Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-03-31

hlIhb lLsilS az uOtS VI IL III lllS pOCh6t-
book.
Pay train on the line. Will meet you
Just west of Leeds at 10:15. Shunt on
to the siding at behring's Gut, and wait.
WHATELY.
Kirke's watch hung on nail beside the
clock. 1t was fancy of his always to
hang it there when he was off the train,
so that he could make no mistake in the
time.
He glanced at the clock, and from it to
his watch. Both indicated the same
hour-7:15.
"7:15," said Kirke, meditatively, "and
we leave at 7:50, and the pay train meets
us at behring's Cut at 1915. Scant time
to make the run in this thick weather,
but it must be managed"
And he turned away to give some
brief orders to the fireman.
Jack Halliday was there-he had been
strolling'i in and out of the room for the
past half hour, smoking a cigar, and
swearing at the bad weather. His train
did not leave until near midnight, so he
had plenty of time to swear.
We all went to the door and took
look at the weather, and unanimously
voted it deuced bad, and then we walked
up and down the platform, and smoked
our after-supper cigars, and by the time
we we're through it was time for the train
hands to be getting into their places.
Both the clock in the engine room and
Kirke's watch indicated 7;40.
Kirke was putting his watch in his
pocket as he said
"Garth, are you going with me on
the Flyaway ?"
"No, thank ye," said I, "I get enough
of that sort of thing insmy everyday
life. 1 am going to do little swell bust
ness tonight, and take passage in the
palace car. Want to rest my back.
Good night to ye, and hold her in well
round Rocky Bottom curve. The road
beds little shaky."
"Aye, aye, sir p responded Kirke,
and swung himself to his position ON the
Flyaway.
The bell rang-I scrambled to my
compartment in the Pullman and felt
horribly out of place among the silks and
| broadcloths and smells of musk. But [
was in for "first-class, and made the
best of it so effectually that five minutes
after Gibson, who fancies he owns all
creation because he has got silver coffin
it, had shouted "All aboard p I was
sound asleep.
What occurred in other quarters to
affect the fate of Kirke's train, learned
afterward
Old Whately, the superintendent of
the road, rs [ guess l have already said,
had q country residence in Leeds, ~
mountain spur, which commanded view
of the surrounding country for more than
score of miles, The line of the rail
way could be distinctly seen in each di-
rection fifteen miles, and Whately was
wont to say his lookout was worth more
to the safety of trains than all the tele-
graph wires on the line.
Whately was a rich old buffer kind
enough in his way, but sharp as a ferret
in looking after the road hands, and de-
termined that every man should do his
duty.
He had but one child a daughter F.;
and Floss Whately was the belle of the
country. She was brave, beautiful and
spirited, and more than once, when her
father had been away, had she assumed
the responsibility of directing the trains,
and she had always acquitted herself
with credit.
Old Whately was very proud of her,
as he had a right to be, and he kept all
the young fellows at q distance. until it
was said that he intended keeping his
daughter single till the czar Of all the
Russias came on to marry her.
This night in November, old Whately
and Floss were out on the piazza of their
country home, peering through the
gloom and fog for the Golosha train,
which was nearly due.
cts very strange it doesn't come in
sight !" said Whately, laying down his
night glass in disgust. eft is hard Oh
to ten now They ought to show then
light round Spruce pond by this time 7
You telegraphed them, father? You
let them know the pay train was on the
road ?" asked Floss.
"To be sure. And, good heavens
there is the headlight of the pay trair
now See! not ten miles away, anG
running like the deuce, as it always
does !"
He pointed with trembling finger
down to the valley gorge, where, fal
away, mere speck in the gloom, coult
be seen light, scarcely moving it seem
ed, but those anxious watchers knew i
was approaching at lightning speed.
Father and daughter looked at eacl
other.
The truth was evident. For som,
reason the train from Golosha was ter
minutes behind time, and it would no
reach the siding at behring's Gut unit
the pay train had passed beyond on tx
, the single track And then? Why, tx
: read under the head of "Appallin&
: Railway Disaster |" and q few NOR,
/ homes would be rendered desolate, ant
) few more hearts would be made tt
mourn.
) Father and daughter looked at eacl
: other in dismay.
/ I" Is there time? asked the old man
tremblingly.
, "Selim can do it." said Floss, quickly
eff [ can reach Leeds five minutes be
, fore the train-yes, two minutes-al
3 will be we'll Do not stop me, father =
/ as he laid hand on her arm.
"But you must not go 1t is darl
and dismally lonely No, Floss p
3 81 shall go, father Selim know
only me, and you could not ride him.
{ have ridden darker nights. And he il
t the only horse in the stable Don't yol
: remember? The others were sent Il
town yesterday"
/ Before old Whately could stop her
! she had ordered the hostler to saddl,
Selim, and she was already buttonint
= on her riding habit with rapid, nervous