The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-12-03

negresS unc0nscl0usly TO relax ner n0lC
on the hand of her charge. The child
naturally enough, ran up and down th'
platform, and, making the acquaintance
of pet dog which belonged to lady
who was seated in huge armchair, she
frolicked quite gleefully. Her move
ments attracted the attention of the com
pany, excepting the gentleman and ser
want, who continued their conversation
They really became SC absorbed thai, s,foI
the time. they appeared unconscious o.
the presence OF Others"
The blonde paused In her relation, TO!
a moment, to pin scarf about her necl
part Of the costume in which she wa.
to enact her role in the comedy.
go on!-go on, Bessie Karck J" criet
the brunette, nervously toying with thu
parurs which was included in the pres
ents $50 on, for God's--for my sake =
60 ont"
Bessie Karck turned toward her inter
locutor with an expression of surprise IL
her beautiful, calm, almost cold, eyes.
"Yon are excited. Bertha" she said.
The brunette's black orbs seemed tt
fash with unusual fire. "No, girl /
nor' che replied; 81 am interested
Well2" s
"Presently," resumed the blonde, "th'
child stepped from the platform and, il
pursuit of the cur, ran up the track few
feet to where it curves sharply to tn,
right. Hardly had she reached the poin
l refer to when terrible fear for her lif
came upon me. With an involuntary
movement, and suppressed cry, raj
up the platform and, lesping upon th'
track. sped even more quickly than be
fore toward her. As I sprang forward
heard the shrek of the locomotive
whistle-thc signal to close the brakes
1t appeared to me as il ! saw the chill
lying upon the track under the wheel o
the great, black monster. My eye
seemed to be looking upon sea o
blood-ot horrible carnage; and then
felt as If had been suddenly endowed
with wings, and like an eagle from il
@rie had swept toward the imperilled lit
tie one and had grasped 1t 10 my arms.
81 remember nothing further until
awoke in New Orleans. When conscious
ness returned I found myself lying on
bed in cool apartment of the ST. Charlie
Hotel, and, beside one or two OF the Ia
dies of the company, there stood nea
by physician. /, of course, desired t.
be informed of my being in the condi
ton was, and how and when ! had ar
rived in the city. 1T was strange
added. III seemed like dream. Th'
last thing / can recall was my standin.
at the depot, Baton Rouge, awaiting th'
arrival of the, downward train TheI
passing one of my hands over my fore
head, l resumed i remember somethin,
about child-was that dream? 1t i
a vision 80 unresl--so confused Mrs
Braceridge, one of our company said:
"'My dear, you did a most heroi
thing. You saved child from terri
BILE fate; and how you, in your effort t
do so, escaped instant death, only Go,
knows. You were thrown, with the chill,
in your arms, some distance from tn
road, by, it lie believed, the catcher
When you we're taken up it was discov
cred that your left arm had been disloca
ted; but that, except the terrible shocl
received, you sustained no other yer.
serious hurt. As for the child, it wa
not in the least injured. The dog whic
had tempted it on the track was crushe
into an undistinguishable mass, to tn
very great grief of its owner. You wer
removed. in your insensible condition
on board the train, and made comforts
BILE; a medical gentleman, after havin
replaced your arm in the socket at 'th
shoulder, and otherwise examined yor
having declared that you had sustaine
no other physical injury, but that it wa
probable yourmind would feel the effect
of the excitement for several days.
"When Mrs. Braceridge had close
her relation The whole scene came, an
very wildly to me. Il was surprised
when I recalled the incidents of the Ii
tie drama. at my temerity-I who use
to be so 'timorous and so nervous. b.
/ also remembered that had not calml
considered my so-called sheroic conduct
but went to the rescue of the child in
pulsively-blindly. In week I wa
4 sufficiently recovered to enter upon m
engagement. The first night ] appeare
before the public of the Crescent City
received an ovation; and, l assure yor
I the newspapers were not silent, and du
i ring the whole of my engagement wer
most lenient to my faults.
| s.Up to this time-and, you may |
assured. Bertha. my woman's curiosi'
was wonderfully excited-I had not RI
lceived the slightest intimation Of th
name of the child, or of the parent
such the gentleman was. / was not,
you see, always destined to remain
ignorance.
"The day Of my benefit, which was t
4 ward the close Of February-on th
following it l was booked to proceed
the North-I received a note So
Iscribed, / noticed, By q gentleman.
E first I supposed 1t to be one OF the foe
5 ish epistles addle.headed men who, war
/. ing in courtesy, address to actresses wi
are popular or passable-looking. Upt
: second thought / concluded to open
was in the humor of it, you see.
r was, however, agreeably surprised.
d was brief. 1t said:
It "'Miss Karck will, l trust, pardon q
8 silence for not, ere this, returning Z
! heartfelt thanks for saving my darli
Il Adele
}. "Adele!' with q spasm of pain, t
countenance greatly contorted but Il
If she Immediately controlled, choked b
,el tha Males. AdeleP'
Bessie went on without noticing |
L companions interruption:
nj ".My child, from terrible and aw
g death. I would have thanked you up
the instant, but ! was greatly excite
k and. beside, Adele required my care.
When 1 had recovered composure,
l, turned to speak to you from full hea
sr but, save the girl, who is my chill
8, nurse, and Adele, / found the depot {
le serted. In the midst of the confusi
D. you were removed to one Of the ca
W and the train was gone-the whistle
the locomotive screaming in the d
m lance. was on my way to St. Lou
y there to place my child in the care of Z
lie of my sisters. I now write to you to