The Van Buren press., 1869-11-23

thought well Ot 0lr. wayne ihNitSu ins
to dine at his house, and Florence sang
and PLAYED for me, and / would have
been perfectly happy if Stanford had not
made his appearance and begailed Flor
cnce away from my side.
One dark, foggy night remember 1t
was Friday, and it was in Msrch-just 40
the clock pointed to 10 fthe hour when
the Halidon express was duc), l heard
the whistle of steamboat, three sharp
whistles and one long one--a signal that
the draw must be opened
seized the green lantern and went cut
Stitson was already there, for he had
been setting the switches and hanging up
the all right signal.
Ease her down, Stitsonr' I said and
we took the red lantern down and hook
ed on the green ene in its place.
Its cassed inconvenient having this
steamer come jest at this time." growisd
Stitson /" won't old Giles'--rsferring 10
the driver Of the express" won't he
swear at being stopped ?"
He opened the draw, and just A. he did
so heard the whistle Of the approach
ing train. But there was no time to no
tice tive vere fully occupied with get
ting the steamer through. by some mis-
management on board of her, she failed,
and had to be backed, which took up
time, and glancing up saw with horror
that instead Of the green lantern ! had
hung from the standard q moment ago,
the red lantern was flying out like the
eye OF doom!
"Great Heayen!' cried Stitson, fol.
lowing my glance" the red light is up
and the train will 60 to ruin, and the
company II send US after ON to- morrow =
Like lightning shot through my brain
the thought ef the switch II l could
only reach II in time / could send the
train up the steep glade of tho wood
track, and before they reached tho end OF
It, the engineer would be able to stop. !
new over the rough ground and laid my
hand on the iron rod Of the switch.
had the key in my pocket. turned 1t
quickly and flung back the lever! And
simultaneously hand grasped my throat
and vsice ! know we'll Kissed in my
ear
"You mean to thwart me but By
Heaven, l will kill you frst"
grapplod with him, and We fell to the
ground together. And the fierce thunder
Of the on-coming train drowned oil sound
and sense! A hot sulphufous breath OF
flame and smoke swept over me. felt
the grip Of my throat relaxing; then
there fell period of comparative silence
and coolnsss, and ever SO dimly | realiz.
ed thai the train had run on to the wood
track and had stopped. o
put out my hand to touch the head OF
Paul Stanford---he who had sought my
life--but, great Heaven there was no
head on his body! My fingers were clot-
ted with something warm and sticky
ana, overcome ny tTie usrrIpIe revriaeivu
it made to me, l lost consciousness.
When ] came to myself ! was lying in
settee in the station, and great crowd
filed the room
l told my story--by degrecs--as
could remember it, and l could see that
my listeners believed 1t.
Ii was settled beyond doubt that Stan
ford had changed the lights. he had been
seen to do it by one OF the employees OF
the read, a stupid fellow, who could not
think of any harm coming from it.
His object was plain enough to me,
though | never spoke of it to any one,
lie hated mc--hc was jealous of my gain
ing popularity, and he wanted to ruin me
in the estimation OF the company and in
the estimation ofFlorencc and her father.
But he was dead, and when l thought
of the fearful manner OF his death, ! for
gave him freely.
! suppose you have guessed that
married Florence Wayne, and / need not
tell you that ] am happy.