The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-08-14

giving. One old gentleman on the
train had the same idea, Isuppose
for as | sat down behind him to
count my change, saw him watch.
ing the passengers and houses as we
passed with an amused smile, and
turning TO his companion, said
"There's something very whole
some in the effect of these HOLIDAYS.
Colonel They awaken men to a
sense of dependence aud gratitude
that years sermons cannot do.'
| The other was 30 long in replying
that | looked up at him.
"When a man has a home and
home ties to give thanks for, holi-
days are useful, no doubt"
1t was 50 queer and cold an an.
swer that felt curiosity about the
man. He went back to his newspao.
cr (which was an English one, l OBJ
served) and began to talk about the
duty on silks and linens. / soon
found that he was largely interested
in both had travelled over a good
part of the world, traded in China
and Japan, and as ! guessed, success
fully. He had the air of man ac-
customed to command, and to life
of ease. He was man middle aged,
stoutly built, with clean shaved
powerful face, and shrewd, pleasant
eyes. / noticed that through all his
conversation he tried to avoid seeing
the happy groups of people who
were necessarily getting on and off
the train; and once, when a child
in passing, pulled his cane, he turned
his back roughly upon it. Yet / had
fancy-I don't know why-that the
people and Thanksgiving had more
to do with him than any of us.
His friend said to him presently,
"You are not well, Colonel ?" "Ney-
er was better. But the truth is, Venn,
this country is all familiar to me, and
anything that recalls old times makes
me nervous and irritable. 1t is 2
weakness which shall outgrow prob
ably. If you'll excuse me I'll 60
forward" He saw me just then, and
touching his hat, asked leave to ride
on the engine in order to see the
scenery. a aa
Now the rules of the road were
slipshod enough, but that was some
thing never allowed. However, /
had curious interest in the man,
liked his courteous manner, so nod.S
ded, and went on before him througa'
the baggage car and over the tender
to see him safely across. To my sur-
prise, Joe Fenton, our engineer met
him as an old acquaintance. Joe
had been private in his regiment
during the war. They shook hands
again and again, and Feuton was in
such hurry to tell that he was mar.
ried and the father of twins, that he
stammered. The Colonel laughed
and looked as pleasant as Joe. He
was different man from the one l
saw in the car. waited a moment
to point Brooks model farm to him,
when Joe said: T
| "You used to come down to these
parts for fishing, often, | remember,
Colonel ?" .-
eyes
"Where Is your good lady now,
sir ? and the child He was as pert
a youngster as / ever knew"
The gentleman replied but by a
gesture of the hand.
"What, both ?" asked Joe, "Both?"
The Colonel did not speak for a
minute, then said quietly: "My
wife was with me in China. She
sailed with the child tor home in the
Petrel. l was to follow six months
later. The Petrol went down. There
was no one saved"
Joe said nothing, but presently put
out his hand and smoothed the Col
onePs sleeve. 1t was just such a
thing as a women would do.
The Colonel added hastily, as if
he would betray an emotion: "I'm
on my way west now in search of my
father who has left New England.
People are easily lost sight of in
America"
That's fact, sir" said Joe, and
then he and | Began to talk about
the engine, glad 10 get back to her
again. We had no business to med
die with grief like that. / went back
On the cars again, until we came to
the hill mile beyond Tanners house
when stepped back on the engine.
| had an uneasy feeling about leaving
the man here somehow. We had
lost time and were going at full
speed, when Joe gave a terrible oath
and at the same time something fut-
tered down on the bank not twenty
rods ahead. The next / saw that
it was a child, and it was Dan, laugh
ing and running down to meet us.
You know, sir, how long a minute
like that lasts. | had time to hear
Joe's mad whistle "down brakes
shrieking out through the hills, and
to think it was like the yell of the
devil, and to thank God that Tanner
was in the back of the train, and
could not see what we could see, yet
it was all but breath OF time.
1t was too late, The engine did
not slacken and the child was hurry.
ing towards towards it. Then | saw
its mother above the bank, running
down the field. She had missed Dan,
snd would be in sight before h
! / remember Joe's lips were white.
Yet he said as cool as could be, "Il
would be death, but it a man could
swing himself from the COW catcher
and" ~ 81
i / pushed forward, but the Colonel
held me back.
"Pvs nothing to lose,p be said, and
as swift as q cat he passed around
the ledge and threw himself head
long down on the track in front.
/ shut my eyes. The engine and
train Numbered on, slackened at las
and stopped. / remember how slow
ly climbed down and looked oycl
to field. | did not know what
would see or tread into on the track
The people poured out of the train
Ia the clay lay the Colonel like on,
dead clear off the track. He helC
the child alive and unhurt, still
clutched in both hands. He was ON
ly stunned and came to in minut,
and stood up /; bat he did not seen
to see the train or the crowd of me,
about him ; nothing but the boy Owe
whose face he was passing his hand
"God AlmightY!' he cried, en-,