door,
But the interior of the carriage wa
) dark as pitch, and my knife was use
less, while now | was sure there wa
a struggle going on inside. Directl
after, one of the little side paneS OF
glass was broken, and | heard a fain
crv. | dashed in the window in al
instant, cutting my hands with tn
thick glass, and then beating out tn
loose pieces, made place for entrance
and had half my body in before I fel
myself seized by some one who trie'
} to force me back.
Two hands held me by the throat
, while | grasped the door with on
hand, half in and half out of the cal
riage. My blood was up. | had hol'
Of my unseen enemy by the collar
and | dug my knuckles into his nee
as | held on for life like a bull dog
: [ had the advantage of him there, 70
while | had on a stiff collar and but
: toned up uniform coat, he had only
thin dress shirt collar, and one O
!, |, those black wisps of ties. 1t was
! struggle of life and death, but | go
L further in. At last, | suppose. feelin
half choked, he started back and dre'
me with him. so that | fell heavily o
+ the floor. Here, though, | lost m
J, hold, and he had me again at disao