The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-02

sure they must be watching. Would they |
not kill her If they saw her going by ? |
There was no way to 90 around. Beck |
knew this well enough. If she coul d once
get by them she could bid them defiance
for there w9s not one in the country round
could compete with her on an even race.
She did not take long to deliberate. Her
strained ear caught the faint whistle of the
engine six miles away. Twas now or new
or, for in less than fifteen minutes the train
would be there. She paused long enough
to offer simple prayer for help and then
crept cautiously from her hiding place. and
pccrcd around. The distractions could
not be seen by the advancing train till ii
would be too late. With quick glance
she chose her course, and with a bound
sprang along the track. She thought she
had escaped observation but Just as she had
cleared the barricadc of logs shout from
one of the ruflians sent thrill through her
and quickened her pace until her feet
seemed not to touch, but rather to skim over
the wooden ties. She heard the heavy thud
of the villains feet behind her, but at length
it grew fainter. He must have abandoned
the chase, but she dared not slacken her
grumble, and rumble of the wheels along
their iron road, and in few moments,
though it seemed ages to the painting girl,
the engine came in view, dashing along
| az, 1,nbtp,po cpoaI lao ehrialad. cho
waved her arms; she was seen. There was
whistle for down breaks. The train
slackcned its speed, and the snorting en-
CINE drew up just opposite where the girl
lay on the grass beside the track, wildly
gestculating, scarcely able to utter word
but she succeeded in making herself I'M
derstood in part, so that party of men set
out Immediately along the track. When
she saw them fastening away she tell back
in dead swoon. They lifted her tenderly,
and carried her into the palace car, and
laid her on one of the velvet couches, and
kind hands bathed her face, and stroked the
heavy locks from her broad, full brow, an ]
pressed the cordial to her lips; and when
later the passengers came back, and re-
ported what they had seen, and from what
an awful death they had been saved, there
were those who fell at the child's feet, and
kissed the hard, brown hands. Mothers
with children in their arms husbands with
wives, and lovers, with blanched faces,
gathered around her, and when she began
to revive, poured out their thanks, and
praises for her bravery.
Afterward came the school children more
than half-ashamed, and craved her forgive
ness with tears and sobs.
Poor Beck Basset was heroine now
She was crying too, the tears running fas
down her brown checks, alternating will
smiles happy tears springing from gush
ing, bubbling fountain of happiness tina
had suddenly burst from her soul.
Beck Basset, the witch of Endor was nj
more. The grateful passengers and tn
railroad managers engaged to provide 70
. her in the future, and Rebecca Basset !
the finest scholar in the Millersville Hig
School and one of the prettiest girls in til
region. Her old father died soon after tn
affair of the railroad, in a fit of deliriur
y tremcns. The demons in human shape
. who would have committed wholesale mur
der, and robbery, were arrested, recognize
~ by Rebecca, and cared for by the State.