Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-10-19

slabs into the fire. Mr.. Smith will
give US fits. Look he is coming now
to find out why | haven't blown the
whistle"
"Watchman's FAULT grumbled Jim,
opening the doors and showing into
the furnace huge pile of shavings.
Mr.. Smith then entered the fire room,
and James explained to him why the
steam was not up high enough to start
the engine.
George ought to have started up
at five, but he must have been sleep
ing at his post" continued he.
WE'LL" said Minnie's father, g /
will tell Louis to pay him bis wages
and discharge him."
When James heard my name men,
toned, | could see that he tremblcd
from head to foot.
"By the way, where is Louis :? He
has not been to breakfast, and he did
not sleep in his room last night y said
Mr.. Smith.
aI-I don't know" faltered the
guilty wretch, turning away.
"He said to the second sawyer that
he was going to S upon some bus
mess, said Jim, looking up.
"All right. Now Mr.. Alton, do your
best to get up steam as soon as pos
sible, for every hour lost is money out
of the company's treasury" said Mr..
Smith, leaving the freroom.
| | felt faint and weary, yet | remain
ed at my post. James was passing to
and fro with restless steps. Once he
stopped and lifted the safety valve
from which now came a sound like
sigh. Quickly he dropped the chord
connected with the lever, and some
thing like groan escaped from his
half-open mouth.
He then lit his pipe, but after one
or two pufs be threw it upon bench.
Then again he resumed his rapid walk.
| looked at the steam gauge. 1t indi.
Gated ten pounds pressure to the
square inch, and was rapidly rising.
James stopped in lis walk, and began
to oil the journals Of the engine. The
fireman had gone out of the room.
"Now is my time" thought |, rising
up and jumping on the boiler Of the
engine.
James-James cried |, and my
voice sounded even strange to me.
He quickly turned and sank upon his
knees as he saw my form standing a
few feet from where he had been at
work.
Mercy, mercy! growled he, with
uplifted hands.
mo mercy to murderer" shout
ed |, jumping from the boiler vita the
intention of seizing him.
But he was too quick for me. With
a cry of intense horror he sprang to
his feet and ran up the broad steps
leading to the upper part of the mill.
"Save me, save =, shouted he to
the workmen, rushing past him to the
logway.
"Stop him, stop himr' shouted |,
springing after him. The men gave
a shout, but instead of following him
they ran away, some crying a ghost
a ghostr' and others "a crazy man y
Without needing their outcries l
followed James, still crying "stop
him, stop himr'
He ran toward place called "Turn-
back Creek" The creek was appro-
priately named. Three hundred yards
from the mill was steep precipice,
over which the water of the creek
plunged with fearful roar.
"Stop James, stop. You are run
ming to the jaws Of deathr shouted
| when saw him only few feet from
the edge of the chasm.
The sound Of my voice only seemed
to add more speed to his steps. Pres
} emily for moment he stopped and
turning his ashen face toward me, then
he gave bound like deer and dis
appeared from sight.
"God have mercy on his soul,
, murmured |, sinking exhausted to the
| ground. Then for time | remember
/ no more.
A week passed by before my mind
was clear enough to recognize those
who were dear to me.
, Minnie told me that | had passed
through violent brain fever.
"What has become of the engineer p
, James is dead and buried" said
+ she in answer to my question. "They
/, found him lying at the front Of the
!. waterfall. He lived long enough to
! confess that he had put you in the
boiler, and that he supposed that il
!. was your ghost that haunted him.
j prayed with him until he breathed his
last. He died penitent."
afterwards learned from the work
q men that they were terribly frighten
: ed at my appearance.
}. "You looked just like man com
ing out of fight, with blood all over
$ you and your clothes in rags!' sait
the second sawyer.
o Two months passed away before
= was able to leave my bed. Then Min
( ME became my wife, and we are ye
n living in the cottage close by the mill