Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-11-27

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ness than ever IN the day, and Katie
wondered she had never thought SO
before F.; hut she almost nnconsciouslv
sed he is little lantern, and swung 1t
around her head as she had used to
wave her handkerchief.
Conld she believe her eyes
She almost refused to give them any
faith ut first, but then there followed a
quick finish in her cheek and a warm
glow ut her heart; for she was sure
there had been an answering light, and
she could picture tall form in blue
clothing, standing on the platform be-
tween two cars.
And now, while the October DAYS
grew coo]e + and the glorious evenings
longer, Grandmother Crowninshield
began to gr1mble at the disposition her
darling evlnced to pay so very many
visits to Aunt Betsy
It's long walk for you, child" she
said, and it's through the cut, too.
What if railway train should come
along before you get ont 2"
so Grandma, thatI never happen. -
laughed Kate; s.the rsilroal and T are
very good friends"
"You ought to be-" said grand
mother. 81 never saw any living
being care more for dumb thing than
you've always done for that there
train.'
But grandmother was nearer right
than Katie; for only a night or SO
after that-it must have been that Aunt
Betsy's clock was slow-for Katie was
i'll the middle of the cut when her eurs
were suddenly filled with the shrek
and roar with which the train dashed
in at the upper end.
Her heart beat quickly for moment,
but not for lear; tor, as she sprang
lightly upon a projecting rock that she
had often before noted us a very avail
able perch, she gathered her Auttering
dress more closely about her aud cx-
claimed:
!, "There, I'm safe enough; but to
think Of Its coming so near!'
Near enough, indeed, and Katie
leaned back hard against the crag be-
hind her; for it seemed as if she could
feel the breath of the iron monster on
her check. In one hand she clutched
more tightly the folds Of her shawl, and
in the other she raised the lantern, as
ii its feeble star could be of some pro-
lection, and then her grasp of it grew
suddenly very tight, indeed for lean.
ing out little from the platform of a
car, and looking forward, es if impa-
tient for the train to clear the cut,
stood a tall, handsome, bearded man,
III dark-blue clothes, with lantern in
his hands, and his eager, watching,
expectant face, came SO very close to
her own
1t was like fash of lightning; but
Katie knew the face, and she knew
also that she herself had been seen,
and she had even marked the swift
paling of the bronzed visage as it re-
cognized her and then swept ON into
the darkness beyond.
''He was afraid I would be hurt, I"
she thought; and then she said aloud ::
but he must have seen how safe I
was up here on the rock. don't be-
lleve he swung his lantern at our gar
den gate Tonight
Aunt Betsey's house was some little
distance from the upper entrance, and
the approach to the latter was gloomy
enough, the next night of her visit,
even for one Who knew every inch of
the way as we'll as Katie did; but her
little lantern shone out cheerily against
its bright reflector, throwing it's radi-
ance ahead, as if it were trying to tell
her: There, dear, that's it; don't be
afraid, now, I'll show you the track !"
She had not gone far, however, before
the granite walls brought to her ears,
all the way from the lower end and
round the curve, as if the cut had been
q speaking-tu5e, the sound of voices
that were evidently meant to be low
and guarded. There were other sounds
mingled with the voices, and Katie
could not make out moro than word
or SO here and there, but there
was something about it all
that startled and frightened
her. At first she was half inclined
to turn and make the best of her way
back to Aunt Betsey's; but that SEEM
ed foolish, and Katie was really a cour-
ageous little soul. She hid her lantern
under her shawl, however, and stepped
very lightly and swiftly forward, try
ing to remember if there were not a
| rock or hollow where she would be as
safe from men as she had been from
the passing train. She was very near.
~ through, herself, before she could
any way make out what it all meant;
but, as she paused in the deep shad-
ows OF the rocks and peered timidly
out toward the now dull aud muffled
sounds, with which the voices were no
Longer mingled, broad quick CLEAN,
as from lantern, suddenly shaded or
e2tinguished, shot across the track not
many yards below, and then all was
darkness and silence.
But that one moment of illumination
had revealed. extraordinary things to
the keen, excited vision of Kate Crown
inshield.
There were men, three or four, she
could not say just how many, but
rough, fierce, wild, and anxious look
ing, and before them on the railway
track, from which the rails had been
pried away Just there, was a confused
heap OF heavy granite boulders and
fragments. Katie understood it as
clearly as If those men had taken her
into their confidence, and had told her
in words.
1t was a plot to wreck the train!
And now she was out in the open air,
beyond the upper entrance, and she
could see the peaceful light still shin
ing from Aunt !setsey.S window. But
there was no time to 60 there for help.
The train must be so very near!
Katie did for moment think of
kindling bright fire on the track.
but that wonld take too long. and the
great rum and horror would come be-
fore even small fagot would be we'll
ablaze.
"There's nothing but my own little
lantern" almost soboel poor Katie.
"Maybe he will know it when he sees
il, but he must be warned before he
reaches the cut"
The lantern shone like frosty little
star determined to be seen as Katie
sprang forward up the track. She had
not far to 60, for the train was ahead
of time that night, Instead of being be-
hind, as would have been more tlesira-
bic under the circumstances. Never
had anything appeared to Kate Crown
inshield more suddenly than did the
great glaring eyes Of the locomotive
headlight that now glowcd upon her
out Of the overshadowing night, and
her lantern seemed to have instant
eously vanished.
cit is SO small,' she cried. in az
ony, land he will never see it,
Nevertheless, on low mound of
cal:! ana stones, close by the side of
the track, Katie took her post of char
ity and danger, and swung her little
lantern frantically to and fro, while
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