Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-11-22

eyes, this is my post now," after
wringing my hand heartily. 81
was sent out ten days ago-a kind
of promotion, / believe. There's
more responsibility involved. Come
in and look at my snuggery," watch
ing my surprise with boyish delight.
The neat little Office was brighten
ed by vines and flowers in the win
dows; some fine drawings were on
the walls and rare books on the
desk. The violin lay near his
hand.
"Plcnty of time for study. A man
is drawn TO his real work by sort
of gravitation, eh? One can't sell
all of ones birthright for the mess
of pottage. But what brings you
here at night?"
l told him Mel. was coming, and
could not help being gratiiied by
his pleasure. He was grateful,
affectionate fellow, and Melicent's
little kindness to them had made
Illul very lOHu ~ HcIs
81 had no idea she was coming
back SO soon. Pontefract's Woods
has seemed dull and lifelcss with
out her; especially to Susy. On the
9:4O express, eh? That's one of the
heaviest trains usually. Break off
some flowers, Lathrop, and have
them ready for your wife, while |
- Here, Sam!" to a colored boy
lounging on the grass, "run off to
the village for some ice-cream. Fly,
you rascal! She'll be thirsty with
the heat and DUST" turning to me.
This was all years ago, but often
waken still at nights with the cold
sweat Of terror on my face, from
dreaming that 1 am standing again
on the dimly-lighted platform break
ing the fragrant syringa lunches
from the bush, and watching Ben
with an amused pleasure as he
BUSTED to and fro.
slave you a carriage?" coming
up to me at the moment the tele-
graph-operator put a dispatch in
his hand.
Station No. Is. Five minutes
late.' Well!" with puzzled look,
and then crumpling it up and thrust
ing it into his waistcoat pocket
''Did you say you had not a car
riage? There's cabman here that
| know-most obliging fellow. III
just run around the corner"
'But your dispatch?" ! said, un-
easily.
"That's nothing! I'll look into it
in minute" He ran off like a
boy, was gone short time, and re-
turned, bringing a slouching Irish
man cracking his whip. "Here he
is. Bring your carrigage up, Pete.
The train is due now"
At that moment, the New York
express, heavily laden, went thun-
dering by on it's way to Baltimore.
| stood watching idly how the line
of figures in the windows made a
long whisk of color against the
night, when the sound of a sudden,
inarticulate effort for breath made
me turn to Ben. He was looking
after the cars, holding the open dis
patch in his hand. Something in
his face told me the whole truth.
Yet l was calm as men usually are
when death meets them face to face
OIL the highway.
"What have you done?"
81 did not read all of the dis
patch"
took it. 1t was from the train
on which my wife was to come.
"Station No. Is! Five minutes late!
Keep track clear!"
81 ought to have stopped the New
York express at the station before
this one. They will meet ten miles
down the road"
"You can telegraph now"
"There is no station between this
and No. l5."
lie turned to the superintendent
who came out of his office and gave
him the dispatch saying quietly:
81 neglected TO stop the New York
train. You see what l have done" "
And then he followed me down the
road. l remember how l heard
behind us sudden outcry of mems
voices, and then an awful hush, as
the comprehension of what was yet
to come, that could. not be helped,
struck them dumb. l remember
duly understanding, too, that they
were sending to the city for help,
surgeons. Some Of the officers
passed us in few moments driv-
ing furiously.
walked on down the road, and
Ben followed me. Some laborers
from about the station came up
alongside of us.
eff it ud been daylight" said one,
i'll subdued tone, "therc might ~
been a chance; but at night--'
can both express, and goin' at
full speed-'
After that they were silent, hurry
ing on beside us. The night was
dark. We came at last to where
the road made sudden bend around
hill, below which a creek glim-
mered in the fog. On the other
side Of the bend we heard sound
of horses tramping.
cts the buggies of the men as
rode down." said one of the Irish
men. "Thc trains have met
beyant."
They went on. l stopped, l do
not know for how long, holding my
face against the clay Of the cut in
the hill. remember cropping with
my hand, and thinking had a
woman's hair in it, or child's. l
creft around the bend presently,
and down the road.
There, on the side-track, lay 4
long tram, the engine snorting and
putting - drowsy but composed
women's faces pccring out of every
window. From one Of the first
Melicent looked curiously, and
Sandy beat on the glass with his
hands. Groups of men were stand
ing along the road, all talking at
once.
"Jakc Redmund's on the engine