The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-02-16

7:15.
"7:15," said Kirke, meditatingly, "and we r
leave at 1850, and the pay train meets us at t
Deriug's Cut at l0;45 Scant time to make t
the run this thick weather, but it must be |
managed" " t
And he turned away to give some orders {
to the fireman.
Jack Halliday was there-he had been ,
strollng in ard out of the room for the past
half hour, smoking a cigar and swearing at
the bad weather. His train did not leave
until near midnight, so he had plenty of
time to swear.
We all went to the door and looked at the
weather and voted it deuced bad, and then
we walked up and down the platform, and
smoked on, aIter-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 indicated 7:49.
Krke 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 everyday life. l
am going to do little swell business to.
night and take passage in the palace car.
Want to rest my back. Good night to ye,
and hold her in well around Rocky Bottom
curve. Tie road-bed's a little shaky."
AYE, aye, sir! p responded Krke, and
swung himself to his position on the Flya-
way.
The bell rang-I scrambled to my COM
partment in the Pullman, and felt horribly
out of place among the silks and broadcloths
and smell OF musk. But was in, and made
the best of it so effectually that five minutes
after Gibson, who fancies he owns all erea
tion because he has got silver coffin plate
on his breast with Conductor" on it, had
shouted "All aboard ~ was fast asleep.
What occurred in other quarters to affect
the fate of Kirke's train | learned after
wards.
Old Whately, the superintendent of the
, road, as have already said, had country
, residence in Leeds, on mountain spur,
9 which commando view of the surrounding
country for more than score of miles. The
line of the railway could be distinctly seen
in each direction fifteen miles, and Whate-
n ley was wont to say that his lookout was
| worth more to the safety of trains than all
q the telegraph wires on the line.
Whateley was rich old buffer, kind
:. enough in his way, but sharp as ferret in
- looking after the road hands, and determin-
ed that every man should do his duty.
i He had but one child, daughter; and
=, Floss Whatecy 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 ac-
., quilted herself with credit.
# Old Whately was proud of her, as he had
q right to be, and he kept all the Young men
# at distance, until it was said that he in
h tended keeping his daughter single till the
!. Gar of ali the Russas came to marry her
This night in November, old Whateley and
,s Floss were out on the piazza of their coun-
d try home, peering through the gloom and
,s fog for the signal lights of the Galosha train
which was nearly due.
id It's devilsh strange it doesn't come in
v. sight, "said Whateley, laying down his night
III glass in disgust. at is hard on to ten now
They ought to show their light around
as Spruce Pond by this time
is "You telegraphed them, father? You
is let them know the pay train was on the
is road ?" asked Floss.
4. u L. pl r,nDJ boovapSi thpra'
es the headlight of the pay train now See
Id not ten miles away, and running like th'
devil, as it always does !"
- He pointed with trembling finger dowr
ne the valley gorge, where, far away, mere
speck in the gloom could be seen brigh
ne light, scarcely moving, it seemed, but thos'
nd anxious watchers knew it was approaching
lli at lightning speed.
ad Father and daughter looked at eacl
an other.
zee The truth was evident For some reasol
Il the train from Galosha was ten minutes be
le- hind time and it would not reach the sidin
in at Derng's Cut until the pay train ha'
passed beyond on 20 the single track AM
,ot then? Why, there would be another iter
at for the morning papers, to read Wnder tn
he head of Appalling Railway Disaster" an
10 few more houses would We rendered desc
ed late, and a few more hearts would be mad
rse to mourn.
Father and daughther looked at eac
Ide other in dismay.
CO. SIS there time ?" asked the old man tren
nd blingly
re- "Selim can do it," said Floss, quickl!
eat "If can reach Leeds five minutes betor
,d- the train-yes, two minutes betore-all wi
nd be we'll. Do not stop me, father" as he lai
he a hand on her arm.
as "But you must not go, 1t is dark and di
mally lonely. No, Floss"
to 81 shall CO. father Selim knows onl
IN, me, and you could not ride him. hay
he ridden darker nights, And he is the on
old horse in the stable. Don't you remember
ich The others were sent to town yesterday"
Before old Whateley could stop her, 81
zee, had ordered the hostler to saddle Selim, al
ro. she was already buttoning on her rdir
all habit with rapid, nervous fingers.
we The horse came paving to the door, Flo
led sprang into the saddle, leaned down al
,pi- kissed her fathers forehead.
"Pray heaven to speed me ~ she erie
18th hoarsely, and touching the horse with b
ap. whip, he bounded down the sharp decliyi
1t was raining steadily now, and t
nus gloom was intense, but Selim was used
m A the road, and his rider was courageol
a TO She urged him on at the top of his speed,
kes hill and down hill, through Pine Vail,
over Pulpit Hill and then she struck up