The Van Buren press., 1873-08-12

to find with you before. feu've been
kind, and good, and loving, always, but
| should be sorry we ever met ifyen are
going on in this way Don't ask me
what mean You know.
"Joe, said l, "it's only one club
night
at will grow" said she.
Then she put her arms around my
neck
Don't be afraid, child, I'll never pain
you so again.
And / meant it; but at twelve o'clock
that night felt that had forgotten my
promise and my resolution.
couldn't go homc to Joe. | made
up my mind to sleep on the club sofa
and leave the place for good next day
Already felt my brain reel as ! never
/ had before. In an hour was in land
OF stupor,
1t WAS morning, A waiter stood
ready to brush my coat. saw a grin
upon his face My head seemed ready
to burst; nay hand trembled | looked
at my watch saw | had only five min
minutes lett to reach the depot
Joe's words came to my mind Was
| fit to take charge Of an engine2 | was
not fit to answer ought to have asked
seme sober man, AS it was only
caught my hat and rushed away. | was
just in time.
The San Francisco glittered in the
morning sun. The cars were filling rap
idly. From my post l eould hear the
talking-bidding each other good bye,
promising to write and come again.
Among them was an old gentleman |
knew by sight--one of the shareholders /,
he was bidding two timid girls adieu.
Good. bye Kitty-goed bye Lue, |
heard him say; "don't be nervous. The
San Francisco is the safest engine on the
line, and Guolden the NEST careful en-
gineer | wouldn't be afraid to trust ev-
cry mortal love in the batch to their
keeping Nothing could happen wrong
with the two together.
said, "I'll get through il somehow,
and Joe shall never talk to me again. "
After all it was easy enough. lreeled as
| spoke. heard the signal. We were
off.
Five hours from l., to d. five hours
back. On the last should be myself
again, | knew. | saw a red futter, and
never guessed what it was until we were
past the down train at wrong place.
Two minutes more and we should have
had collision Somebody told me. ]
laughed. heard him say respectfully ::
Ia, G,,allo, In
what you are about ~
Then was alone, aAd wondered wheth-
Ell should 90 slower or faster j did
something, aad The cars f,o o4fron Mt a
fearful rate.
The sallia man who had spoken to me
before was standing near pe. ! heard
some questions.
How many miles an hour are we max
ing? | do not know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle. | was trying to
slacken the speed Of the San Francisco
| could not remember what l should do.
Was it this or that? + ster-only fast
er. was playing with the engine like
child
Suddenly there was horrible roar--a
crash; was flung somewhere. 1t was
into the water BY miracle was only
sobered-not hurt, gained the shore.
| stood upon the ground between the
track and the rivers edge, and there gaz-
ed at my own work.
The engine was in fragments, the cars
in splinters dead, dying and wounded
were strewn around-mon, women and
children, old age and tender youth. There
were groans and shrieks of despair. The
manned cried out in pain the uninjurcd
bewailed their dead and voice, un-
heard by any other was in my car whis-
perng, Murderer"
The news had gone back to A., and
people came threnging down to find their
lost ones Searching for an old man 8
daughter, | came to a place under the
trees, and five bodies were lying there in
all their rigid horror---an old woman, a
young one, baby and two children. 1t
was fancy-it was pure fancy, born to
my anguish-they looked like - oh
great heaven there were my nother,my
wife, my children all cold and dead.
How did they come on the train |
razed on the good old face Of her who
had given me birth, on the lovely fca-
lures Of my wife, on the innocent chill
dren. called them by name there was
no answer. There never conld bc-nev-
cr would be And as / eomprehended
this, onward up the track thundered an
other train. Its red eye glared on me; !
flung myself before it, felt it crush me
to atoms!
His head is very hot" said some
body.
! opened my eyes and saw my wife.
"How do you feel ~ she said; "a lit.
tie better ?"
Was rejoiccd and so astonished by
the sight OF her, that | could not speak
at first. She repeated the question.
Il must be crushed to pieces, said ],
" for the train went over me; but foel
no pain. :,
"There he goes about the train again, "
remarked my wife. "Why, Ned"
tried to move, there was nothing
the matter with me; sat up was in
my own room, opposite the crib in which
two children were asleep.
My wife and children were safe ! Was
delrous, or could it be?
Joe" cried I, "tell me what has
happened "
"Its o'clock, said Joe. You
came home in such dreadful state from
the club that couldn't wake you You
were not fit to manage steam and risk