Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-04-25

past half hour, smoking cigar, and
swearing at the bad weather. His train
did not leave until near midnight, so he
had plenty of the time to swear.
We all went to the door and took
look at the weather and unanimously
voted it deuced bad, and tnen we
walked up and down the platform, and
smoked our after-supper cigars, and by
the time We were 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 indi-
Gated 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, 81 get enough
of that sort of thing in my every day
life I am going to do little swell
b nsiness tonight, and take passage In
the palace car. Want to rest my back.
Good night to you, and hold her in well
round Rocky Bottom Curve. The road
beds little shaky."
"Aye, aye, sir, 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-cIass," and made
the best of it SO effectually that five min
utes after Gibson, who fancies he owns
all creation because he has got silver
coffin plate on his breast with "conduc-
tor" on it, had shouted, "All aboard -
I WAS sound asleep.
4 What occurred in other quarters to
affect the fate of Kirke's train, I learned
afterward.
Old Whately, the superintendent of
the road, as l guess have already said,
had q country residence in Leeds, on q
mountain spur, which commands view
of the surrounding country for more
than a score of miles. The line of the
railway could be distinctly seen in each
direction fifteen miles, and Whately
was wont to say his lookout was worth
more to the safety of trains than all the
telegraph wires on the line.
Whately was rich old buffer, kind
enough in his way, but sharp as fer
let in looking after the road hands, and
determined that every man should DO
his duty.
He had but one child, daughter;
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. ,r r..-gs ,...
Old Whately was very proud of her,
as he had right to be, and he kept all
the young fellows at distance, until it
was said that he intended keeping his
daughter single till the Gear of ali the
Russians 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 for the Golosha train,
which was nearly due.
"It's very strange it doesn't come in
sight I" said Whately, laying down his
night glass in disgust. ''It Is hard on
TO ten now They ought to show their
light round Spruce pond by this time p
"You telegraphed them, father? You
lei them know the pay train was on the
road 2" asked Floss. 14'1 700 At.
ssTo be sure. And, good heavens
there is the headlight of the pay train
now! Seel not ten miles away, and
running like the deuce, as it always
does!" r.e,l For..i.., si~l.E s5f..,r-...
z He pointed with trembling finger
down to the valley gorge, where, far
away, mere speck in the gloom, could
be- seen a light scarcely moving it
seemed, but those anxious watchers
knew it was approaching at lightning
speed. sd rad5sdw hatdraa oeyssfvg +
Father and daughter looked at each
other. INV
{ The truth was evident. For some
reason the train from Ctolosha was ten
minutes behind time, and it would nor
reach the siding at Deefing's Gut unti4
the pay train had passed beyond On to
the single track And then? Why, to
read under. the head of Appalling
Railway Disaster p and a few more
homes would be rendered desolate, and
a few more hearts would be made to
mourn. 9i aai aif1 p
Father and daughter looked at each
other In disney.
Sis there time? asked the old man,
tremblingly. as a.saaaa
.sSelim can do it." said Floss, quick
~. eff can reach Leeds five minutes
before the train-yes, two minutes--all
will be we'll. Do not stop me, father -
as he laid hand on her arm.
"But you must not go It is dark
and dismally lonely! No, Floss p
st shall go, father Selim know s
only me, and you could not ride him. I
have ridden darker nights. and he is
the only horse in the stable Don't
you remember, the others were sent to
town yesterday ?"
Before old Whately could stop bel,
she had ordered the hostler to saddle
Selim, and she was already buttoning
on her riding habit with rapid, nervous
fingers.
The horse came paving to the door.
Floss sprang into the saddle, leaned
down and kissed her fathers forehead.
SPRAY heaven to speed me p she
cried, hoarsely, and touching the horse
with her whip, he bounded down the
sharp declivity.
1t was raining steadily now, and the
gloom was intense, but Selim was used
to the road, and he was sure footed and