Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-07-12

temples and tried to think He had been there
he could recall Just how the dewy rails looked,
vet and glistening In the starlight. he had had
the switch key Ia his hand--that he could re-
member Bot was that before or after the freight
had switched off2 He could not remember wheth-
OF the freight had passed or not. He did not
Know wether be had locked the switches tgioe
or once, or, good heavenBl not at all The past
was a swaying vacuum. the future strange and
dream like. He closed bis Dyes he pressed his
temples as IL either hand had been q vice Of iron
IN the wild agonizing effort to recall the last
20 God !" he groaned aloud, as he threw him
sell on bic fac 10 the wet grass, IAN going
Something hard struck against his breast
bone as he flung himself down; 1t was the fatal
flask He tore it out. half full OF dark red poi
son. and dashed il passionAtely into the bushes
IL was that-that that had done all the mischief.
20 Heavenly father!" he cried aloud In his
great anguish, iii il psases Thee to avert from
me this awful crime OF murder done Thousand
foid--and naught but one OF Thy miracles can
avert it now-I swear before Thy pavement Of
stars to touch that devil's broth no moro! o
God, hear mel o Christ save mel"
The earth beneath Lis groveing breast thrilled
and quvered as the express train Hsw over the
rails and Israel EsmayDe heldhs breath, mo-
mentArily expecting the awful crash which would
stain his soul With the eternal brand of Cain.
Hush An owl hooting afar of in the woods.
the cry OF some sad voiced night-bird over head
and then another whistle. clear and CHEEKY
The express had passed through Hurstley-pass-
ed through safe and sound! And Israel Es-
mAyne, staggering to his feet gaz ID arouni HIM
an instant, cluching vaguely at the air, aud then
fell Unconscious.
"Uncla, he lie coming TO- Oh, uncle knew
knew that he was not dead!'
Aud the soft ewes OF Dorothy Beers were the
first thing Israel E-mayne saw as his soul came
out OF the world OF shadows aud oblivion with
old Jonathan leaning on his cane just beyond.
Tell me Dotty, he gasped. How was it ?
The--svitches
at was my girl did it, said the old man. ''shs
come by, aud she heard the freight whistlin.
aud che sees the switches wasn't right nor no
signal, nor nothiD.' Some things happened,
says my girl. 'Israels been took ill, or dead ,
says She Aud there lay the key in the middle OF
the track. and she catches 1t up, and she unlocks
the s9itches-you showed her how to do it your
self, Esmayne, one summer afternoon--aDd she
hangs up the white lantern And there she
stands, with her heart a beatin' ft TO choke her
till the freight gets of Aud she calls to one OF
the Drakemen, Set these ere right for the ex-
press" says rhe. Quick or there may be a
thousand lives lost Where's the switch tend
er?' says he. God only knowsG Gays my Dotty.
Aud so she comes back arter me. 'Uucls she
says, all white and trenholm like, come with
me- what for T. says /, To look for Israel,
says she. 4 don't sleep this night says my
Dotty, I'LL we've found him !"
God bless her y cried out Esmayne, In a
choked voice. - God be thanked for all his mer-
cies T.
Was it Ht ?" said the old man, curiously.
How did 1t come on 2"
But Israel Fem tyne spoke no word on the sub
jsct, either then or ever. lie married Dorothy
Beers in the spring. and he has sacredly kept his
vow. II he lives to be hundred years old he
will still keep 1t. And Dotty, though she never
knew 1t. had redeemed him.