The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-01-18

tried to avoid seeing the happy groups Of
people who were necessarily getting on
or off the train; and once, when a child in
passing pulled at his cane, he turned his
back roughly on it. Yet had fancy
| don't know why-that the people and
Thanksgiving mattered more to him than
to any of us.
His friend said to him, presently, "Yoa
are not well, Colonel"
Never was better, but the truth
is, Venn, this country il all
familiar, and anything which recalls
old times makes me irritable. It's Q weak
ness which l will outgrow, probably. If
YOU will excuse me will 60 forward He
saw me just then, and. touching his hat,
asked leave to ride ca the engine, In order
to see the scenery. -x
Now the rules of the road were slip-shod
enough, but that was thing that / never
had allowed. However, l had taken .
curious interest in the man, and l liked his
courteous manner, so l nodded and went
before him through the baggage car, and
over the tender to see him safely across.
To my surprise, Jo e Fenton, our engineer,
met him as an old acquaintance. Joe had
been private in his regiment during the
war. They shook hands again and again,
and Fenton was in such hurry to tell
him that he was married and the father Of
twins that he stammered. The Colonel
laughed and looked pleased. He was
different man from the one had seen on
the car. | waited moment to point out
Brooks model farm to him when Joe said:
''Iou used to come down to these parts
for fishing often, remember, Colonel
Yes"
"Wherc is your good lady now, sir; and
the child? He was as pert youngster ss
| ever knowed."
The gentleman replied but by g gesture
with his hand
What, both. ;" gasped Joe. Both :"
The Colonel did not speak for minute,
and then he said quietly: my wife was
with me in China. She sailed with tho
child for home on the Petrol. l was to
follow six months later. The Petrol wenI
down. There was no one saved
Joe sand nothing; but presently he put
out his hand and smoothed the other man's
sleeve. 1t was just such thing as wo-
man would do.
The Colonel added hastily, as if afraid
he would betray any emotion, I'm on my
way west now, in search of my father, who
has left New England. People are easily
lost sight of in America. .r
That's fact, sill" said Joe, and then
he and l began to talk about the engine,
glad to get back to her. We had no right
to NEEDLE with grief like that
! went back on the cars again, until We
came to that hill half mile beyond Tan
ner's house, when | stepped back to the
engine, | had an uneasy feeling somehow
about leaving the man there. We had lost
time and were going ut full speed, when
Joe gave horrible oath, and at the same
moment something futtered down on to
the track from the bank not twenty yards
| ahead The next moment l saw that ii
was a child; that it was Dan, laughing
and RAINING with both hands out to meet
US. You know, sir, how long minute
| like that lasts. | had time to hear Joe's
mad whistle of down breaks shrieking out
through the hills, and to think it was like
the veil of Il devil, and to thank God that
| Tanner was in the back of the train, and
| could not see what we would have to see,
and vet it was all but breath of time.
1t was too late. The engine did not
| slacken and the child WAS hurrying toward
! it. Then | saw it's mother above the
| bank, running down the field. She had
missed Dan and would be in sight before
| | remember, JOe's lips were white, yet
he sat as cool us could be. 1t would be
| death, | reckon; buff a man could swing
himself down from the COW -catcher-"
| | pushed forward, but the Colonel held
me back.
I've nothing to lose," he said, and as
swift as a cat he passed around the ledge,
and threw himself headlong down on the
track in front.
| shut my eyes. The engine and the
whole train Numbered on; .lackened ut last,
and stopped. / remember how slowly l
climbed down aud looked over to field. |
did not know what | would tread into Oh
the track, or see.
The peor lie poured out of the train. In
the clay lay the Colonel like one dead
clear Of the track, SIR. He held the child
alive and uuhurt, still clutched In both
| hands. lie was only stunned, and came
to in minute, and stood up but he did
not seem to see the train or the crowd o&
men about him; nothing but the boy over
whose face he was passing his hand.
"God Almighty" he cried. Its my
Dan "
Then saw the childs mother down on
the ground with both arms about her n.s-
bands knees, and poor old Tanner. pale
as ghost, pulling at his sleeve, and cry
ing, Jack Jack "
| | saw how it was in q fash, and motion
ed Joe to whistle warning and shouted,
"All aboard, gentlemen. fen minutes
late," Though I'd have given the world
! Just then to wiring the old mans hand. 1t
was no rejoicing for us to take part in.
I've got no better friends, though, than
the Colonel and his father. Joe and 70
there by invitation as often as Thanksgiv-
ing comes round. No one eyer speaks Of
that day, but it's never out Of rcmem-
brance Yonder is their house--stone-
beyond the bridge Want to see Joe, Ell
Hes on the engine, sir. Passengers not
allowed on the engine.
g. .Gnnrnrn T,cknts