The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-02-17
Romance Of q Boot Heel
From the Omaha Herald

From the Omaha Herald
An Omaha man found boot heel
sticking in the frog of q railroad switch
and it reminded him of a story;
l was young man. but it isn't likely
that will ever forget it. and be cast q
rueful look at the empty leg of hi.
pants The story is soon told" he
went on. turning the boot heel over in
bis hand. as if to find inscribed upon
it story similar to his own. Il wa,
walking on the track near ST. Joe, in
Missouri 1t was terrible dark night
III February, and heavy snowstornl
was prevailing at the time. The snow
and wind beating in my face was al
most sufficient to have blinded me in
midday. was walking briskly along
not dreaming OF any hsrm-in fact.
was returning from visit to my sweet
heart. who had that very evening
promised to be my wife-whem sud.
denly found my foot fastened in the
frog where y side track joined the
main track. just as this heel was fast
ened there between these rails. Al
that moment heard the shrill whistle
Of locomotive, and looking up the
track l saw through the binding snow
u light cleaning down upon me.
made desperate effort to wrench my
foot from the vise-likr grip of the
rails. and the horror of my position was
increased q hundredfold when l found
,hs, my greatest strength vas power
less to release me The light was sc
closely upon me that its reflection upon
the newly fallen snow blinded me. As
q man will in such positions. l though,
Of a thousand things in an instant: OF
my aged parents, of the events of my
life and my promised bride and the
thought that l should be torn from her
or MANNED for life. was Infinitely more
horrible than the threatened death
Blu, I'll not trouble you long with this
painful narrative. The headlight was
blazing like the fires Of hell right in
my face II was this leg that was
fastened" he sail. swinging tho stump
back and forth.
Yes, yes, interrupted his compan
ion. with pale cheeks, you just thr.~
yourself 10 one side and the engine jas,
severed your leg from your body"
Not exactly. i.iuti;e,. she story
teller, smiling blandly At his victim
The truth is. SIR. am almost ashamed
ito say. ;hs, the light did not proceed
from locomotive. but from the isntsrr
of {. watehmsn who happened Ia bt
coming Down the track "
And the shrill whistle that yo,
heard,"
. That. presume. came from a saw
mill not far away"
"But your leg how came ,"a 10 loss
that"
As many another brave man ha
lost bis" came the answer. With
heavy sigh. accompanied by fsr-swA,
lock, as If 10 recall the scenes of a tat
tie field Il fell under moving ma
chine aud had it chopped off
well. all have ~ say il. reiaraes
the disgus,esi companion. Il hope tn
girl wen, hack on You ard married Al
Ak handle maker. or some one else wht
coald make her happy"
No. she stuck IA me. said the ro
r,ancer sorrowfully. "She stack 10 IN
through goo,l and evil report. and mar
/ ried me one rapsurous evening IN ih
merry month of May. ana nos" hi
voice grew husky with emo,ion--''aur
nov | would give the top # ,hs bal
and bee,ling pate if she hsdn't
He turned away 10 hide his emotion
while his osa'panioa was baslly engage
in fastening pan in the end Of = can
and ,iroppsng little in TIE rear.