The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-06-24

started, the stranger remarked
81 feel that, under God, am indebted
for my life to you, my young friend. / can
now only repay you with my poor thanks,
but I trust that the opportunity will be
afforded me at some future time of man
ifesting in another way my sense of the
deep obligations under which rest Let
me hope that the acquaintance which has
been brought about by such sad contin-
gency, may hereafter be renewed under
happier auspices"
While Peabody was disclaiming any es-
pecial merit on his part for what he had
done, and expressing the qualification it
afforded him that he had been enabled to
render an assistance, the gentleman took
from his pocket valuable gold watch, and
extending it towards him. Thinking he
desired to know the time, Peabody looked
at it, and said
alt is fifteen minutes past three"
81 wish you to take it my young friend, !"
said his companion, still holding forth the
watch,
" I could not think of such a thing, my
dear sir" was Peabody's reply, with a
motion of dissent.
"Do not be offended with, me for press
ing the offer,' said the stranger. 81 do
not ask your acceptance of the trifle as pay
ment for your kindness. Believe me, do
not intend it as such. offer it to you as
token of my friendship, as such only
desire you to accept it-a keepsake.
shall feel very much panied, young man, by
your REFUSAL i..5
Peabody could not and did not doubt the
sincerity of the speaker, still he hesitated.
But the train at that moment commenced
moving, the watch was thrust into his
hands, and the young man felt that he
could not without rudeness refuse to retain
it. Hasty adieux were exchanged, and
Peapody stood and watched the train with
it's mournful burden slowly receding-very
slowly, that the jar might not aggravate
the sufferings of its living occupants-with
strangely complex feelings profound sad
ness and regret for the affiiction it bore to
many happy household, and as profound
joy and gratitude for his own preservation
from sudden death or serious injury.
1t was some time after the train bearing
the dead and wounded had departed ere
those who were left behind were enabled to
leave the scene of the disaster. After an
hour or two of impatient waiting, however,
they were taken TO the nearest station,
whence they were sent forward on their re-
spective routes, naa tlo
On reaching neighborihg town, Pea
body at once sought surgical aid, for his
arm had became extremely painful. An
examination of the limb revealed the fact
that it had been slightly fractured. After
it had been properly dressed Henry expert
enced immediate relief, and was glad to be
assured that he could safely continue on
his journey. Tho next morning, therefore,
he resumed his route.
In tho car in which he had taken passage
he found quite number of persons, ladies
and gentlemen, who had been passengers
on one of the wrecked trains, some of
whom had been more or less bruised. The
disaster Of the proceeding day was naturally
the topic of conversation. The fact oi
their having been exposed to common
danger, and that in a greater or lesser de-
gree the majority of them were sufferers
from the collision, tended to Danish al
conventionalities, and to foster a genera
spirit Of sociality among them.
When Peabody entered the car, the only
seat he found unoccupied was one the bach
of which had been reversed. Three of the
seats thus brought into neighborly juxta
position were occupied by two young ladiei
and young gentleman and as Peabody
received an intimation from the neares
lady, expressed by looks rather than words
that the seat was at his disposal, he YER,
gladly took possession of it. He founc
that his three fellow-passengers had als'
been passengers on the train that wa
wrecked, and as he took his seat he recog
nized in his yis-a-vis a young lady to whom
he had rendered slight service after tn
disaster. He remembered her from th
self possession she exhibited amidst tn,
distraction and agitation that prevailed, and
the readiness with which she devoted heI
services 10 the assistance of the wounded
in which occupation he had lost sight o
her. The fact Of Peabody's arm being il
a sling afforded opportunity for inquire
as TO the extent Of his injuries, which LEI
the way to further conversation, so that II
a very short time he found himself engages
in quite a familiar chat with his pleasan