Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-04-03

tram and once, when a child in passing
pulled at his cane, he turned his back rough
y on it. Yet had fancy-I don't know
why-that the people and Thanksgiving
mattered more TO him than any of US.
/ His friend said to him presently, - You're
not well, Colonel? -
. Never was better-but the truth is,
Nenn, this country is all familiar to me. and
anything which recalls old times makes me
nervous and irritable It's weakness which
| shall outgrOw probably. If you II excuse
me III 90 forward. He saw me lust then.
ard touching his hat, asked leave to ride on
the engine, 10 order to see the scenery.
Now the rules Of the road were slipshod
enough bat that was a thing never had
allowed. However, | had taken a curious
interest in the man, and liked his courteous
manner, so | nodded and went on before
him through the baggage car and over the
tender to see him safely across. To my
surprise Joe Fenton, our engineer, met him
as an old acquaintance joe had been a
private in his regiment during the war
they shook hands again and again, and
tenton was in such a hurry to tell that he
was married and the father of twins, that
he stammcred. The Colonel laughed. and
looked as pleased az Joe. He was a differ
ent man from the one had seen in the car.
1 waited a moment to point out Brooks
Y AA4D-Ati iAA III W AAAAAS "AACL y OS nAiu
q You used to come down to these parts
for fishing often, remember, Colonel -
Yes -
- " here is your good lady now, sir2 And
the child d? lie was as peart youngster as
/ ever knowed."
The gentleman replied but by a gesture
with his hand
What, both?" ga,pcd Joe. " Both
The Colonel did not speak for minute,
and then he sail quietly - My wife was
with me in China She sailed with the
child for home on the Petrel. | was to fol-
low six months later. The Petrol went
down. There was no one saved.
Joe said nothing but presently he put
out his hand and smOothed the other mans
sleeve. IL was just such a thing as woman
won do
The Colonel added hastily. as if afraid he
would bctTay emotion, " I'm on my way
Wes now, IN search of my father, who has
left New England. People are easily lost
sight Of IN America
= Thats a fact. sir, said Joe. and then
he AMI [ began 10 tll1 about the engine
. ad t. get back 10 her We had no right
% medd e WIKI griet like that.
| went back ON the cars again, until we
came To that bHIa halfmile beyond Tan
mrs house, when I steppel back to the
engine. | had an uneasy feeling somehow
about leaving the man there. We had lost
time, and were going at full speed, when
JJe gave a terrible oath, and At the same
moment something Huttered down on to the
ptnk. ! saw thay It was a child that it was
ID n, laughing and running with both hands
Out, TO meet Us. You knoa sir, how long
minute ike that lasts. | had line 70 hear
jOe's mad whistle for down brakes shrIekluL
thr1u IN the hills. AMI u thank God that
-F 4
could not see what We would have t. see,
md yet it was all bul breath Of time
l., was too late. The engine did not
-lacken ard the ild was hurryIns toward
lt. Then | saw ITS mother above the back.
unnng down tine field. She had missed
Dan. and would be in sight before
Z remember JOS lips were white. Yet
he sad. As cool t- cJuli b., e lJ would bee
death / reckon buff man could swing
aIm-eIf down rom the COW catcher
pushed forward, but the Colonel held
me U-ck
..I have nothing to lose. he said, and as
threw himself hetdlong down on the track
u front. ! shut NY eyes. The en-ILe and
The whole train Numbered on, siackeued 1T
last, and stJpucd. | remember how slowly
I climbed down and boxed over t. u fe d.
[ old not know what | would tread into on
the track or s,e.
Tie people poured out Of the train. In
the track laid the Colonel ike one dead -
clesr off the track, SIT. lie held the child
alive and uuhurt, stil ciutched ia both hands
lie was only stunned, aud came to in a min
ute. and stood up; but he dId not seem %
see the train or the crowd Of men about him !;
nothing bur the Toy, over whose face he WAS
passing bis hand.
Gt! 4 AIutt.ritv '' he cried. So IL Ii