The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-02-05

Charley didn't pass to-day when the dirt
was rattlin' down 80. He don't pass till half
after eight this evening, and we left the track
| az clear as this table. Yes, sir; them rails is
as clear and bright as new tin pans. So don't
you be skeered, honey"
"Pm not scared about anything, grandpa"
said Madge TREMENDOUSLY, but smiling like a
rainbow.
"There, now, MOTHER" cried Casper tri-
umphantly, returning to his onions, ''you
come down on me for nothin' She amt
skeered Bit"
No, not a bit. She flew about the room
like a bird, dashed the earthenware brought
her grandfather his pipe, and dropped at his
feet to tell him some funny story afioat. In
his enjoyment he wrapped himself in such a
cloud that she could hardly see the clock.
Madge slipped out to the gate. She was
often there, looking up the road The two
old people sat inside, thinking of the days
when they were young.
She was restless, and fitted over the cinder
sidewalk, following magnet which would
have drawn her from the centre of the earth
To the road, of course. How often had she
watched the rails converging horizonward
until they sharpened themselves to needle
point. The railroad had fascination for
Madge. When girl she used to follow her
grandfather to his work, and hide among
bushes to see the big freight numbering by,
and the express trains whirling into town like
screaming land demons She had heard of the
a.,1f L. IT,. l..4 Il,
saw the railroad and felt the spell, which no.
body seemed to remark, that it cast over in
land labors. She saw her boy playmate suck
ed up by "the road heard her grandfather
tell of hairbreadth escapes from collisions, of
cool courage in men who placed themselves
horrible death. She had learned the power
and mission of 1.-THE road" In short she was
as loyal 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 eyes kindled, when the great iron
animal swept past her. Charley drove an en-
CINE, and his engine was in her eye,. n fitting
exponent of the strength and beauty of his
manhood. Such was the romance of her little
dry life. Everybody must have his enthu-
siasms. She had been in the towns great
depot at night, arrived from holiday trip,
and had laughed aloud to see some busy en-
CINE hurrying up and down, picking up freight
like a hen gathering her chickens; now breath
ing loud enough to deafen a multitude, now
| concentrating his 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 darkness and translated to
herself what they say.
1t was proper thing for Madge to be an
engineers wife. She thought it fitting thing
to be Charley's wife under any circumstances,
| assure you. There was now only little
strip of time between Madge and Charley
She looked over that little strip, and saw just
how it would be. They were to have cot
tage on clean street; her grandparents, if
they became infirm, were to have a home with
her; "and these two little hands, said
Charley, twill make me the dearest nest I'll
be SO glad to run into it at nighti's
Madge's pink face took on rose as she thought
of all these things, looking up and down the
cut to see if the track was clear, as her grand
father had said. 1t was clear. She felt re-
lieved and foolish about coming out there
through the twilight to spy for Charley's well
fare, and much inclined to hide from the
smoke rising far off. But those unstable
sandy walls towering over this way. Madge
watched them jealousy. just as the thunder
of the train could be heard, her heart stood
.4:n I
down by some malicious Samson, and piled
upon the track until nothing could be seen for
yards but one long hill of earth and stones
Now, little Madge, il there Is heroism in
you, it must meet and lasso that iron beast
whirling hundred people upon death A
hundred The whole world was in the engine
house. He wouldn't try to save himself when
he came upon the life-trap. She saw how he
would set his lips, bend nerve and brain to the
emergency she saw how car would crush into
car, the wreck lie over a burning engine, and
Charley be ground and charred under them
all!
o, sublimely selfish woman She flew over
the track like thing of wings. 1t was life
and Charley, or death with Charley The
headlight flashed up through the dusk. There
were matches i'll her pocket she scraped them
on rail, and tore off her apron. Oh, they
wouldn't ignite, and the cotton would but
shoulder. It is rolling down on her swift as
air. Bless the loom which wovc the cloth
which made the cotton apron She tossed it,
blinking and blazing above her head, walking
slowly backward. The red-eyed fury roared
down at her, but youscan't terrify woman
when her mind is made mp. It should run
over her before it should reach the sand heap.
She was seen. The engine rent the evening
with its yells II The brakes were on---her lasso
had caught tit could now be stopped in
time. She darted aside, but the current was
too strong for her. She was dizzy fell and
clutched in the wrong direction, Poor, poor
little fingers 5ffs& fsI5tg
Now the people pour out; they run here
and there. Women are crying-perhaps be-
cause they weren't hurt. The engineer darts
along like mailman, looking under the train.
There, dozen feet before the engine, rises a
sand hill Everybody wants to know how they