The Placer herald., 1873-09-06

VIDE, reellng, rocking world OF his Draln
there was but one certainty. He had lost
Dorothy, his soft stepping, sweet-eyed,
reHeeming angel--the one in all the world
who loved and trusted him most implicitly,
81 don't deserve her. he thought,
scarce able to shape definite thought IN his
chaotic mind; "but--if ! had only fallen
down dead before-beforc ! touched that
accursed stuff! She would have believed in
me then.
The fresh, cool night air on his brow was
SOLDERING him little; the touch Of the cold
river-water cleared the misis of his clouded
brain in some degree. He rose up, steady
ing himself by the slender stem of white
birch tree that grew close beside him, and
looked around.
Harkl A clear whistle, half mile
away, cleaving the silence like the call of
some sweet-throated bird.
1t was the express, whose plume of lu-
rid smoke spanned half a contment-tbe
long sepent-like train, gittering with
lights, and carrying great eye of fire in
front, which nightly thundered over the line
of rails, and shot like meteor out of sight
into the hush and silence of the woods,
Westward bound.
The way train passed at nine, making a
brief stoppage at Hurslly station teyond, a
mere wooden shed with platform on either
side. Half an hour afterward slow and
heavy freight train followed it, running off
express should have safely passed. And it
was the special business of Israel Esmayne
to set the switch for the freight, and sub
seouently replace it for the hurrying ex-
press.
Had he done this?
With an awful doubt poisoning his heart,
he pressed his hands to his temples and
tried to think. He had been there--hc
could recall just how the dewy rails looked
wet and glistening in the starlight. lie
had had the switch key in his hand-ibat
he could also remember. But was that
before or afterihe freight had switched off !?
lie could not rene mber whether the freight
had passed or not He did not know
whether he had locked the switcl es twice
or more, or, good Heavens! not at ALL
The past was swaying vacuum, the future
strange and dream-like. He closed his eyes,
he pressed his temples as if either hand had
been vice of iron, in the wild agonzing
effort 10 recall the last half hour,
90 God' he groaned aloud, as he threw
himself on his face in the wet grass, cam
going mad?"
Something hard struck against his breast
bone as he flung himself down; it was the
fnta H,clr III l,.,tr f,.n
dark red poison, and dashed it passionately
into the bushes. 1t WAS that-thdt that
had done all the mischief
go Heavenly Father" he cried aloud
in his great anguish, "if it please Thec TO
avert from Inc this awful crime of murder
done a thousand fold-and naugbt but one
of Thy miracles can avert it now-I swear
before Thy pavement of stars TO touch that
devils broth no more! O God. hear me !
o Christ save me!'
The earth beneath his grovelng breast
thrilled and quivered as the express train
flew over the rails, and Israel Esmayne
held his breath, momentarily expecting The
awful crash which should stain his soul
with the awful brand of Cain.
Hush! An owl hooting afar off in the
woods, the cry Of some sad-voiced night
bird overhead, and then-anolher whistle
clear and CHEEKY. The express had passed
through Hurstley-passed through safe and
sound And Israel Esmayne, staggering to
his feet, gazed around him an instant, clutch
ing vaguely at the air, and then fell uncon-
scious.
"Uncle, be is coming to. Oh, uncle,
knew knew that he was not deadw
And the soft eyes of Dorothy Beers were
the first thing Israel Esmayne saw as his
soul came out of the world of shadows and
oblivion, with old Jonathan leaning ou his
cane just beyond.
''iell me Dotty," he gasped. GLOW
was ity The-tbe switches ?"
"lt was my girl did it, said the old man.
"She come by, and she heard the freight
whistlin and she sees the switches wasn't
right, nor 10 signal for Ioihin'. 'lsrael's
been took i'll, or dead says she. And there
lay the key in the middle of the track, and
she catches it up, and she unlocks the
switches-you showed her how to do it
yourself, Esmayne, one Summer afternoon
and she hangs up the white lantern. And
there she stands, with her heart bcain'
fit 10 choke her, till the freight gets off. And
she calls TO one of the brakemen, Set these
ere right for II e express, says she, Quick
or there may be a thousand lives lost.
where's the swifch-tender ? says he. God
only knowsl says my Dotty. And so she
comes back arter me. Uncle, she says, all
white and tremblin' like, come with me.
What for? 2 says l. TO look for Israel
says she. I don't sleep this night says
my Dotty, '.ill we've found lim?"
"God bless her!' cried out Eslnayne. in
choked voice. "God be thanked for all
His mercies!'
"Was it ft?" said the old man cuii-
ously. "How did it come ?"
But Israel Esmayne spoke no word on
The subject, either then or never He mar
ried Dorothy Beers in the spring, and he
has sacredly kept his vow. IF he lives TO
he hundred wears old. he will still keep