The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-11

love -
Paul Stanford was on the spot almos
Immediately very much out of breath
and very profrse in his protestations o
sympathy. Hs had witnessed the DANCE
Of Mr.. Wayne from Colney's Hill q quar-
ter of a mile away, and came with nj
haste, but too late TO be OF material rs
sistance. He hoped. however. that Mis-
Wayne would not refuse him tho pleasur'
Of supporting her father TO their cottage.
And so by his superior tact and nd
dress he managed To secure for himself
what I was dying to ask for. the privilege
of accompanying them home.
. But Mr.. Wayne remembered with graf
itude tho service had done him. Three
days afterward I received n letter from
president of the Shore Line and Poin,
Pleasant Railroad, saying that could
have the situation Of station agent and
signal tender at Bathby bridge. The sal.
AIRY was liberal one, considering the du.
ties to be performed, and was indebted
for the offer Of the situation to Mr.. Wayne
who was personal friend Of the presi-
dent. .rL
OF course I accepted the position. j
was in need of employment, and this
place would pay me better salary than l
could hope to earn anywhere else, by
manual labor alone. 1t was trust of re-
sponsibility. but I prided myself on my
punctuali.y and integrity, and had no fear
In regard to being able to do my duty.
The management Of the switches came
under my supervision. and also 10 the or
dering OF the "draw" which had been
fixed in the bridge to allow vessels to pass
through. BY day we used balls rs signals
If the draw was open, two green balls
were hoisted from the standard few
rods below the draw If ii was closed
and all was right two red balls signified
that fact to the engineers.
BY night, red and green lanterns were
substituted for the balls. So you will
readily understand that any failure on the
part of the station master to attend close
ly to his duties might send some passing
train to destruction in tho twinkling ofan
eye.
For two months everything went like
clock work. had an efficient assistant
in John Stitson, porter who had been
employed at the bridge for ten years. and
knew all the ''ropes."
saw Florence not unfrequently-she
often went to the city-and always came
into the Office for her ticket. Once when
the carriage did not come for her from
the cottage. drove her homo In my own
buggy, and had the felicity OF holding her
soft hand moment In mine rs lifted
her out.
From the time took possession of the
railway station, Paul Stanford had begun
to manifest n sort Of friendship for me. !
had strong suspicious that 1t was assumed,
though 1t seemed real enough. And in
deed what particular object ho could have
In feigning friendship for mo which he
did not feel. was at loss to imagine.
/ received his advance, with a GOODNESS
which would have repulscd most men,
but 1t seemed to have no effect on him.
He smoked his cigars in my little private
room and read his papers there, and talked
TO me in u genial, Od-hand way, so thor.
oughly friendly that at times wa,
ashamed of myself and my suspicious.
Thinking II over now, / know that by
shook or by crook" he managed to worm
out of me all the secrets of my business
If indeed they might be called secrets; but
Mt that time did not take notice of his
inquiries. so gradually were they put.
Meanwhile, l gained the confidence ol
the company was trusted with large
sums of money, and was generally thought
well of. Mr.. Wayne invited me to dine
Mt his house. and Florence sang and play.
ed for me. and l would have been per
fcctly happy If Stanford had not made hi:
appearance and beguilcd Florence away
from my side.
One dark. foggy night remember II
was Friday, and it was in March-just n:
the clock pointed to ten Cthe hour when
the Haildon express was due0 heard
the whistle Of u steamboat. three sharp
whistles and one long one-a signal thai
the draw must be opened.
seized the green lantern and went out
Stitson was already there, for he had been
setting the switches and hanging up the
albright signal.
Ease her down. Stitson. l said; and we
took the red lantern down and hooked on
the green one in its place.
Its cussed inconvenient having thi.
steamer come Jest Mt this time growled
Stitson; won't old Gilcs'-referring to the
driver Of the expreS-'wont he swear nj
being stoppedT -.
He opened the draw, and Just as he 4 Id
so heard the whistle of the approaching
train. But there was no time to notice II
we were fully occupied with getting the
steamer through. by some mismanage.
ment on hoard 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 at the
standard moment ago, the red lantern
was flying ont like the eye of doom!
Great Heavenr cried Stitson. following
my glance-'the rcd light Is up and the
train will 90 to ruin, and the companyi
send ms after 'em to morrowr l.
Like tightening shot through my brain
the thought Of the switch! II l could only
reach 1t in time could send the train up
the steep grade Of the wood track, and be
fore they reached the end Of IL the engin.
eer wonld be able to stop. flew over
tho rough ground and laid my hand on
the iron rod Of the switch. had the key
in my pocket, l turned 1t quickly and
tlung back the lever! And simultaneously
hand grasped my throat and voie
knew well Kissed in my ear:
You mean to thwart me! but by Heaven
l will kill you frstr T.
grapplcd with him, and we fell to the
Al a. Il
Of the on-coniing train drowned AL sound
aud sense! A hot sulphurous breath o
flame and smoke swept over me. 1 fell
the grip relaxing; then there fell period
Of comparative silence and GOODNESS, and
ever so dimly I realized that the train had
run on the wood track and had stopped.
put out my hand TO touch tho head ol
Paul Sanford-he who bad sought my life
but great Heaven! there was no head
on his body! NV fingers were clotted with