The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-08-29

go in this way. Don't ask what mean
you know"
"It's only club night" I said.
"It will grow" said she.
Then she put her arms around my
neck. f
"Ned," said she, edo you think a
thing SO much like a belted and strap
ped down demon as steam is fit to put
into the hands of drunken man? And
some day, mark my words, not only
Thursday night, but all the days of the
week, you will be the same. I have
often heard you wonder what the feel
ings of an engineer who has about the
same as murdered train full of people
must be, and you'll know if you don't
stop where you are. A steady hand
and clear head have been your bless
ing all these years. Don't throw them
away. Ned, if you don't care for my
love, don't ruin yourself"
My little Joe. She spoke from her
heart, and I bent over and kissed her.
"Don't be afraid, child; I'll never
pain you again."
And I meant it; but ct II o'clock that
night 1 felt that I had forgotten my
promise and my resolution.
I couldn't go home to Joe. / made
up my mind to sleep on the club sofa,
and leave the place for good the next
day. Already 1 felt my brain reel as ii
had never done before. In an hour l
was in kind of stupor. 1t was morn
ing. A waiter stood ready to brush my
coat. saw grin on his face. My
heart seemed ready to burst; my hand
trembled /; looked at my watch I had
only Just five minutes to reach the
depoti fe.i h-,-If s9-
Joe's words came to my mind. Was
I fit to take charge of an engine? ]
was not fit to answer. I ought to have
asked some sober man. As it was ]
only caught my hat and rushed away.
I was just in time.
The San Francisco glistened in the
sun. The cars were filling rapidly.
From my post I could hear the people
talking bidding each other goodbye
and 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.
Goodbye, Kittie goodbye, Lue,
I heard him say; "don't be nervous
The San Francisco is the safest engin,
on the line, and Guelden the most care
full engineer; / would not be afraid t.
trust every mortal to their keeping
Nothing could happen wrong with th'
two together"
I said "we'n get through it somehow
and Joe shall never talk to me again
| After all, it was easy enough" I reelet
as spoke. I heard the signal w
| are off.
Five hours from L. to D.; five hour
back again. I knew now that on th'
last run I should be myself again.
saw futter, and never knew what i
WAS until we had passed the train at tn
wrong place. Two minutes more ant
we should have had collision. Some
body told me, and 1 laughed. heart
the shareholder say, respectfully
"Of course, Mr.. Gueldon, you know
what you are about p
Then l was alone and wondering
whether should 60 faster or slower.
did something and the cars rushed on a
fearful rate. The same man who ha.
spoken to me before was standing nea
me. 1 heard the question
"How many miles an hour are W
making?".
didn't know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle 1 was tryinl
now to slacken the speed of the Sal
Francisco. / could not remember wha
I should do-was this or that-faster o
slower? was playing with the engin
like child.
Suddenly there was horrible roar
q crash. I was flung somewhere.
was in the water. By miracle ] wa
sobered, not hurt. I gained the shore
I stood upon the ground between til
track and the waters edge, and ther
gazed at my work.
The engine was in fragments, the car
in splinters dead and dying an
wounded were strewn around-men an
women and children, old age and youth
There were groans and shrieks of de
spair. The manned cried out in pain
the uninjured bewailed their dead, an
a voice, unheard by any other, was i
my ear, whispering murder"
The news had gone to A., and peopl
came thronging down to find their los
ones. Searching for an old man
daughter, came to a place under tn
trees, and found five bodies lying there
all in their rigid horror old woman
a young one, baby, and two tiny chi
dren. Was it fancy-was it pure fancy
born of my anguish s-they look like
oh, heaven they were my mother, m
wife, my children-all cold and dead.
| How did they come on the train
What chance had brought this about
1 No one could answer. groaned,
screamed, / chsped my hands, tor
my hair,I i gazed on the good face
her who gave me birth, on the lovely