Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-11-25

the wild arum poised itself against its
triple faded leaf.
Out from the wood and across the
meadow where the foamy masses of the
rpened balsam cleaned snowy white,
across the stepping stones Of Crystal Run
vent the little maiden, mindful of her
promise and walking on the wood path
below the grade rather than ON the track
above. All along were deep gullies made
by recent rains; but Nellie was as sure
footed as deer, and climbed here and
there to gather the bright berries, and
tinted leaves scarlet pods of the bitter
sweet, the red seeds of the wild rose, the
orange plume of the sumach leaf, and
the.feather mist of the clematis. These
! filled her small hands, and she trailed
on the ground a great branch of the ce-
dar boughs covered with the blue bloom
| OF ltS aDunuant berries.
Out of he. glad heart came little songs,
and chirps, and self-communings under
her breath
Chow still it is, and how beautiful
those gray rocks are behind that vine. .
There is little splash in the water,
what made it? Only q stone rolled
from the hillside But did / bring all
that earth down when l pulled that hem
lock bough ? There go two or three
pebbles hurrying down hill. How the
stones roll l suppose it is in conse-
quence of the rain last night.
''What lovely bouquet have al
ready. l know Charlie will say. that
grew by woodchuck's hole;' and DIR.
Boneset will call 1t sticks and stuff, and
admire it all the while; and Arthur
but what is this? another stone and
more earth from the railroad embank-
ment! There is an awful gap up yon-
der A rail has sprung, just by the
bridget p
Ab, Nellie Greg. well you may turn
pale and shiver No loaded train can
cross that break in safety Put up your
white hands pitifully as there comes a
vision of horror, of blood on the ripples
of Crystal Run. of tortured forms and
dying faces,
Hark family and far off as yet, there
sounds that fatal whistle
Down on the hillside knelt the girl
one moment, then white and fearless she
stripped the branches from the long
spray of cedar. and thrust it through hen
scarlet shawl from point to point, then
clambered up the steep bank to the track
and rather flew than ran along its shin.
ing lines. She thought of darling Char
lie rushing to his death, of Arthur eye;
white-lidded evermore, of Uncle Dan and
, his weary sunless life, of DR.. Boneset
: and his unthankful spirit, as she ran
, What memory recalled to her the fact o
red being the symbol of danger, know
not, except that angels telegraph sucl
things sometimes. Over the bridge anC
f around the turn, brave feet for again
: nearer there sounds the fearful whistl
: coming higher.
, See, yonder is its trail of smoke float
5 ing to the hills; while the dim monste
S grows blacker and larger, off where tn
rails seem to unite. Wave your red ban
: ncr, Nellie Greg! Don't you see tn
!! signal, engineer?' Are you mad o
/, dreaming? That is no holiday masquel
e with golden hair so wildly ahoat. Tha
o is no merry greeting that rings so shrill
: on the quiet air.
d All! she is on the track-do you Sc
: her now? "Ay, ay,' whistle "dow
: brakes" reverse your engine, pull ou
d your fires it may be. Rein in your iro
It horse till the rude rebound has thundere
out the news. God help them, they al
y coming-Thanks thanks forever !
i This side of the bridge the train ha
d stopped, and Berryburn shall bow itse
l. in thankful praise tonight!
d CHAPTER ".
''What's the matter? The uuestio
y was echoed IN every tone possible as tt
scared travellers poured out from the ca
: to see a yawning gully between them an
~ their destination, frail little girl wit
closed eyes lying on the hillside, and
red shawl thrust along the cedar boug
. A young collegian STOPPING over her wit
: tender reckless words. poor Uncle Da
~ in wondering sorrow, Charlie howling
Ny boyish fashion, and DIR. Boneset scoldir
= everybody.
q Arthur. lay her out straight on Il
a grass. The girls tainted, and she can
: come to held up that way-Charlie, r,
= to the brook for water-and- nd-good pc
pie, if you would please to stand bac
she might catch her breath -
III A dash of water in the pale face brc
at back flush to the pale cheeks, and S
as asked eagerly. did be stop?'
.'Of course he did," said DR.. Bones,
Us ''fe couldn't have got over such gre
to mountain as you on the track Now c.
nd you walk home? No? Arthur, Y