St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-05-11

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1t was her brother who stood beside
her with Il bunch of keys in his hand.
1.-The passenger train follows this at
once, and L must go to the station. Will
you please close the switch after them ?"
She took the keys mechanically, and
then turned again to gaze after her lover
seated on the last car of the retreating
train. 1t had passed out of the switch
and was crossing the great viaduct and
moving more and more swiftly away.
To close and lock the switch was
neither difficult nor dangerous, and she
quietly walked on toward the end of
the siding till she came to the switch
post. Here she leaned against the
wooden frame for little space, shading
her eyes from the sun with her hand
and watching the train. 1t had run
around the valley and was turning into
the great curve that crept upward in a
long grade over the hill beyond.
1t was now a mile away, and she
could no longer distinguish any one on
the cars. She turned slowly away, seiz-
ed the iron bar of the switch and easily
threw it over into place so as to leave
the main line open for the next train.
She looked back down the road, and
saw that the passenger train had enter
ed the line from the branch and was
just pulling up at the station to dis
charge passengers. 1t may seem sur
prising that Il passenger train should
be allowed to follow a freight train so
closely.
Bad engineering as this arrangement
was, it was not so serious as it seemed,
tor this passenger train did not follow
the'freight except for three miles, when
it reached the end of its trip and was
turned off upon siding.
She turned once more to look after
the retreating freight train. 1t was in
full view climbing the grade on the
great curve.
Suddenly she put up both hands to
shade her eyes, and leaned forward on
the switch frame. What had happened?
Two tiny puffs of steam rose from the
the engine. 1t was the signal to stop.
All the train has parted! Faint and
far away came the short, sharp danger
whistle. A single car had broken loose
from the train and had been left behind.
1t was standing alone on the track.
No. 1t was moving backward. 1t
was beginning to roll down the grade
1t was moving faster and faster. There
| w dlS a uIJOu lJ-IltI lONCI.
lnvoluntarily she spread out her arms
and let them fall to her side three or
four times in succession-the signal to
put on the brakes.
''HOw foolish! He cannot see me,
and" She leaned against the switch
frame and shook with fear and agony.
The brake was broken.
Swift and swifter rolled the disabled
car. 1t was coming down the track,
gaining speed at every rod.
She sprang to the middle of the track
and tried to shout to the engineer of
the train at the station. She made the
motions to back down out of danger.
Her tongue Glove to the roof of her
mouth and her cry became an inarticu-
late mean.
Onward came the car She could see
her lover upon it frantically waving his
arms from right to left. What did ii
mean Her brain seemed to be on fire.
She could do nothing but gaze on the
advancing Car in dumb horror.
All The passengers Could she not
save them?
With Il violent wrench she opened
the switch again and stood holding the
bar in both hands. Better sO,-better
seemed bolted to the ground. She must
stay and see him killed and by her own
hand.
The rails began to murmur with the
tread of the advancing car now rushing
furiOusly onward to destruction.
Ali why had she not thought of it
before?
The cross-over switch Could she
roach IT in tin,n Shn irI,t
She snatched the key from the switch
and ran with frantic speed up the line
She never knew how she opened that
switch
With means and cries she threw her.
self across the line and began to run
down the other side. Could she reach
that switch before the car Its roaring
rang in her ears. Painting, with almost
bursting bosom she reached the switch,
opened it and stood clinging to it as
the car came laundering over the via
duct.
She looked up at her lover upon the
car. He had seen and understood the
change i'll the switches. His car, help
less though it was, would cross over to
the down track and roll harmlessly
along the level line till its force was
wit and skill. The passengers in the
train were also saved.
She had saved him Love had been
her inspiration.
Great Heavens! what's that The
express! The down express was coming
All was in vain. He was lost She
saw him throw up his arms in despair
The very plan she had devised 10 save
him :, =,,,,iiid De his destruction. Better
far to have thrown him "a upon tie
siding as she had iHtoEdod. Now he
would meet more dreadful death and
the destruction would include scores of
lives instead of a dozen.
All this flashed through her mind like
rs lightning. She felt be! knees give
way beneath her. and she clung To the
switch in despair. She shat heI eyes to
hide the coming disastct.
HaTk The whistle uI the express
They had seen the iDc,iuent collision,
and were doing their best 70 avert it,
She, too, must d" something. With
a bound she sprang To the next switch,
tore il open and stood painting and
moaning beside Il with the bar in her
hand. She musi save the train even if
she buried her lover under the splinter
ed wreck of the ear.
Onward cane the car. tbundering
over the viaoact aud just ahead Of the
train. Ii turned quickly at the switch.
crossed over aud shot past her iuto the
siding. He lad ose look g, ieE Hpturu
ed face. Il was fall vi lose Hrd helpless
misery. She was s,odins han to cer-