Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-05-03

"iop TIE car at the repair
. shops. The freight can be throw,
n out without leaving the car"
o 80 saying, the station master wan
y on into the freight house, followed b,
the rafting and rumbling cars. The,
gradually lost their speed and tn
came to stop with the end of
, train lost in the dark cavern of +
freight house.
!, There was shout from the hp;
q ing, and then one of the braken
, began to move his arms as a signal
go on. Again the white puffs of St
shot up in the distance, and
jar and culver the train starte,'
Gar after car rolled past
There were hurried whispers.
handshake and perhaps h
then the young man swung f
grasped the ladder on the l.e
climbed quickly to the top an,
down. She stood gazing after hin.
| he was drawn away from her. a,
smiled and waved farewell to hin,
with her handkerchief.
Here, Lydia, you must help
me-
1t was her brother who stood be-
1
side her, a bunch of keys in his
haud.
1.-The passenger train follows this at
once, and must go to the station. |
Will you please close the switch after
them"
She took the keys mechanically,
and then turned to gaze after her low
er seated on the last car of the re-
treating train. 1t had passed out of
the switch and was crossing the great
Vladuct and moving more and more
swiftly away.
10 close and lock the switch was
neither difficult nor dangerous, and
she quietly walked on towards the
end OF the siding till she came to the
switch post. Here she leaned against (
the wooden frame for little space, h
shading her eyes from the sun with t
her hand, and watching the train. 1t /
had run around the valley and was h
turning into the great curve over the h
hill beyond. Il
1t WAS now mile away and she
could no longer distinguish any one G
on the cars. She turned slowly away a.
seized the irol bar Of the switch and '+
EASILY threw IL "--~. .-.sv Pi"re SO as ~
o leave the main line open for tn,
lext train. il
She looked back down the road aud $.
cred the line from ybe branch anu -!
vas just pulling up at the station to III
discharge passengers. 1t may seem til
that passenger train al
hould be allowed to follow a freight IN
rain so closely, to
Bad engineering as this arrange
nent was, it was not as serious as it b.
eemed, for this passenger train did ri
Iot follow the freight except for three d'
niles, when it reached the end of
Is trip and was turned off upon IN
iding, !
She turned once more to look after he
he retreating freight train. 1t was
n full view, climbing the grade on the Sc
.reat curve. re
Suddenly she put up both hands to Sc
hade her eyes, and leaned forward on d'
he switch frame. What had hap al
ened. Two tiny putfs of steam rose sa
rom the engine. 1t was signal to
top. IN
All! the train has parted! Faint ee
nd ar away came the short, sharp to
anger whistle. A single car had ct
roken loose from the train, and had VI
een left behind. 1t was standing tn
lone on the track. 81
No. 1t was moving backward. 1t lii
Gas beginning to roll down grade. 1t pl
vas moving faster and faster. There e'
Eas man upon it-her lover.
Involuntarily she spread out her +
rms and let them fall to her side
hree or four times in succession-the lax
ignai to put on brakes. lar
"How foolish! He cannot see me, f.
md" She leaned against the switch "
rame and shook with fear and m
lgony. 10
The brake was broken.
Swift and switer rolled the disabled OF
.ar. 1t was coming down the track
gaining speed at every rod. q
She sprang to the middle Of the rt
rack and tried to shout TO the engin- q
.er of the train at the station. She b
made the motions to back down out o.
of danger. Her tongue Glove to the
roof of her mouth, and her cry be- o
came an inarticulate moan. Onward Z
came the car; she could see her lover
upon it frantically waving his arms I
from right to left. What did it meanS
Her brain seemed to be on fire. She d
could do nothing but gaze on the ad- Q
yancing car in dumb horror.
All! The passsngersl could she
not save them?
With violent wrench she opened
the switch again aud stood holding
the bar in both hands. Better So
better one life lost than dozen. Her
feet seemed bolted to the ground. She
must stay and see him killed, and by
her own hand.