The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-01-18
mry.slf ,ei.,d by som. one who tried to force me

myself seized BY some one who tried to force me
back.
Two hands held me BY tho throat while I
graspsd the door with ono hand, half in and half
out Of the carriage Ny blood vas up. I had
hold of my unsesn enemy BY the collar, anA
dug my knucklss into his neck = held on for
life like bulldog.
I had the advantage Of him there, for, while
had ON stiff collar and buttoned mp uniform
ceat, he had only . thin dress shirt-collar and
one of those black wisps Of ties 1t was strug.
gle for life and death with me, but got further
and further I'M At last, suppose, feeling half
choked, he started back and drew me with him,
50 that fell heavily on the floor. Here, though,
1 lost my hold, and he had me at . disadvantage.
For what seemed COED five minutes, it was an
up-and.down struggle, while more than once I
felt myself dashed against somebody who was
crouohing in acorner Of the carriage. -
Sometimes got the better and sometimes the
worse of it. After the struggle had been going
on some time, it seemed that the far door was
opened, 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 a
horrible reaction that my strength seemed to
leave me- for felt that in her fear and dread the
poor girl had leaped ont.
But she had not, for she was outside, clingirg
for life to the handles, as in one brief glance
saw by the end light of the train flashing upon
her In a last fierce struggle my foot tripped,
and and the man l 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. H.
The next thing recollect is the sound of
voices, and the kissing of the steam of an engine
close by me, while some two or three people were
moving about with lanterns. found some one
supporting my head and then gave ashudder,
for there were horrible red patches and marks on
the white ground. As the men spoke in whis-
pers, could see they were collecting together
something horrible, that steamed in the cold air.
mist came over me, and tainted dead away.
When could think again, found that I had
been some time in London hospital and was
lying there in Q ward looking at a 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 I got stronger every day, and soon had
visitors to see me; and one face that came, and
used to lean over my poor bare pallet, was, as it
were, the face of an angel-so sweet, 80 loving,
and 30 tender in its compassionate look; and
once, while the old lady stood back, two tiny
soft hands smeothed my pillow, and tear fell
on my cheek, as q voice whispered:
"God bless you, my brave preserver."
I shut my eyes then, and trembled, for there
was bitter feeling of sorrow came over me, and,
in spite of those tender words, seemed to be
standing on the brink of gulf, far away from
her. rnf
As grew stronger, learned from her mother
how they had been deceived. 1t was through
answering an advertisement for a governess that
the poor girl had met with insult. She had been
deluded into accompanying the gentleman, under
pretence of his taking her to his home, few
miles down the line. He had paid the penalty
of the crime he had meditated with his life. An
up train tore him to pieces-an up train which
must have passed Within few inches Of my
head. #9tEfM
The train from which we fell had been stopped
by the guard few miles further down, when
the poor girl was found clinging outside the cars
riage. 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 a you see.
She spoke to me kindly and tenderly, and they
were words of praise, think; but | saw her
only through mist and the thought that it was
for the last time seemed 70 fill my mind so that
could emily speak huskily. kissed one of her
hands as she said ''Good-by;" and then was
standing alone--alone in the world, without aim
or hope. You will please to remember that she
was a lady, and that am-only railway SER
vant-AN the Year Rou,cd