The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-06-14

strong atthat point, was sucking him
Under ili spite of his determined efforts
to resist it.
In moment / was bnffeting the waves,
and though I am strong man and an
extra good swimmer, / must confess
that more than once was on the eve OF
giving over end letting fate dispose of
both myself and the helpless burden
with which I was trying to reach the
shore.
But the sight of Florence standing
on the sands, her face white as death
her arms extended towards us, gave me
strength, and by and by, more dead than
alive, / succeeded in laying the old man
at his daughters feet And / would
have riskcd my life over and over again
for the sake Of hearing her say again as
she said then.
civilian Morton, may Heaven ever
bless you! You have saved all I have
to lover
Paul Stanford was on the spot always
|immediately-very much ont of breath
and very profuse in his protestations OF
sympathy: He had witnessed the dan
ger of Mr. Wayne from Colney's Hill, a
quarter of mile away, and had come
with all haste, but too late to be of ma
Eterial assistance He hoped, however,
that Miss Wayne would not refuse him
the pleasure Of supporting her father to
their cottage.
And SO by his superior tact and ad
dress he managed TO secure for.himself
what I was dying to ask for, the priv
lege of accompanying them home.
But Mr. Wayne remembered with graf
itude the service had done him. Three
days afterward / received a letter
from the president of the Shore Line
and Point Pleasant'railroad, Saying that
I could have the situation of station
agent and signal tender at Bachley's
bridge. The salary was a liberal one,
considering the duties to be performed,
and was indebted for the offer Of the
situation to Mr. Wayne, who was per-
sonal friend of the president =,
OF course accepted the position. /
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 a trust of
responsibility, but / prided myself on
my punctuality 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 the or
dering of the draw which had been
fixed in the bridge to allow vessels to
| pass through. By day we used balls as
signals--if the draw was open, two
green balls were hoisted from the stand
ard few rods below the draw---if il
was closed, and all were right, Two red
balls signi6ed 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
| tic tsrt of the station master to attend
closely to his duties might send some
passing train to destruction in the twink
ling of an eye.
! For two months everything went like
clock work l had al. efficient assistant
in John Stitson, porter who had beer
employed at tie bridge for ten years, ,and
knew all the ropes. n'T s'
saw Florence not thfreduently-sh sht
often went to the city-and always camt
into the office for her ticket. Once wher
the carriage did not come for her from
the cottage, l drove her home In my
own buggy, and had the felicity of hold
ing her soft hand moment in mine a:
! lifted her out. =
! From the time 1 took possession o
the railway station, Paul Stanford hat
begun to manifest soft of friendship
for me- l had strong suspicious that |
was assumed; though il seemed rea
enough. And indeed what particula
object he could have in feigning friend
ship for me which he did not feel, wa
at loss to imagine.
Il received his advances with a cold
ness which would have repulsed mos
linen, but it seemed to have no effect OF
him. He smoked his cigars in my littl
private room, and read his papers there
and talked to me in. a genial, of-hant
way--so thoroughly friendly that a
times WIS ashamed Of myself and N,
suspicious.
/ Thiuking it over NOW, know that b.
hook or by crook he managed to worn
lout of me all the secrets of my business
lii indeed they might be called secrets
but at that time / did not take notice o
his inquiries, SO gradually were they put
i Meanwhile; gained the confidence Q
| the company was trusted with larg'
sums of money, and was general,
thought well of. Mr.. Wayne invited m
TO dine at his house, and Florence san:
and PLAYED for inc, and l. would hav'
been perfectly happy if Stanford ha'
not made his appearance and teSullet
/ Florence away from my side.
i One dark, foggy night relnenbe
lit was one Friday, and it was in Marel
--just as the clock pointed TO 10 (th
hour when tie Haliden express wa
/ due J, heard the whistle of asteamboat
three sharp whistles and one;long one
la signal that the draw must be opened
4 L seized the green lantern sand. wen
4 out. Stitson was already there. for IN
! had been setting the switches ane hang
ling up the albright signal. di 5ed /
i Ease ;her,down, Stitsonnl l said ant
we took the red lantern down and hook
ed on the green one on its place. :. 81
+ Its cussed inconyenient having TIN
steamer come jest at this time ggrowlte' VILE
! Stitson won't old Giles = referring +
] the driver Of the express wont b
swear at being stopped" 7" 8
He opened the draw, and just as Il
did SO / heard the whistle of the ar
preaching train But there was no tim
to notiae tive were fully occupied wit
getting the steamer through, By som
mismanagement on board of her, sh
failed, and bad to be backed, which too
up time, and glaneing up ! saw with hon
ror that instead Of the green lantern
had hung from the standard a moiner
, ago, the red lantern was flying out lik
L d :