The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-12-25
ROMANCE OF A boot HEEL.
An Old Railrondrr's Thril!InE StorJ.-.The
PrriIs Of Frogs 10 the Track.

An Old IsaIlrondsr'. Thril!Inx Story.--The
Prrils of-FroEn In the Trnch..
Whilo two men, employees Of the
Ohio and Mississippi railroad company,
were On their way 10 their work in the
car shops OF the company Mt Aurora,
Ind, their attention was at!racted by q
boot heel, freshly torn of, sticking in
tho "frog" Of The railroad trnck, o
short distance from the shops. They
stopped moment to examine it, and
found that the heel wns so securely fast
enel In the "irog" that il required
smart blow with crutch Zone OF the
men had lost leg) to remove il. Long
nails protruaed from the heel, and all
the evidence went 10 show that it had
taken considerable effort to tear it
from the boot. SIT appears to ne,
said ono OF tho mep, "that some fellow
has had narrow escape from being run
down by q train, or else he has been
badly frightened md wrcuched bis boot
heel of when there was 20 occasion for
it." at reminds me-" replied his
companion, in Il low tone, ''of q little ad-
venture that happened to mo several
years ago up on the Pan Handle road.
I WAS then young min, but it isn't
likely that I'll ever forget it," nnd ho
cast ruGful glance at the empty leg OF
his pants. "The story is soon told"
he went on, turning the boot heel over
in his hand as II TO find inscribed upon
it q story similar to his own. 81 was
walking on the track near Cadis juno
tion, IN Ohio. II was one dark and
blustry night IN February, and heavy
suowstorm was prevailing at the time.
'The snow and wind beating into my
face was almost sufficient TO have blind
ed ono had it been broad daylight. I
was walking briskly along, not dream
ing OF any harm-;n fact, sir, Twas then
returning from visit TO my sweetheart,
whohad that evening promised to be my
wife-when suddenly l found my foot
fastened between two rails where side
track joined the main track, just us this
heel was fastened in tho frog here at our
feet. At that moment I heard the shrill
whistle OF q locomotive, and looking up
the track I saw, through the binding
snow, light bearing down upon me. I
had passed the depot fcw minutes pre-
vious and had noticed several persons
standing on the platform. Tho persons
were waiting for n train, aud here was
one comipgl It was m unusual hour
for train, and the idea OF meeting one
had not occurred 10 me before, but now
tho awful truth flashed upon ME. I
made O desperate effort to release my
foot, and the horror Of my situation
was increased q hundred fold when l
found that it was securely fastened be-
tween the rails. The light was so close
that its reflection upon the new fallen
snow blinded me. As q man will in n
like situation, I thought OF thousand
things in an instant. I thought Of my
aged parents, Of events Of my past life,
Of my promised bride; and tho thought
that I should be torn from her, or what
was worse, to be manned for life, was
infinitely more dreadful than the thought
Of death. But I'll rot trouble you with
these painful details. What I supposed
to be the headlight Of locomotive was
blazing right in my face. It was this
leg that was fastened, The said, swinging
his stump back und forth, Sand ! just
threw myselt" Yes, yes, interrupted
his companion, with blanched cheeks,
"you threw yourself to one side and the
engine severed yorr leg from your
bodyl"
"Not exactly" returned tho story
teller, smiling blandly upon his victim
"The truth is, sir, I am almost ashamed
to say that tho light did not proceed
from q locomotive, but from the lantern
OF watchmaN who happened 10 be com.
ing down the track.
"And the shrill whistle that you
heardl"
"That, presume, came frcm a cne-
horse Sawmill not fur oil"
"But your leg-how did you lose
that Z"
Gas many another brave msn las lost
his" came The answer, accompanied by
q heavy sigh, and a far-Away look Us il
10 recall the BceueS OF some field OF bat
tic; "I fell under moving machine
and had it chopped OF.
swell, all I have TO say, replied his
companion, somewhat disguised at tho
turn tho romance had taken against him,
"all have to say is that I hope your
girl went back on you and married anax
handle maker or some ono else who
could make her happy"
"She stuck to me-" said the ro-
mancer, "stuck to me through good and
evil report. and married me-married
me one rapturous evening in tho merry
month OF May, and now," and his voice
grow husky with emotion, "A9d nowTd
giyo the top OF this bald and Geetlipg