The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-05-29

frame for little space, shading her eyes
from the sun with her hand and watch,
ing the train. 1t had run around the
valley, and was turning into the great
curve that crept upward in a long grade
over the hill beyond.
IL was now q mile away, and she
could no longer distinguish any one in
the cars. She turned slowly away, seiz-
ed the iron bar of the switch, and easily
threw it 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. It may seem sur
rrising that passenger train shouldk y
allowed to follow freight train &c
closely.
Bad engineering as this arrangement
was, it was not 80 serious as it seemed
for this passenger train did not follow
the freight except for three miles, wher
it reached the end of its trip and was
turned off upon siding.
She turned once more to look sftel
the retreating freight train. 1t was il
full view climbing the grade on the
great curve.
! Suddenly she put up both hands t
shade her eyes, and leaned forward OF
the switch frame. What had happened
Two tiny puffs of steam rose from the
engine. 1t was the signal to stop.
All! the train had parted! Faint ani
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. i
was beginning to roll dow the grade. !
was moving faster and faster. Their,
was man upon it-her lover
Involuntarily she spread out her ARM
and let them fall to her side three d
four times in succession-the signal &
put on brakes.
"How foolish He cannot see me-
She leaned against the switch frame ani
shook with fear and agony. b
The brake was broken.
Swift and swifter rolled the disabled
car. 1t was coming down the track
gaining speed at every rod. II
She sprang to the middle of the tract
and tried to shout TO the engineer of th,
train at the station She made the mo
tions to back down out of danger. He
tongue Glove to the roof OF the noutl
and her cry became an inarticulste moan
Onward came the car. She could Sc,
her lover upon it frantically waving hil
arm from right to left. What did i
mean2 Her brain seemed to be on FIRE
She could do nothing but gaze on th,
advancing car in the dumb horror.
All! The passengers! Could she no
save themi
With violent wrench she opened th,
switch again and stood holding the ba
in both hands Better so-better on,
life lost than dozen. Her feet seemed
bolted to the ground. She must stay
and see him killed, and by her owl
hand!
The rails began to murmur with th'
rattle of the advancing car now rushing
furiously onward to destruction.
Ah! why had she not thought Of il
before?
The cross over switch! Could she
reach it in time she might save him. She
snatched the key from the switch ani
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 It's roarin.
rang in her ears. Painting with almost
bursting bosom, she reached the switch
opened it and stood clinging to it as the
car came laundering 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 tc
the down track and roll harmlessly along
the level line till it's force was spent. He
was saved and by her ready wit and
skill. The passengers in the train were
also saved. g .se H4e
She had saved him. Love had beer
her inspiration. 29 e5 e7sF
Great heavens. what's that ? The ex
|press2 The down express was coming
All was in vain. He was lost. She
saw him throw up his arms in despair
The very plan she had devised 10 save
him would be his destruction. Better
far to have thrown him off on the siding
as she had intended. Now he would
meet more dreadful death, and the de-
struction would include scores of lives
instead of a dozen.
All this flashed through her mind like
| lightning. She felt her knees give way
beneath her, and clung to the switch il
despair. She shut her eyes to hide tht
coming disaster. "a M
Hark! The whistle on the express
They had seen the imminent collision
and we're doing their best to avert it.
She, too, must do something. Will
a bound she sprang to the next switch
tore it open, and stood painting and
moaning beside 1t with the bar in he
hand She must save that train even i
she buried her lover under the splinteret
wreck of the car.
| Onward came tie car, laundering owe
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
tion to save the express train.
The instant the car passed she closed
the switch and sprang back again to the
other switch and closed it just in time
to see the express train sweep past in
safety.
In an instant the helpless car ran into
the freight house with an awful splinter
ing crash. The express pulled up oppo
site the station, and in moment {
crowd of people ran shouting and fran.
tic up the line. Some OF them had seer
the whole performance, and knew what
it meant, but for the majority of them
it was a tragic mystery.
They found Lydia upon the ground
by the switch, and with the keys still
clutched in her hand. What had she
dona9 What had honpanod IN hnrS