Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-11-14

Int IDdI, ntdIh hLl ~ -
the a ir.breadth escapes from collisions
of cool courage in men who placed them
selves between the people they carried
and most horrible death, She had learn.
ed the mower and mission OF ''tbe road.
In short she was as loyal a daughter OF the
rail as any Maine shippers child is Of the
sea. Madge had affinity for an engine.
TO this day her throat swelled, her eye
kindled, when the great iron animal
swept past her. Charley drove an engine,
and his engine was, in her eyes, a hitting
exponent Of the strength and beauty OF
his manhood. Such was the romance OF
her little dry life. Everybody must have
his enthusiasm. She had been in the
towns great depot at night, arrived from
q holiday trip, and had laughed aloud to
see ONE busy engine hurryiog up anu
down, picking up frclghts like 3 hen
gathering her chickens; now breathing
loud enough 70 deafen a multitude, no"
concentrating It's strength and painting
slowly away at the head of its charge.
She had walked from sleep to hear them
calling to each other through the dark
ness, and translated to herself what they
said.
It was a proper thing for Madgo to be
m engineers wife, She thought il e 1T
ting thing to be ChnrIey'8 wite under any
circumstances, ! assure you. There was
now only d little strip OF time between
Madpe and Charley. She looked oyer
that littIestrip, and saw just how il would
be. They were TO have a cottage on a
clean street her grand parents, if they
became intirm, were tO have a homo with
her; land these " little hands" said
Cbs rlev g win make me the dearest
nest iil be so gIal to run into it at
/ aieht -
Modge,e mini, face took on rose as she
. thqugbI Of ali these things. looking IN
and down the cut To sec If the track was
ciror aa her grandfather had said. It
was clear She fell relieved and foolish
about coming out there through the twi
lfght Ia spy for CbarIpy's welfare, and
mich inclined to hide from the smoke
! ]rising far off Bllt those unstable sandy
walls towering over his way Madge
watched tbop, ie4lolsly, Just as the
tbunder Of fbc train could be heard, her
/ heart stood still to see them dissolve, like
/ nill,rg gropnd down by some malicious
/ Samson. and oiled up6u the track until
nolbipg cauId he sren for wards but one
/ lone hin of earth and stones
n. r,,l, Mali, ig flora 10 beroieu,
in you, 1t must meet and lasso tnat IRON
beast Whirilng . hundred people upon
death \ huharea Inc "h0fe o1'ta
was in the engine house lie wouldn't
ny rs, 'ro, h SOU low" te w'onlJ Get
bis he hand norya amt hroin Ia the
emergency she Sa" ho" car "ouio crush
into car, the wreck he over a b4fnlng
engine, ana Charley be ground anu chaf-
red under them all!
o sublimely Enseldsh womanl She flew
over the track like a thing of wings,
1t was life and Charley, or death with
! Charley, The headlight flashed up
through the dusk. There were matches
in her pocket; she scraped them on Il rail,
and tore oil her apron, OH they would.
I MT ignite, and the cotton would but
shoulder. II Is rolling down ON her as
! swift as air. Bless the loom which woye
! the cloth which made the cotton apron!
/ She tossed it blinking and blazing, above
her head, walking slowly backward. The
relieved fury roared down at her, but
Won can't terrify II woman when her mind
Ii made up. 1t should run over her he
fore it should reach the sand heap.
She was seen. The engine rent even
ing with its Wells; the brakes were ON
her lasso had caught tit could roy be
sioppea ia time. She darted aside, but
thec current was too strong for her. She
was dizzy; fell, and clutched in thcwrong
direction. Poor, poor little fingers
Now the people pour out; they run
here ana there. Women are crying
/ pprAanE because they WVrn't hurt. The