The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-31

snatched the key from the switch ant
ran with frantic speed up the line. Shs
never knew how she opened that switch
With means and cries she threw her
self across the line and began to rur
down the other side. Gould she reacf
that switch before the carr 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 viaduct.
She looked up at her lover upon the
car. He had seen and understood the
change in 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 spent. He
was saved, and by her ready wit and
skill. The passengers in the train were
also saved.
She had saved him. Love had been
her inspiration.
Great heavens what's thata The ex-
press! 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 to save
him would be his destruction. Better
far to have thrown him of the siding as
she had intended. Now he would meet
more dreadful death, and the destruc-
ton would include scores of lives instead
of dozen.
All this flashed through her mind like
as lightning. She felt her knees give way
beneath her, and she chung to the switch
in despair. She had shut her eyes to hide
the coming disaster.
Hank! The whistle on the express.
They had seen the imminent collision,
and were doing their best to avert it.
She, too, must do something. With a
bound she sprang to the next switch,
tore it open, and stood painting and
moaning beside it with the bar in her
hand. She must save the train even if
she buried her lover under the splintered
wreck of the car.
Onward came the car, laundering over
the viaduct and just ahead OF the train.
1t turned quickly at the switch, crossed
over and shot past her into the siding.
He had one look at her upturned face.
1t was full of love and helpless misery.
She was sending him to certain destruc-
tion-to save the express train.
The instant the Car passed she closed
the switch and sprang back again to the
other switch and closed it just in time to
see the express train sweep past in safety.
In an instant the helpless car ran into
the freight house with an awful splinter
ing crash. The express pulled up oppo-
site the station, and in moment crowd
of people ran shouting and frantic up the
line. Some of them had seen the whole
performance and knew what it meant,
but for the majority of them it was a
tragic mystery.
They found Lydia upon the ground by
the switch, and with the keys still
clutched in her hand. What had she
done9 What had happened to here
She could not answer. Nature had
mercifully taken away her senses. They
took her up tenderly and carried her to
the station, and laid her upon a seat in
the waiting room. The passengers of the
two trains crowded the room and offered
every aid, for in some vague manner they
began to understand that she was the
creditor to the value of all their lives.
She had paid for their safety with costly
sacrifice.
The freight train backed down to the
cross-over switch, and the engineers of
the three trains met and began to ex-
anime the positions of the switches. A
number of men also came from the ex-
press train, and among them was one who
seemed in authority. He, too, examined
the line carefully, and the engineers ex-
planned the matter to him and listened to
his remarks with becoming Difference.
The little room in the station was
packed with people, idlers and others,
and they could with difficulty bring him
in.
NO." said one of the ladies who were
trying to restore the girl. at may be
too great shock for her. She must not
see him yet"
snake way there, gentlemen. The
superintendent of the road is here"
The crowd moved slightly, and the su-
perintendent advanced into the ROOM
He took off his hat and spoke quietly
to the people near, and then stopped
over the unconscious girl and softly
kissed her like father.
"She saved all our lives, and I fear she
thinks she paid dearly for them"
Suddenly she opened her eyes and sat
up bewildered.
"Where is hel Is he much hurt2 Oh!
Perhaps he is"
''Let me alone, tell you," cried big,
bold voice in the crowd; II must 90 to her"
He escaped from those who would de-
tain him,and in moment was beside her.
Some of the people laughed in foolish
joy, others cried. The more delicate and
sensible were silent, for the meeting was
not for words or description.