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

| tGII.
In half an hour the Wyming express
and Henshar mail would be due At
thas began to tremtle violently, and
throwing on my shawl, I determined
F, to 90 and look at the signal>box, and
see if all was right.
White nists had risen since was
last out; and above them, rising from a
billowy see, as it was about a mile dis
tant, rose the lookout distinct in the
moonlight.
But where was John? Generally
could see him moving about; now, the
place apparently was empty.
What did it mean There was one
answer-JoEn was asleep!
Never shall I forget the sensation
that ran through my veins at that
thought. The crown of my head
seemed to literally lift up.
Then, why, l could never explain,
ran back, seized Maudie, and after
wards hurried to the signal box.
Rapidly l assembled the steps to the
lookout" | tried the door, it was
fastened on the inside; and what sight
met me within, through the glass!
John, sound asleep, his head on his
arms
Calling to him loudly, l shook the
handle. He did not stir. All was
silent, save for the monotonous tick of
the clock, beating out the fatal min
utes, above his head l dared not de-
lay. l dashed i'll the glass, put in my
hand, turned the key, and entered.
Even this did not arouse him.
'John!' l called. shaking his shout.
der; "what is the matter with you?
Wake up! It's eleven, the express is
coming!'
He breathed heavily, but made no
sign. What was the matter with him9
His appeared no natural sleep. In my
alarm at the flying moments, fond
mother as was, I forced Maudie to
cry, hoping that might awaken him. 1t
did. Slowly he looked up heavily; but
only to sink back to sleep At the
same moment, heard in the distance
the faint whistle of the express train.
1t was coming, and Henshar mail had
not yet passed. The terror of u whole
life was condensed in those few min
utes. The collision John had foretold
had come at last. All my efforts to
| arouse him were futile | stood alone,
the trains rushing to their fate. l saw
the awful sight Of my dream realized; l
saw men, women, children, i'll one fearful
heap, amid broken carriages. My brain
reeled; | turned sick. Then the inten-
sity Of my fright apparently cleared my
| brain.
Why should l not save themg
AS the question occurred, the whistle
OF the advancing mail sounded Look
ing right and left, l perceived the
growing lights of each engine coming
nearer, nearer, for the line was clear
waited no more. | recalled what John
had told me, and turned the signal
lantern for the express to s,ackens peed.
Eagerly, breathlessly / watched. Had
|, after all, made mistake? Yes-the
lights still approach! No-they had
stopped!
The next moment, the sigma! box
was shaken to its base by the rush of
the mail train beneath it. / watched it
fly off i'll the distance, turned the light,
heard the Wyming express in it's turn
whirl under me, and knew as l fell in
/ sensible on the floor, that nearly two
hundred people had been on the brink
OF the grave, and, that had saved
them.
My babys cries, however, soon re
called my senses, when, fetching water,
dashed it ever John, and at last
brought him to. shall ever remem-
Der his look when / told him what had
occurred. He could not believe the
mail had passed; but soon proved it to
him beyond doubt.
81 can't make it out, Jane" he ex
claimed. 81 have not the slightest re-
collection of going to sleep. In fact,
was doing all | could to keep awake.
1t must be my cold'
"What is that?" l asked, abruptly,
pointing to a glass
.Part of a tumbler of beer Dick
Malin left me, he answered
l saw it all. The beer had been
drugged to work our ruin. John
wouldn't hear of it.
There being no more trains, we went
home, taking the beer with me.
"John,' l said when there, I'm going
to show / am right about Richard
Malin. See!'' And before he could
prevent me, had drank the contents
Of the glass.
A quarter of an hour after, l was in
as dead sleep as he had been.
But this act had destroyed any proof
we had against Richard Malip. who.