The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-02-08

ooNh, disappointed man, without ;
hope or aim in life.
Pardon me, Frank, but it hurts
me, even now, to recall the events o
that awful night though five long
dreary years have passed over my
head since then.
swell, as I was saying, after dash
ing along this mad pace for nearly 6
couple Of hours, we swept down the
hin into the Kilsby tunnel; and then
right ahead of US, on the d0t0n line
along which I knew the night mail
to the north was coming from Lon
ldon. suddenly caught sight OF the
runaway engine. The furnace door
was open, and as the distance be
teen us lessened, I saw plainly. as
see you in the vivid light of che
blazing FIRE, the form of my Mary,
standing out in bold relief against
the blackness of the tunnel.
"Her slight form dilated in the
weird freight; her hands grasping
the rails, she stood upon the tender,
the picture Of despair. apparently in
doubt whether to remain upon the
flying engine or spring of into the
darkness.
'In vain I called to her to remain
on the engine-my shout was Of no
more avail than whisper amid the
roar produced by the eehoing walls
of the tunnel Suddenly the horri-
ble thought flashed across my mind
that the down express must be near
" due, and looking at my watch
with q sort of desperate calmness
which astonished me afterward,
saw that it was half past one O'Clock,
the exact moment, as I knew well
enough by experience, when the
mail train, coming in the opposite
direction, ought to be entering the
other end of the turnel. My God!
how earnestly 1 prayed that she
might be ten minutes late that night.
The agony of a lifetime seemed to
be crowded into the next few mo-
ments. Now we appeared to be
nearing the flying engine--then it
seemed to burst away from us with
renewed speed. At one moment my
darling seemed to be almost within
reach of my arm, and at the next she
was flying away from me again.
"Gradually, however, the distance
between US lassened, and at last the
two engines were running neck and
neck, with only the six foot way
between the two lines Of rails to sep
arate us. Then, for the first time,
Mary turned her head and saw me
close behind her. Motioning her to
remain quiet, pulled myself togeth-
er for the leap, and with both en-
gines running at full speed, I sprung
clean across the six feet between us,
and alighted upon the top close to
her.
"At the same moment I heard the
shrill whistle of the express, as she
entered the opposite END of the tun-
mel, and saw, to my horror, that there
was not more than a hundred yards
between us. To screw down the
brakes and reverse the engine was
the work of a moment, but 1 knew
too well that it was too late. No
power on earth could avert the fear
full collision, and there was nothing
left as but to die together. Tc |
spring from the engine wOuVd have
been instant and certain death-so |
we stood, with my arm around her,
and Mary, her head buried upon my |
breast, waiting for the end.
"Once she raised her head, and we |
looked into each others face-'a
moments look, lifctime's memory /
never, as long as live, shall for
get that last look the intense light
of the furnace steaming upon that
pale, desparing face upturned so
hopelessly toward minei
Together, darlingr whispered,
as ciasped her widely to my heart
then sudden shock, a deafening
crash, and all was over, and re-
no moro till I awoke in the
little waitingroOm at Brisley, with
the doctors standing by my side.
"a month after, when / left the
hospital, my Mary was lying at rest
in the little cemetary outside of
Rugby, and all that remained to me
Of my lost bride was the lock Of hair
she had given me when first won
her love.
Snow, Frank, must bid you a
dieu again, as have to drive the up
mail to night. I have passed through
Kilsby tunnel hundreds of times
since then; but L never enter its dark
mouth without a thrill Of horror at
he recollection Of that awful night,
md that desperate ride for life
which, alasi was all in vain"
Another Cure fer q FeIOn.
Take q pint Of common soft soap
Ind stir in air Stacked lime till it Is
# the consistency OF giazier's putty.
Make leather thimble, eli It with