The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-10-30

luIty rs cOulO, as walked WlIQ
him to the corner Of the road, and
waited until 1 saw him appear in the
signal box, when l retraced my
steps.
1 had never felt so nervously rest
less as / did that night. I could
settle to nothing, so l sat down be-
fore 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
I, too, slept.
The whole time / drcamt Of moth
ing but railroads. They were every
where rushing and tearing about me;
their Shrill whistles deafening my
ears. 1 beheld the express and the
mail with nOiseless horror, rushing
toward each other, with lights SEEM
ing to laugh with fendish mirth /;
then there was an awful cry-s
crash, and a scene of destruction. /
was awakened by my own cries
Irritated at being 30 startled, 1
hustled about to forget the scene,
and 1 put Msudie to bed, and again
sat by the fire and dozed.
Scarcely had / done so, however,
than there arose before me a figure
of indefinite form, pointing out OF
the window in the direction of the
signal-box.
Imoved restlessly, and put my
hands before my face to shut it out.
Finally, started, rose to my feet,
and l could have declared the fig
ure stood on the hearth rug, in the
freight, only it gradually melted
into air.
Just then the clock struck half
past ten.
In half an hour the Wyming ex-
press and Henshar mail would be
due. At that 1 began to tremble
violently, and throwing on my
shawl, l determined to go and look
at the sigual-box and see if all was
right.
White mists had raised since
was last out; and above them, rising
from a billowy sea, as it was about
a mile distant, rose the "look-out,"
dittinct 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-John was asleep!
Never shall I forget the sensation
that run through my veins at that
thought. The crown of my head
seemed to literally lift up. Then.
why I never could explain, l ran
back, seized Maudie, and afterwards
hurried to the signal-box.
Rapidly I ascended the steps to
the "look-out". l tried the door, il
was fastened on the outside, and
what sight met me within, through
the glass!
John sound asleep, his head on
his arms.
Calling him loudly, I shook the
handle. He did not stir. All Wat
silent save for the monotonous tick.
ing Of the clock, beating out the IA
tai minutes above his head; I dared
not delay. 1 dashed in the glass
put in my hand turned the key anC
entered. Even this did not arouse
him.
"John!" I called, shaking nil
shoulder. What was the matter
with him? His appeared no natura
sleep. In my alarm at the flying mo
ments, fond mother that 1 was,
forced Maudie to cry, hoping tina
might awaken him. It did. SLOWLY
he looked up heavily; but only t.
sink back to sleep. At the same mo
ment l heard in the distance tn,
faint whistle Of the express train. 1
was coming, and the Henshar mai
had not yet passed. The terror Of
whole life was condensed in thos
few minutes. The collision John haC
foretold had come at last. All my et
forts to arouse MIN were futile.
stood alone, the trains were rushing
to their fate. I saw the awful sigh
Of my dream realized; / saw men
women and children in one fsarfu
heap, amid broken carriages. NJ
brain reeled; I turned sick; tn
intensity of my fright apparentl.
cleared my brain.
! "Why should not save them?"
| AS the question occurred, tn
whistle of the advancing mail sound
ed. Looking right and left, 1 pei
ceived the growing lights of eacl
engine coming nearer, for the lin
was clear. 1 waited no more. Ire
called what John had told me, an
turned the signal lantern for the e1
press to slacken speed. Eagerl!
breathlessly I watched. Had I, afte
!. all, made a mistake! Yes-th
lights still approach. Motley ha
stopped.
The next moment the signal DO
was shaken to its base by the rus
Of the mail train beneath it. Iwatcl
, ed it fly off in the distance, turne
| the light, heard the Wyming expret
in its turn while under me, and kne
} as fell insensible on the floor, tn
, nearly two hundred people had bee
3 on the brink Of the grave, and th
/ had saved them.