Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-12

The firm of Harrington d Brother
soon passed ont of the remembrance of
all but the sufferers by It. Kittens faith
er skunk away TO the poverty stricken
retreats of broken down gentlemen; for
his had been no fictitious failure, leaving
the bankrupt rich. Thus Kitten faded
SO completely out of Bessie's set that she
could learn nothing Of him nor bis where
abouts. On the receipt of his letter, she
felt that she loved him, and told her
father 50. She was young and stood in
awe of her father, who forbade her to
hold out any encouragement to young
Harrington. giving these reasons: that
she, by reason of her bringing up, was
unified to be the wife of poor man;
that he, her father, would never support
a son-in.aw; that every man should take
care Of his own wife, no matter what the
circumstances of her parents might be.
If the young fellow really loved her, he
would pluck up spirit-which he didn't
seem TO have, by the way-slrike vein
of gold or find Kidd's treasure. and come
back and claim her in good time. Then
it would be well enough to talk of ac
ceptng him, always supposing that she
kept of the same mind. which, in 50
young girl, was hardly to be expected.
And so on in the Same strain.
Bessie did not die of disappointed love
it is not customary with the girl of the
period. Still she felt that in her heart
Of hearts" (wby should Hamlet. only,
have plurality of them y she loved poor
Kitten, as her sister bad mOckingly nick.
named him 10 happier hour.
She loved him with redoubled tender
ness since he had uttered that touching,
tragic word, "good bye;" for,
"How oft, if al the court of Love
Conce alment he the fashion,
When How d'ye-dO? has failed to move
Goodbye reveals the passion ~
The sisters passed four years in gayety
and fashion, skimming from one watering
place to another, and then Ellen married.
Mr.. Vandccken came home one even.
ing, saying that he was going out West
on business; that if Bessie could be ready
at seven o'clock the next morning, she
might go with him.
A large Saratoga trunk stood in the
passage at six. They travelled in safety
till The last evening Of their journey.
"Only one night more" said Bessie TO
herself. as she loosened her dress and
unbuttoned her boots. " that shall have
to crawl into this nusty. draughty berth
in sleeping car"
Tired out, she soon fell into an uneasy
slumber. She was suddenly awakened
by terrible crash, as if two trains had
rushed together, followed by shouts. cries,
groans, and confusion. She was instant
ly thrown forward, it seemed to her, out
Of the car; then she lost consciousness.
When she partly recovered her senses she
heard the same agonizing moaning and
cries, and thought she had been killed
and sent to perdition; for above her head
there glared a great, binding red light;
she see ned to be lying on hard, iron
rack then a demoniac face bent over
her, and two brawny, bare arms grasped
her and bore her swiftly away. Was it
the arch iend himself bearing her down,
down to still more terrible punishment!
Two trains had collided-oue dash.
ing into and shutting up in the other like
a telescope. By some miracle Bessie
was flung uninjured on the cow catcher
of the engine which burst in the end of
her sleeping car. Just as she fell the
engineer managed to jump out, seize, and
aud drag her off the perilous place. He
Carried her to the nearest hotel. where
soon the dead and wounded were
brought in heart-rending numbers
among the former was Mr.. Vandecken.
In the agony of her grief word was
brought to Bessie hat the engineer wish.
ed to see her.
"Let him come in" she said, tearfully.
Though, now my father is gone, / can
not thank the man for saving my life."
The engineer was tall, muscular man
with a heavy beard. This time bis face
was not begrimed with coal dust. Bes
sic saw at once that he was not the arch
fiend, as she had thought on the cow
catcher; but there was something famil-
| lar about his features. Still she felt sure