Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-11-21

- 49, @--~~-
szE,zzsuzRzuEzIzszsE,zz.zs uzuzzl.zzI.lzs.-zAEn
by on its way to Baltimore. 1 stood
watching idly how the line of figures
in the windows made a long whisk of
color against the night, when the sound
of sudden, inarticulate effort for
breath made me turn to Ben. He was
looking after the cars, holding the open
dispatch in his hand. Something in
mis- face told me the whole truth. Yet
| was calm as men usually are when
death meets them face to face on the
highway. - sssF 'sl.sSo -ss
."What have you done?', s.-
"I did not read allthe dispatch"
l took it. II was from the train on
which my wife was. to come. 'sStation
No. ,l5i Five minutes latel Keep track
'sf oaght-to have stopped the New
York express at the station before this
one. They viii meet ten miles down
the road.",1% .s;l. A. -.-
- "You can telegraph now.u
"There is no station between this and
He turned to the superintendent,
who came out Of his Office, and gave
him the dispatch, saying quietly: "I
neglected 10 stop the New York train.
You see what have DONE" And then
he followed me down the road. re-
|memember how heard behind Us
sudden outcry Of mems voices, and
then an awful hush, as the comprehen-
sion of whatl4as yet toe0me, that could
not be helped, struck me dumb. / re-
member fully understanding, too, that
they were sending to the city for help,
surgeons. Some of the officials passed
US in few moments, driving furiously.
walked on down the road, and Ben
followed me. Some laborers from
about the station came up alongside of
us.
"Ifft I'D been daylight, ,,"said one in a
lsubdued tone, ithere might "a been a
Iebance; but at nigat-n
"An both express, and goin' at full
Ispeed-n.,,s s5 -.
ssAfter that they were silent, hurry
ling. on beside us. ssshe night was dark.
We came at last to where the road
made sudden bend around q hill, be-
! low which a creek glimMered in the
fog On the other side of the bend we
heard sound of horses tramping.
''It's the buggies of the men as come
down." said one OF the Irishmen. "The
trains have met'beyant."
They wenton. stopped, TO not
know for how long, holding my face
against the clay of the cut in the hill.
| remember cropping with my hand,
and thinking I had a woman's hair in
lit or q child'sj I erept arouad the bend
presently and down the road. ..
There, on side track, lay a long
train, the engine snorting and putting
drowsy but. composed w0men'5 faces
4peering out OF every window. From
lone of the FIRST Nelicent looked curious
Ily, and Sandy beat on. the glass with
his hands. Groups of man were stand
1 ing gafong the road, all talking at once.
flake Relmund's.On the engine this
run;i saida brakeman to a crowd near,
ssand that's all that saved us. Jake sees
the light Of fother train turnIn' the
/ hill, and switches back He hadn't
an inch to. 'Sssare, sir, Jake's got the
j HEST eye and hand on this road, and
he'll be promoted for to-night'S work.
1If the company don't take account of
i this nights work of Jake,s it's an infer
fiaI shame. Beth them trains saved!
EGod help ust here's one man that ap-
pears to be dead p, STOPPING to lift
body from off the muddy track. As
,Ihe turned it up to the iamplight, I saw
1 Ban's thin faceand halfopen mouth.
stPilIey has been. dismissed from the
service Of the company" said Saul, a
tday or two after.
Il aOf course - = - -
! s,IAen the company were exceeding
lily unjust % said Melieent. 'Ben new
[er would have neglected despatch
again, whoever might, that's certain.
fWhatdoes the company expect him to
lido -starve ?' -a 1-=
81 have news for YOU" the doctor
lsaid, his eyes shining. "Bohem, it
'lseems, would not leave Bonn to take
1.-THE professorship, aHdit is given to Ben
lat last. n s.as....
ssThere is poetic Justice" Melicent
said with triumphant nod to me.
"That Ben should be rewarded for
jselIine his birthright for mess of pot
tage!S Though I was better pleased
THAN she was, after ALL.
Ben Pilley holds rank now in the
world of science, where business men
Tor railroad kings would be looked on as
tbut commOnerS or Pariahs. But he
takes as keen delight in trout fishing as
lever, and is every whit the same old
/ Ben to my mind. Melicent has come
home from her usual fall visit to them.
EThey have every comfort and lux
ury, of course,n she says discontentedly.
I"Cultured society outside, and lovely
scenery, and all that. But the elegant
house is all upside down, and the SER
wants rule, and the children go tum-
bling about in their summer clothes
these freezing days, and Susy sits
smiling with folded hands, and Ben nd
dies. and tFey,reas happy as kings and
queens. It's intolerable I"-l Re6eeoG
DouSs ia Hearth and Home.