Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-01-19
L think it is the child. after all

my breast and dance MIN loyIaiIy up
and down. and say, You are right +?
Then he would give me a good kiss.
and thus our little innocent jars were
never quarrels, and ended in perfect con-
tentment.'
She gazed for moment silently be-
fore her. while Thomas sat nodding his
head silently.
'sYou see." she continued. lit 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 matter of
most heartrending thoughts to US after
ward. This question asked in joke be-
came frightful fact
The woman was SO overcome she could
scarcely continue, and her eyes turned
mute appeal for help toward her hus-
band, but he only shook his head mourn
fully. making motion with his hand
as if to bid her speak on, looking into
her eyes lovingly. as if to cheer her.
We'll. the story We told at the time
of the accident was true in every par
tieular. up to our arrival at the railroad
track. There it was a 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. l
think. if We had not made a secret of
it much of this weary shadow that has
elouded our lives would have worn away,
had we talked it over with another per-
son. That is why We give you our con-
fdenee now, hoping an Intelligent, right
minded man like yourself viii advise
and judge if | have erred.
1T happened thus: As my Anton
and | led father toward the track, | i'm
agined | heard the lnenmntire- but I
could see nothing, as a heavy fog lay on
the ground, and l supposed that the
monster was far away from Us, and the
moments were precious. My poor Thom-
as was suffering terribly, saying MS foot
was burning like caustic, and it was on
ly a step and we would be over, and had
/ Thomas not had the misfortune to STUN
ble, we would have crossed safely.
! They both lay in the middle of the
road. Anton to the right of me, and
Thomas to the left. and in that instant
their startled cry and the shrieking roar
Of the iron monster fell on my ear. and.
through the dense fog | saw his burn
ing. greedy eye fastened on my dear
ones, while the fiery sparks were thick
ly scattered about, as if hell itself had
been opened TO devour them.
''Oh if live a thousand years. the
horror of that moment will remain. as |
realized | could save one of them. only
one
/ '.Ah sir human nature may be
subject to million different distressing
heartaehes and mental struggles, but
heap them all into a lifetime, it is as
nothing compared to what [ endured in
a few seconds.
Il have often wondered since how il
was possible the mind could comprehend
so much while subject to such intolera.
bic suffering and fright. as now, thought
after thought flashed through my brair
IN so short time.
My mother heart yearned for my
child. and I seemed to grasp it. while
the hand Of God Himself seemed to hold
me toward Thomas thought, was be
not thine before the child ? Did you
not swear at the altar never to forsakt
him? It seemed then, as l loved hin
best he was more useful on earth
Then | thought. oh horrible raver
mother to desert your child Blu
the thing was upon U.s. | heard men,
voices warning through the mist 1t wa
as if they tried to stop it, but failed.
! cut the darkness and rushed toward Us
with one bound | turned from my child
grasped for my husband. and. with tn
strength Of a giantess, raised him of The
track, turned, but the awful monste
lad passed, leaving me the crushed re
mains ofmy child"
!. She stopped short. as if suddenly fro
zen in body and soul Her husban'
, trembled in every limb, elutehing at hi
beard as If it could steady him | sa
a speechless witness Of this fearful grief
. Ny sympathy had no words my eye
must have told them how deeply enter
ed with them into this touching history
Thomas recovered himself first. &c
ing to his wife be tenderly placed hi
, arm around her. She started with til
magnetic touch, looked up at him, an
then at NE, as if waiting for me to pas
: judgment
: could only take her hand betwee
q ny own and say:
! Poor. poor mother Noble woman
: Righteous wife =
: At this. her eyes beamed as If sud
9 denly relieved Of a dark vail flush {
g genuine happiness covered her face th
4 whole eoantenauce Of the woIaan chang
! ed from sluggish horror 70 an incon
1 parable relief.
d Thomas stretched his hand toxar
= & rae hSe o-ez 4zSLS-ex v-1SI. 1n- Ia L..