The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-05-19

mao passed out OF tn0 bWiCn
and was crossing the great via
duct and moving more snd more swiftly
away. ..,s
TO close and lock the switch wa
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 q little space, shading her
eyes from the sun with her hand
and watching the train. It had
run around the valley, and was
turning into the great curve that crept
upward in long grade over the hill be-
yond.
1t was now mile away, and she
could no longer distinguish any one in
the cars. She turned slowly away,
seized the iron bar of the switch, and
easily threw 1t 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 q passenger train should
be allowed to follow q freight train so
closely.
Bad engineering as this arrangement
was, it was not so serious as it seemed.
for this passenger train did not follow
the freight excep, for three miles, when
it reached the end of its trip and was
turned off upon siding.
She turned OF ce more to look after the
retresting freight train. 1t was in full
view climbing the grade on the great
curve.
Suddenly she put up both hands to
shade her eyes, anG leaned forward on
the switch frame. What had happen
ed7 Two tiny pufs of steam rose
from the the engine. 1t was the signal
to stop.
Ali the train had 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
was man upon it-her lover.
Inyoluntarily she spread out her arms
and let them fall to her side three or
four times in succession-the signal to
put on brakes.
allow toolishl He cannot see me-
She leaned against the switch frame and
shook with fear andagony.
The brake was broken,
Swift and swlfter 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 mo-
tions to back down out of danger. Her
tongue Glove to the roof of the mouth
and her cry became an inarticulate
moan.
Onward came the car. She could see
her lover upon it frantically waving his
arm from right to left. What did it
moan? Her brain seemed to be on fire.
She could do nothing but gaze on the
advar cling car IN dumb horror.
Ali The passengers! Could she not
save them?
With violent wrench she opened the
switch again and stood holding the bar
in both hands. Better so-better one
lie lost than dozen. Her feet seemed
bolted to the ground. She must stay
and sec him killed, and by her own
handl
The rails began to murmur with the
rattle Of the advancing car now rushing
furiously onward to destruction.
All! why had she not thought Of it be-
fore2
The cross over switch! Could she reach
il in time she might save him. She
snatched the key from the switch aad
ran with frantic speed up the line. She
never knew how she opened the 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 carr Its roaring rang
in her ears. Painting, with almost burst
ing bosom, she reached the switch, open
ed it and stood clinging to it as the car
came numbering 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 hsrmlessiy
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 heavensl what's thst2 The
express? The down express was COM
ingl
All vas in vain. He was lost. She
saw him throw up his arms in despair.
The very plan she had devised to save
him would DE his destruction. Better
far to have thrown him of on the siding
rs she had intended. Now ne would
meet more dreadful death. and the
destruction would include scores OF lives
instead of doz3n.
All this flashed through her mind like
lightning. She telt her knees give way
beneath her, and chung TO the switch In
despair. She shut her eyes to hide the
coming disaster.
Hsrk! The whistle on the express.
They had seen the imminent collision
and were deing 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 that 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 passed 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-
ton to save the express train.
The instant the car passed she closed
the switch and sprsng back again to
the other switch and closed it just in
time TO see the express train sweep past
in safety.
=. ;ast.nt Tho haIpless car ran into