Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-08

dS1Ccps |
What occurred in other quarters to af-
ect the fate of Kirke's train, I learned
afterward.
Old Wbately, the superintendent OF
the roads, as guess have already said,
had country residence at Leeds, on
mountain spur, which commands
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-
ly was wont to say his lookout was
worth more to the safety of trains than
all the telegraph wires on the lime.
Whately was rich old buffer, kind
enough in his way, but sharp as ferret
in looking after the road hands, and de-
termined that every man should do his
duty. i
He had but one child, daughter and
Floss Whately was the belle of the coun-
try. She was brave, beautiful and spirit
ed, and more than once. when her faith
err had been away, had she assumed the
responsibility ofdirecting the trains, and
she had always acquitted herself with
credit.
Old Whately was very proud of her,
as he had right to be, and he kept all
the young fellows at distance, until 1t
was gaid that he intended to keep his
daughter single till the Gar of Russia
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 for the Golosha train, which was
nearly due.
'It's very strange it doesn't come in
sight J" said Whately, laying down his
night glass in disgust. sits hard on to
ten now! They ought to show their
light around Spruce pond by this timer"
"You telegraphed them, fathef2 You
road ?" asked Floss.
''To be sure. And good Heavens !!
there is the head light Of the pay train
now: See! not ten miles away, and run
ming like the deuce, az it always does |"
He pointed with trembling finger
down the valley gorge. where, far away,
a mere speck in the gloom, could be seen
light, scarcely moving, it seemed, but
those anxious watchers knew it was APP
preaching at lightning speed.
Father and daughter looked at each
other.
The truth was evident. Forso rea-
son the train from Golosha was ten mi
nutes behind time, and it would not
: reach the siding at behring's Gut until
the pay train had passed beyond on to
the single track! And then! Why, to
= read under the head of Appalling Rail-
road Disaster!" and few more homes
would be rendered desolate, and few
more hearts would be made to mourn.
They looked at each other in dismay.
SIS there time ?" asked the old man,
> tremblingly.
"Selim can do it, said Floss, quickly.
eff can reach Leeds five minutes be.
F., fore the train-yes, two minutes-al
. will be well. Do not stop me father J!
{ as he laid hand on her arm.
. "But you must not go! 1t is dark and
dismally lonely! No, Floss!"
4 81 shall go, father! Selim knows only
= me, and you could not ride him. I have
6 ridden darker nights. And he is the
u only horse in the stable. Don't you
o remember, the others were sent to towr
i yesterday"
! y Before old Whately could stop her, she
= :, had ordered the hostler to saddle Selim
= and she was already buttoning on hel
:, ~ riding habit with rapid, nervous fingers
!. The horse came paving to the door,
: Floss sprang into the saddle, leaning
4 down and kissed her fathers forehead.
"Pray Heaven to speed mel" she cried
uOaISCly, OOuCDlb5 lCI hOloC WILL
her whip, he bounded down the SHARP
o declivity.
y It was raining steadily now, and the
- gloom was intense, but Selim was uset
y to the road, and he was sure footed, anG
:, his rider courageous. She urged him OF
:, - at the top of his speed, up hill and down
through Pine Valley and over Pulpi
!, Hill, and then she struck upon tn
- smooth road which stretched away to
y Leeds, two miles, as straight as an arrow
She could see the headlight on the pay
\ train far down the valley, distinctly now
- and to her excited fancy it seemed but
= stones throw away. She even though
! for moment that she heard the grin(
:. of the wheels on the iron track, but no
% it was only the signing of the wind il
- the pines.
Is On, and still on they went. Selin
" that he knew his mistress was on an err
), rand of life and death. The lights of tn,
- station were in view-nay, she even saw
the statlon-master's white lantern
= which was to signal the approachin.
! ! train-which was to tell them to go on
= for all was well-on to their doom.
:, She dashed across the railway track
= flung the reins to an amazed bystander
and. striking the white lantern from tn
;, hand of the astonished official she seiz
= = ed the ominous red lantern from it
= hook, and springing upon the track
: waved it in the very teeth ofthe coming
train.
: Two sharp, short whistles told bel
Il that her signal was seen, and momen
later the train came to a stop, and thu
!. officers rushed out to learn what it al
, = meant.
Floss told them in a few brief words
g and one of them at the station wen
;, forward to confer with the train from
Golosha, which had not yet been tele-
!. graphed from the next station beyond
The man waited fifteen minutes be
8 fore Kirke's train slid or the siding
and it was then known that but for tn,
decision of one young girl, the two
: trains must have colIided four miles
% beyond behring's Cut.
W When told the story, Kirke looked a
>, his watch.
Il The man from the station looked a
!. his also.
l, Kirke's was ten minutes behind time
You want to know how it happened
- Certainly you must have guessed. Hal
- liday did it. A man was found the mex
u y day who confessed to having seen Jacl
y tampering with the time pieces in tn,
~ epgine.house that night, but he hat
thought nothing of it, he said.
y Jack? Oh, he left town and was las
y heard of in Australia. His little gam'
was not success.
A few months later, Kirke was mar
. = ried to Floss Whateley, for being ter
minutes behind time.
:, The Only Exchange Fiend Ever
J. RepulSed.