The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1877-03-08

1DSIC1t huu EuD3c I6LAAEi " Do 1tCLC'
He finally reached the bridge, which
was merely long trestle work with
plank in the middle of the track fol
pedestrians. He proceeded on this
way for short distance, gazing at the
silent food below flowing silently and
swiftly on. He wss soon lost 70 the
outsIde world DrOOding over his Own
troubles. He was at times half tempt
ed 10 plunge into the inviting waters
and thus end the fearful life he seem
ed doomed to lead, q disappointed and
unfortunate man. He heard the gay
laugh OF little child occasionally, bul
: without noticing from whence 1t came
} be exclaimed: Laugh on, you little
innocent. / wish my heart was a
light IS yours In q few years you
! will exchange your gay smile for the
! painful frown Of man." He thought
the little being was playing on one ol
: the shores and did not mind it any
more. At length he awakened from
] his "day dream" looked at his watch,
and to bis surprise he found that in
stead OF strsying 8 few minutes as he
thought, he bad been absent almost
an hour. He hastily turned to Te-
trace his steps, when he heard
the shrill whistle Of the delay
ed express train. He turned 70
see II he was mistaken and what
should be see, but laughing baby's
face peering over the track ? the same
whose baby laughter he had heard
out few minutes before. There ii
stood on the walking plank, scarcely
foot wide, careless and ignorant OF
the danger before 1t. twas throwing
pebbles into the food beneath, laugh
ingly watching the spray made by
their entrance ia the water. Our
herO's blood almost froZe in his veins.
What was be to do ? leave the help
less child TO its fate, flee and save
himself? No. His inward monitor
OF nobleness loudly replied "No;" but
to try to rescue it seemed almost GER
tain death, but what had he to live
for now, his earthly hopes blasted and
q dreary future ahead of him? Yes,
be would rescue the little fellow or
perish in the attempt. These thoughts
rushed through his mind in less time
than it took to record it, and with his
mind fully made up to save the child
be hastily retraced his steps. The lit
tie child as IL awakened to his danger
began to cry pitifully every instant
brought the nearer approach of the
train on, on it came laundering
quickly to the bridge. Ab the en-
gineer sees the child. Can he stop
the iron monster ? No, it is too late
he can do nothing but whistle "doWn-
brakes" but in vain, the train being
behind time was running with unu-
suRl speed to make up for lost time.
Whistles shrill and long drawn out,
pierced their ears. The by-stsnders at
the station and the passengers in the
train were gazing horror-struck on
the exciting scene. 1t was race for
life the speed and skiIIfulness of
William pitted against the now un-
manageable locomotive, every instant
brought the dreaded messenger of
death nearer to hand. There stands
the little innocent now fully conscious
of its danger but unable to escape.
On the bank stands the father, firmly
held by friendly hands, who seeing
that the only chance to save the
child, was in the strangers reaching
it before the train, and unwilling that
the parent should thus uselessly sacri-
fee his life. Nearer and nearer yet
comes the train, but nearer approach
es the rescuer, screening and putting,
every effort being made by its master
but in vain to check its onward
course. ALI IL is but q few rods
away = in a few minutes it will crush
the child and its would-be rescuer be-
meath its mighty wheels, or (but it is
almost imposslble) saved. Oh !
God, how exciting a scene how pitt
fuI. Every nerve and muscle on the
brave young msn's face stands out
like whip-cOrd as he plunges gsllantly
on. A moment more and the contest
will be decided. The pilot of the en-
gine almost touches the infant. 1t
rises to its feet, stagkers toward the
outstretched arms of the rescuer. Ah
he grasps the tiny arms in his own.
The child is lifted to his bosom and
with sidelong plunge the two gain
the trestle work siding. THANK God
they are saved" are the muttered
thanks Of the excited spectators. Yes
they are saved. Scarcely had they
leaped from the track ere the dreaded
express went laundering by, but
crushing no one on its way. No,
they are safe. Shout after shout is
raised at the welcomed sight. In a
minute more the child is in the arms
of the almost frantic parent, and
dozens Of willing hands are raised to
rescue the daring youth from his still
dangerous position. His eyes close
the crowd, train, and all, swim before !
him, and he faints. Yes, kind nature !
came to hand and rescued him from /
his over-wrought, excited predica-
ment. He was carried to the nearest |
house, which happened to be the |
home of the rescued ehild-the only |
child of the telegraph operator at L |
-. The father had brought the child |
to the Office with him, and while he !
was busy attending to his duties the |
little fellow mad, unconscious of the |
danger, found his way to the scene just
described. Under the careful and |
kind treatment of the rescued child's |
parents our hero began to revive. His
head felt heavy and tired. When he |
realized his true position he was
almost sorry he had not perished in |
the daring deed if he had only res
cued the Child. He received the |
thanks OF the grateful parents almost |
unconscious OF what they meant he |
tried to rise but could not, and again |
fell into unc9nsciousness. He was |
recognized by some Of the by-standers |
and q doctor was summoned, word |
was sent to his home in the city, but |
the large number of friends he had |
while in wealth, as soon as they heard |
OF his losses and misfortune, dWindled |
down to very few. He was put to bed |
and in the evening had sunk into a
fearful state of exhaustation from |
that into q dele=ious brain fever,
brought on by the excitement Of the |
last few hours. The doctor, seeing be |
was In good hands, forbade his re-
moval, and that night William lay
tossing and raviDg under the friendly
roof of the telegraph operator.
This gentleman who is to figure
somewhat in our story was q young
family man, possibly thirty years Of
age, he aid his family consisting OF
but one child, Robert, or "Robbie," F" as
the parents called him, and the mans
name was Richard Atkins. His sis
ter, Minnie, a young lady OF twenty
summers lived with him also, and
they formed very pleasant
and happy family.
Minnie was certainly beautiful, but
Of that extraordinary type of beauty
which you can hardly describe-long
raven locks crowned her regular fea-
lures, pesrly teeth, and eyes-well,
here 1 must stop. They were the
feature of her beauty.
Black would hardly apply to them
they were jet, dazzling and large,
seeming to light up her whole face,
and give it an appearance almost
bordering on divine. She, from the
first minute the patient was brought
to the house, was his constant attend
ant. She was so kind and gentle that
medicine from her hands seemed q
treat. He sank fast, notwithstand-
ing the kind attentions of his new
and for weeks he fingered on
Just between life and death. After
that dread messenger tsrried long at
the door, but thanks to his strong
and good nurse, old Death
was cheated of his prey. He, at
length conYalesced, but it was
weeks before he was able to be re-
moved to bis own lodgings in the
city. One kind friend in the city, an
old friend of Williams father, had
done all in his power to settle his