Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-10-23

We all went TO the door and took 8
look at tho weather and unanimously
voted il douced bad, and then we walked d
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 bo getting into their places.
Both the clock in the engine-room and
Kirko's watch indicated 7.lo.
kirke was putting his watch in his
pocket as ho said -
Garth, are you going with mo on the
Flyaway ?"
"No. thank yc." said |. Il get enough
ol that sort OF thing in my everyday
lite. am going to do u little swell bus;-
ness to night, aud take passage in the
palace car. Want 10 rest my back.
Good night to you, and hold her in well
round Rocky Bottom curve. The roads
little shaky."
AYE. aye, SIR" responded Kirkc, and
swung himself TO his position on tho Fly
away.
The bell rang. / scrambled to my
compartment in the Pullman. and telt
horribly out OF place among the silks and
broadcloths and smells of musk. But
was in for "firsl-class," and made the
best of it so eiIec.ually that five minutes
after Gibson, who fancies he owns all
creation because he has got silver
coflin-plate on his breast with "Con-
duc,or" on it, had shouted "All aboard !"
was sound asleep.
What occurred in other quarters to
affect The fate of Kirke's train, l learned
at erward.
Old Whately. the superintendent OF
the road, as guess l have already said,
had country residence at Leeds, on
mountain spur, which commands view
of the surrounding country for more than
a score of miles. The line of the rail
way 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 tele-
graph wires on the line.
Whately was rich old buffer, kind
enough in his way, bat sharp as ferret
in looking after the road hands, and de-
termined that every man should do his
duty.
lie had but one child, a daughter; and
Floss WhaleIy was the belle of the coun-
try. She was brave, beautiful and spirited
and more than once, when hex father had
been away, had she assumed the re-
spoasibi!ity OF directing the trains, and
SIZE had always acquitted herself with
credit.
OLD Whstely was very proud Of her, as
h9 had right to be. and ho Kept all The
youug fellows AZ distance. unit! it was
sais that no intended to keep his deugh'
ter single ill the Car OF Rls,ia came on
to marry her.
This night in November, old WhAtely
AID Floss wcyc out on tho pia2zi OF their
country home, pecrirg through Tho gloom
Tor .hc 6oiosba train, which was neei'y
due.
rs very strange it doesn't come in
sight - said Wbately, laying down his
night glass in disgust. It's hald on 10
ten now! They ought to show their
liz ht around Spruce pond by this time "
"You tclegraphed them, father? You
let them know the pay train was on the
road ?" asked Floss.
ITO be sue. Aud, good Heavens
there is the head light of the pay train
now! See not len miles away and run
ming like the douce, rs il always does y
lie pointed with trembling finger down
to the valley gorge, where, far away,
mere spcck in the gloom, could be seen
a light, scarcely moving ii seemed. but
those anxious watchers knew it was ap-
preaching at lightning speed.
Father and daughter looked at each
other.
The truth was evident. For some
reason the train from Golosha was ten
minutes behind time. aud it would not
reach tho siding at Deering's Gu, until
the pas train had passed. beyond on to
the single track And then? Why, to
read undcr the head OF "Appslliog Rni-
road Disasterr and few more homes
would be rendered desolate, and few
more hearts would be made to mourn.
Father and daughter looked at each
other in dismay.
lis there time?" asked the old man,
tremblingly.
"Selim can do it," said Floss, quickly.
III | can reach Leeds five minutes be-
fore the train-yes. two minutes-all will
be well. 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 !"
81 shall 90, father Solim knows only
me, and you could not ride MIN. have
ridden darker nights. And he is the only
horse in the stable Don't you remem-
ber, the others were sent to town yester-
day ?'
BEFORE old Whately could stop her, she