The Van Buren press., 1874-02-17

breas, and dance him joyfully up and
down. and say, You are right!
"Then he would give me good kiss,
and thus our little jars were never quar-.
re!s, and ended in perfect contentment "
She gazed for moment silently before
her, while Thomas sat nodding his head
silently.
You see, she continued, 1T is nee
essary to tell you all this. If it does
seem foreign to the real subject it be
longs to it, for it became q matter OF most
heart. rending thoughts to us aiterward
This question asked in joke, became a
lrighltul fact. ="
The poor woman was so overcome she
could scarcely continue, and her eyes
turned a mute appeal for help toward her
husband, but he only shook his head
mournlully, making y motion with his
hand rs il to bid her speak on, looking
into her eyes lovingly, as ii to cheer her.
"Wcll, the story we told at the time
OF the accident was true in every partieu-
lar, up to our arrival at the railroad
track There it was little different, and
we hesitated in giving the exact manner
of the horrid occurrence We have never
fully understood ourselves why. 1t
would have been better; ! think, If we
had not made Il secret of il, much OF Ihls
weary shadow that has clouded our lives
would move way, had we talked 1t over
with another person. That is why we
give you our conf lencc now, hoping an
Intelligent, right minded man like your.
sell vii, advise ana judge if have erred.
"lt happened thus As my Anton and
| led father toward The track imagined
heard the locomotive. but | could see
nothing as a heavy fog lay on the ground
and supposed that the monster was far
away from us and the moments were
precious. My poor Thomas was suffer
ing terribly, saying MS foot was burning
like caus,ic, and i. was only Il step and
we would he over, and had Thomas not
hal the misfortune to stumble we would
have crossed safely.
They both lay in the middle of the
road. Anton to the right OF me and
Thomas to the lett, and in that instant
their startled cry and the shficking roar
of the iron monster fell on my ear, and
through the dense fog ! saw his burning,
greedy eye fastened ON my dear ones,
while the fiery sparks were thickly scat
tered about, as if hell itself had been
opened to levour them
ION if i live Il thousand years, the
horror of that moment will remain, as
l,ynI | ,y,1I Ia, ar than .nl>
one
Z" All sir! human nature may be sub
ject TO million different distressing
and mental struggles, but heap
them all into life time, it is rs nothing
with what | endured in few
seconds.
IL have oftened wondered since how
it was possible the mind could compre-
bend so much while subject to such in
tolerahlc suffering and fright, as now,
thought after thought flashed through
nay brain in so short a time.
My mother heart yearned for my
child, and seemed to grasp it, while the
towards Thomas thought was he not
thine before the child? Did you not
swear at the altar never to forsake him
1t seemed then as it ! loved him best he
was more useful ON earth. Then thought
oh horrible raven mother. to desert
your child! But the thing was upon us.
| heard mems voices warning through
the mist 1t was as il they tried to stop
it, but failed 1t cut the darkness and
rushed toward US; with one bound
turned from my child, grasped my hus
band and, with the strength Of u giant.
ess. raised him off the track. and turned.
but the awful monster had passed, leav-
ing me the crushed remains OF my child."
She stopped short, as Ii suddenly
frozen in body aud soul Her husband
in every limb, clutchng at his
beard as If it could steady him. sat n
speechlrss witness of that fearful grief.
NV sympathy had no words; my eyes
must have told them how deeply en-
tered with them into this touching his
tory
Thomas recovered himself first. Going
to his wife he lendcrly placed his arm
around her She started with the mag.
nelic touch, looked up at him. and then
at me. rs il waiting Tor me To pass my
judgment
| v.uld only take her land between
my own and say:
Poor, poor mother. Noble woman !!
Righteous wife
At this, her eyes bcamed rs il sudden
rnli cd nf "A lar, \pil "A unsh ,,r ucuuinu
happiness spread over her face, and the
whole counteuance of the woman changed
from sluggish horror into that vi in.
comparable relief.
Thomas stretched his hand toward me !;
his eyes flashing with joy, his head erect
Cd with manly pride, aud for The first
time in years his broad, shining teeth
appeared through II smile once more,
God reward your kind heart aud
good words. sir, she cried 1T seems
us if we dared be happy again =
She embraced her husband looked
lovingly up to him, and asked softly:
Do YOU think so, Thomas -
just so, just SO, wife. lie could
alticulalc the words for the emo.
tion that conquered him now. Hot tears
Tell on his wIe's hands and lacc she,
too, sobbed aud wept with him. They
were the first tears. None were shed
during that horrible time.
You see what it was that changed me
so, all these years. sir. The question
appeared before me. Have
YOU not committed an objectionable sin