Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-19

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up in the terrible thought of the death that
awaited him. Adown the ok could be heard
the breath of the iron monster that would soon
be upon him. He could hear the tremble that
preceded its coming. Was there no escape?
Would the engineer see him? or, if so, too late
What would Laura say would there be
enough of him pac ked up to have decent fu-
neeal ? or would a small boy answer for coffin
bearer and a raisin box serve as a burial casket,
as In giycerine And railroad cases generally
These were the thoughts that rowded through
MS brain. But the light from the head
lamp falls upon him-the engineer sees him
not-the iron horse laughs in fiery cachinations
Al the victim, and PUSHES forward TO crush out
the young life before him.
AT this time James Hathaway glanced down
at his imprisoned member, and thought struck
him. 1t struck him before the locomotive did,
and quicker than the n ash OF a comets tail he
acted upon II. He began to whirl violently, and
Just as the cow-catcher reached him he hoped
lightly to one side, and shouted in nirthful ac-
cents to the brakeman on the rear car. .'Sold
again, you blasted wheel jerker-I wear q cork
leg"
Such was indeed the case, but in the excite.
ment he had forgotten the fact until the last
moment when he discovered 1t was his game"
leg that had become fast, and unscrewing it he
had escaped his threatened fate. He hoped
boy brought IN the missing member, none the
worse for the encounter, save a few splinters
had been knocked Oft from the calf.
lie is now married to Laura, has double
from Its exhibition Throughout the country.
A Romance Of CALIFORNIA;; or, the OBJ
stinato Woman.
One OF the pioneers in California emigration
who went across the plains in 40, tells this story
that began on the journey and has justlended IN
San Francisco:-While the train, OF which the
epcamped on the Humboldt where the Lessen
trail intersects the Carson track OF travel. he
visited the tent of family consisting Of An
fourteen or fifteen. The old lady was sitting
on pile Of blankets under the canvas, en-
couraging most determined attack of the
"sulks," while the masculine head of affairs
had planted himself on the wooden tongue, and
was sucking his pipe as though he expected to
remain there forever. single glance developed
the difficulty in that little train Of one wagon
and three persons, and that it had attained
point of quiet desperation beyond the reach
of peaceful adjustment. Three DAYS before
they had pitched their tent at the forks of
the route by which to enter California, there
they had remained. The husband had ex-
pressed preference for the Carson road,
would yield. The wife declared ih she wonId
remain all winter; the husband said he
would be pleased to prolOng the soJourn through
the summer following, On the morning of the
fourth day, the wife broke q sullen silence of
thirty-six hours by proposing a division OF the
property, which consisted OF two yoke OF oxen,
one wagon, camp furniture, small quantity of
accepted, and forthwith the ''plunder" was d.
vided, leaving the wagon to the old man, and
the daughter to the mother. The latter ex-
changed with neishboring train the cattle be-
longing to her for pony and pack saddle, and
piling her daughter and her portion Of her di-
vided spoils upon the animal, she resolutely
started across the desert by the Lessen trail,
while the old man silently yoked his cattle and
took the other route.
OF course both parties reached California in
safety: We say cot course" for it is SC arcely
ms hi n fl.AN 1I<aN.
could have interfered with stubbornness so
sublime. Arriving in Sacramento with her
daughter, the old lady readily found employ
mentor women were less plentiful than now
and subsequently opened a boarding house. and
IN few years amassed a handsome fortune.
Two years ago, she went to San Francisco. and
tie daughter, whose education had not been
ne glected, was married to one or the most sub
stantial citizens.
And what had become of the old man? The
wife had not seen or heard of him since they
parted on the Humboldt. They had lived hap
PLY together as man and wife for years, and
she sometimes repTOached herself for the will
fulness that separated them after SO long pill
grimage together through this rough life. But
he was not dead. We cannot trace hi, course
in California, however. All that we know of
him Is. that fortune had not smiled upon him,
and that for years he had toiled without
WELD the pick and shovel, he visited San
francisco, in the hope Of obtaining employ
ment better adapted to his wasted strength.
irving there, and then, for want OF occupation.
became the humble retailer of peanuts and
oranges, with his entire traffic upon his arm.
This was six months ago. A few weeks since,
in passing the open door Of q cottage in the
southern part Of the city, he observed lady In
the hall, and stopped to offer his merchandise
AS he stepped upon the threshold, the lady APP
preached, and the old man raised his eyes and
dropped the basket; AMI no wonder, either, for
she was his wife, HIS "old woman!n She recog-
nized him, and, throwing up her arms in amaze
ment, cried: Great God! John. is that your"
All that is left OF me-" replied the old man.
With extended arms they approached. Sud
denly the old lady's countenance changed, and
she stepped back. "John," said she, with Q
look which might have been construed into
into earnestness, "how did you find Carson
rOad?" miserable, Sukey, miserable" re-
Piled the old man; "full of sand aud alkal.~
Then was right, john" she continued, In
quiringly. "You were, Sukey." THAT'S
enough said she, throwing her arms around
the old mans neck; "that's enough, john" and
the old couple. strangely sundered, were again
united.