Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-06-25

wv no KNOWS, Jane lie was ever
kind, and he may start me something"
said John one evening, when | had ta-
ken his tea to the signal box, and was
amusing Maudie with colored lamps.
81 certainly will try, if-if,' he aided,
looking thoughtfully up and down the
lines, nothing happens before"
'For goodness sake, John, don't talk
like that! All has gone safely for four
years; surely it will continue to do SO,
with care"
81 don't know that" he responded
gloomily "It's the COMPOUNDED Wy
oming express I fear Within space
of two minutes it crosses the line of the
Henshar mail, and often it's FIVE before
its time"
"What do you do then, John?" l
asked, hushing Maudie
''Why, l turn that colored lamp
then the express knows the mail HASN'T
passed, slackens speed until it has
"And fyou were not 10 show that
light?"
at would come on, get in the same
line with the mail, and carriages would
go to lucifer matches.
"Oh, John, please don't, you make
my blood run cold !"
After that, there was another fascina-
ton for me besides the signal box
the colored lamps,by mistake or omis-
sion in the use of which l knew not
how many lives might be hurled into
eternity. regarded them with awe,
and over and over again asked John
their use.
Weeks slipped by, and we got anoth-
er letter from Uncle Thompson. The
ship which brought him from Australia
had been delayed by severe gale in
the Atlantic, but now he was safe in
England, and intended shortly to come
aud see us.
''Safe!" remarked John; ''no one now
days can reckon upon that, with a
long railway journey before him"
John slightly exaggerated, of course,
bnt that autumn the collisions and acci>
dents of all kind had been something
fearful. Not day passed but fresh col
lisions were recorded, and with morbid
interest John used to read them. and
make my soul culver by the remarks
''Such might just have been my case,
Jane. No doubt the fellow was dead
beat, Only the mercy of Providence
saves me from manslaughter, or dis
charge through negligence"
One oppressively warm evening. he
had, while at tea, been reading about a
more than usually terrible accident, ow
ing, it was stated, to the signalman,
who had been on the look out for six
teen hours, making an error in the sig
mails
Putting the paper down, he exclaim
ed, "Jane, how often have felt as he
describes, full of terror, knowing how
many lives might be depending on me.
How ! pray Uncle Thompson may help
us, and | may give the whole thing upr'
Rising, he put on his hat; he went on
duty at SIX. | watched him anxiously
Never had felt more nervous, for
had observed him nodding unconscious
ly to himself over his tea. Indeed, he
looked so depressed, was half inclin-
ed to ask him to let me go with him.
But knew he wouldn't consent as it
was against the rules; while, indepen-
dent OF which, the man who temporarily
filled his place WIS the greatest enemy
John had, and would be sure to tell of
him if he did So / knew Richard
Malin bore bitter enmity to my hus-
band, and would gladly do an i'll turn
to one whose rival he had BEEN was
aware he never forgave my accepting
John and rejecting him, so held my
tongue, spoke cheeruily as l could, as
| walked with him to the corner of the
road, and waited until | saw him ap-
pear in the signal box, when retraced
my steps.
had never felt SO nervously restless
as | did that night l could settle to
nothing, SO sat down before the fire.
| kept a light for Johns return, and
tried to divert myself with my baby,
but the child soon slumbered, and sat
thinking until too slept.
The whole time l dreamt of nothing
but railways. They were everywhere
rushing and tearing about me; their
shrill whistles deafening my ears l be-
held the express and the mail with a
noiseless horror, rushing toward each
other with lights seeming to laugh with
6endish mirth; then there was an awful
cry a crash, and scene of destruc-
ton. / was awoke by my own cries!''
Irritated at being SO started, hustled
about to forget the scene, and / put
Maudie to bed, and again sat by the
fire, and dozed.
Scarcely had ] done SO, however,
than there arose before me a shadowy