Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-12-13
NUMBER 80.


escaping steam, for the locomotive had
come to grief very decidedly among the
granite powders that the fends had
heaped upon the track when planning the
wreck. The passengers were swarming
out of the cars, and none of them seemed
to be hurt at all, nor did Katie hear
sound that tolG of pain as she swiftly
threaded her way among and past them.
She had caught glimpse of a GROUP
away even beyond the shattered locomo-
tive, however, which forbade her lingcr-
ing for an instant. Right down toward
her own garden gate four men were car
rying helpless burden, and others were
following, and Katie heard them say as
she darted by:
"Who is it -
"Why, it's the conductor. He WAS
thrown from the platform of the forward
car"
"Is he killed ~
"They say so. Nobody else was hurt.
He was a splendid fellow"
A tall, handsome, bearded man, in
dark blue clothing, but his face was
ghastly pale when they laid him in Grand
father Crowninshield's own bed, and the
surgeon who had been among the passen-
gers bent gloomily over him.
Head all right muttered the man
of science, only n cut or SO. All, there's
rib, two of 'em, and his left arm below
the elbow. Struck the ground so, that's
clear, and the other bones are likely to
be right. Must have been leaning over
to look ahead, l should say-HuIlo,
what's that light on his face ?"
The light in the room, what with the
crowd and the country candles, had been
mono of the brightest, but just at this mo-
ment clear golden glcam was poured
down on the face of the injured man, and
slowly, us if the radiance had awakened
him, he opened his eyes and looked
dreamily about him.
The surgeon heard sigh that was half
sob close behind him, and looked up to
see that that and the sudden light came
from Katie and her lantern, but just then
the questioning eyes Of the wounded con-
ductor fell upon her face, and he ex-
claimed, family, but earnestly:
/" l knew it was you. There was hardly
room to stop the train in, but we'd have
all gone to pieces if it hadn't been for
you and your light. You've saved them
God bless you"
And so Katie Crowninshicld suddenly
found herself heroine, with swarm OF
grateful people around her, very much to
her discomfort. They would have made
her Il present If she would have allowed
them. but the only welcome words she
heard from any one were those of the
surgeon
What, killed? A man like him p
Nonsense he'll carry his arm in sling
month or so, but he'll be up again in
fortnight"
OF course no time was lost in repairing
the track ana forwarding the passengers,
and few hours only saw the old farm
house rs quiet and peaceful looking rs
ever. Even the surgeon had done his
work and gone. The engine lay battered
and helpless among the powders where
it had forced its willful way. The con-
ductor lay still on Grandfather Crownin-
shields bed, and the fitful slumbers the
surgeons opiatc gave him were starry
with signals that white fingers held up
before his dreaming eyes. AS for Katie
and her lantern, the latter had fairly
burned itself out and asleep on the little
table in Katie's own room, and she h r
self had by no means comprehonded, rs
yet, the happy consequences of her rail-
way signaling. 1t was very much like
dream to her, for Katie was 70 proph-
any light on the future. She could not
see, just then, and yet tho days that fol-
lowed brought all to pass, that neither
she herself, nor Grandfather nor Grand
mother Crowninshield, would consent to
any more railroading or signaling. 1t
was much better, indeed, they all dcclar-
ed, nor did he himself pretend to deny it,
that Katie's husband should farm broad
acres OF the fertile valley than that he
should be at the mercy of train-wreckers,
and wayside lanterns. And when the
question was decided to her liking, such
a hug and kiss was that which Katie
Crowinshield gave
"To whom ?"
"Why to her lantern, of course. ."-Ap-
ptet0nS Journal.