The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-11
THE oBsTRUcTED TRACK.

Bootes and Orion had she looked up, but
that night the worlds of heaven had no
attraction for her.
She was listening to a strange sound
borne from the west by the nocturnal
breeze that chilled her cheek. l might
have said with propriety succession
OF sounds, for it seemed that some per-
sons were cording wood or moving
heavy timbers not far away. Save this
noise, the night was quiet, and she
heard without interruption from the
window of her simple boudoir.
II believe 1t is in Gwynne's Cut" she
said at last to herself. "Perhaps some
villain is obstructing the track for devil
ish purposes. The Red Bird will soon
be due, and this Is Ed.'s trip down."
Her face grew trifle paler as she
spoke, aud a moment later she stood be-
lore the ancient wall sweeper in one OF
the lower rooms.
The moonbeams stealing in at the
window fell upon the face of the dial,
and told Ytol that it was IL O'clock.
"fwelve o'clock" her lips murmured.
"Whati twelve O'Clock, and he whistles
to me at half-pastl My heavens! what il
the track is obstructed in the cutw
With the last word on her lips she
turned and soon lett the house.
nv buO kdbO bu0 pduo0u d ulOtueUt anu
listened. The sounds were still to be
heard. and she believed that Jhey ema-
mated from a spot in the cut near the
cattle-guard. Then she started forward
again, and crossed the meadow that lay
between her home and her destination.
Tue stars looked down upon a little
object that glittered like silver in Ytol
Vathek's hand. 1t was revolver, and
her fingers held it firmly. Once or twice
she glanced at it as ii to satisfy herself
that 1t was there. Then looked up again
with an air OF determination.
She was the belle of the country she
inhabited. Her father was dead, and
with her widowed mother and little
brother of twelve, she dwelt in The hum
Dle house won by the sweat of that faith
ers brow. A railway station called
Beaumont was the only settlement near,
and it was six miles from her home.
She seldom went thither, for there was
no society there, and she could enjoy
herself better at home.
The track OF iron was the making of
Beaumont, for the road was new, and
| towns were springIng up all along the
| line. Ytol could see the cars from her
window, and often had she sat there un-
til the flaming headlight of the mid
night express had appeared and disap-
peared. An opening in the woods en-
abled her to see the light for moment,
[ and then the lighted windows OF the
coaches.
Did the engineer know that she was
watching-that his engine gave two
| shrieks as it reached the opening-two
snrieks that seemed to say "Ytoll ytolW
She always smiled when she heard the
sounds, and with the smiles lingering on
| her face, or blush, she would listen
till the rumbling of the train died away
beyond the cramped boundaries OF un-
commercial Beaumont.
That brace OF shrieks, loud and shrill,
told her who drove that engine toward
the great city on the MississIppps banks.
They recalled the day, one year since,
when the first engine she had ever seen
stopped at Beaumont, scarcely a station
then. The engineer was young and
handsome, and when he saw her exam
lining the great drive wheels and looking
with wonuerment upon The mighty beau
ties of his iron pet, he leaped to the
ground.
ga pretty piece of machinery" he said
to her, Sand she goes like blrdl"
She blushed when she caught his eye,
and the sound Of his voice thrilled her.
Overcoming her timidity, he helped
| her into his cosy apartment on the en-.
glne and explained to her the wondrous
mecha anism of the beautiful monster
Then he said good-by, and she saw the
| train move off, and mis- hat waving from
the engine was the last thing she saw al
| it darted round the curve.
A week later she found herself at the
station talking to him again. Theil
meeting seemed purely accidental, anC
no doubt it was such; but am sure thai
the meetings that followed it were not
BY and by Ed. Gordon, the engineer
carried a picture over his heart, and OF
Ytops bureau lay the phOLographer'i
semblance of his face.
Thus the acquaintance at the station
during the R4u Birds trial trip over the
new road, had ripened into love, and th
two midnight shrieks told her that ht
was sale and driving his engine toWart
the river metropolis. She Sat at he
window oft-Llmes with the lamp on tn,
sill, and often tancied that she coult
see him leaning from his engine will
eyes fixed to catch IA glimpse oil her be
fore the train would be swallowed VI
by the woods again.
This lie was excitement aud JOY t,
Ytol; but it was passing away. Tn
time was coming. when Ed. Gordol
Woulu leave Lue loau, anu accept III
superintendency of the company's cal
shops in fiourishing city.
, But let me return TO the October nigh
when Y lol left her home to investigat
the sounds that seemed to come IroI
!, Gwynn's Cut.
She ielt that distractions were beiu
placed upon the track in the disms
. places. Ot late the company had il
Cured the hatred of certain persons re
; siding in the vicinity OF The station, ant
I once or twice the track had been tan
pered with, but, fortunately, to no SER
, Gus extent. The night express gene
= ally went through the cut with und
= mlnished speed, for no distractions ha
been encountered there, though the Ca
tie guard in the center would assist tn
evilly disposed.
Ytol al last reached the cut into whic
q the mellow moonbeams fell, and pauset
Something hig and dark obstructed th
track before her, at the very spot Wher
: the cattle guard seemed TO be, and sh
K held her breath. 1t was twelve o'cloc
when she left the house, and her wal
: had occupied a number Of preciou
| minutes. The shrieks OF the Red Blr
!, would soon be heard, and a momel
y thereafter its headlight would has
e into the cut or gorgel
Sue saw more than pile of strong til
u | no 40 huu