The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-09-05

sight of the approaching freight train.
There was a short, sharp whistle from
each engine, an instantaneous closing o.
two throttles then followed a grinding
crash, and a shock which made the very
ground trembe. Thea for one brie
moment an awful stiffness. broken, a
last, by the sound of rushing steam-by
the cries and shouts of men, as they
crawled from beneath the debris of the
wrecked traihs,a BY the groahs of 9th
ers, less fortunate.
Carrie Davis watched the train out o.
sight, and theh; went into the waiting
room to wait until the express arrived
Alexis last words-"Good bye, Car.
rie, if never see you again''-had fal
len with crushing weight upon her ears
A foreboding of Some terrible danger to
Aleck took possession OF her, and she
paced uneasily up and down the waiting
room, going every moment to the win
dow and looking down the track After
half hour of this suspense, she saw a
man running toward the depot. She re-
cognized Alexis fireman, Johnny She
threw up the window just in time to
speak to him.
sAleck-what of Aleck ?" she cried.
81 can't tell don't knowp' answer
ed Johnny, without stopping. "Both
trains are stove to shivers!'
Down dropped the heavy window, and
down dropped Carrie into seat but she
rallied instantly, and calmly witnessed
the preparations for relief to the unfor-
tunate men.
Another hour of terrible suspense and
the relief train came back
One by one the men filed out Of the
two coaches, some of them slightly
bruised, but all of them wearing cheer
full aspect that ought to have given Car,
rie hope. Bnt it did not. She was look
ing for Aleck, and saw nothing only that
he was not there.
'Was any one killed p she timidly
asked, yet dreadins to be answered.
''No one, thank Goip' was the answer.
"But one man was Uery seriously hurt"
His name? ?" she asked, breathlessly
81 am sure / cannot say" the man re
piled. "He was the engineer, or-mer-
cyl She has faintedn'
The man caught her before she fell,
and carried her into the depot.
Carrie lay in the swoon long time !;
but she awoke to happiness for Aleck
stood over her.
"Oh, Aleck! are you safe ?" she ex-
claimed. "They told me you were seri-
ously injured"
"It was Emmons,' replied Aleck. "He
will lose an arm poor fellow"
"Worse than that said MIR. Harvey,
the manager, who was standing near
'He will lose a situation and reputa-
ton. And must beg your pardon, AL
eek, for not needing your silent appeal
to me. l put implicit trust in Bmmons,
or 1 should have consulted the time card.
l exonorale you from all blame, and give
you months vacation with full pay"
He did more than that. When few
weeks later, There was quiet wedding at
Carrie Davis home, and Aleck and Car
rie were the bridegroom and bride, Mr.
Harvey, the manager, in behalf of the
employees Of the road, presented to AL
eek the deed of little nest of cottage,
furnished throughout, prefacing the gift
with short speech, in which he express
sed hope that every "wild rum would
terminate as happily as the last.
Aleck still runs an engine, and he has
carried many 'wild'' trains through
without an accident; but he carries a
written order, which is renewed monthly.
1t reads:
''Obey no order which you kno,o is
wrong
1t is signed by tile highest authority
of the company, and is never question
ed.