Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-07

iron tstolen from some store at hand, suppose),
and with it he slips down the emhankment at
the risk OF his life, until he reaches the en-
trance to tunnel There across the rails he
II that by no possibility shall the engine OF the
doomed train now fast approaching clear its
pain OF she ehcum h He chuckes as this
the bar heavy blow with the palm of his
hand, and dreadful madness gliStenS In his coal
black eyes as he mutters, Fine. fine" A
minute after. and he is over the embankment
again; and half an hour subsequently, when all
is confusion and horror and suffering. lie
quietly tells the story of his deed, and is borne
away with lOathing 10 await the time when it
shall be pronounced whether he shall be put
out OF life as malignant criminal. or be hence
forth wei housed and cared for as an interest
ing lunatfc OF peculiar prOpenSltieS.
Into that train. now coming on 10 Its fate,
there stepped at the terminal station an elderly
gentleman and beautiful girl. They had come
to America from England for the benefit OF the
young lady'S not over-StrOng health.
''What a lot OF fog We do get here said the
gentleman testify. I'VE started because II
was a charming morning. and now we are In
damp mist, getting darker every moment. n
blessed invention, those foy-signals, for | am
sure the engine-driyer cannot see his hand De-
fore him.
Papa said the young lady timidly, and
with the dreamy air which we associate with
the looking back On long-past events, did you
notice q gentleman VINO entered the TRAIN as We
were just Starting?'
"A Young man. with brown hair and dark
gray eyes? YES YES Laura; ana nd, | thought how
Willie Stansfield, who Will turn up again, sup
pose one of these days"
.Do you think, papa, it could possibly have
been he?'
..There is no saying. We always assumed he
went abroad. He may be here-Inay be In this
train. we'll remember the last words said to
Turner about him, that he must do something
very praiSewOrthy before he could return to my
favor. dare say, like the rest of the world, he
Is striving and struggling. Laura. this is in
deed Wretched day for travelling"
But La!lra's thoughts were upon the brown
hair and the gray eyes.
This is the station, Laura, before we come
to the long tunnel. on we go again. How we
all OF us cry out for change. Restless creatures
we human beings are. Bah. The idea OF my
moralizing!' and the hard-headed business man
laughed at the notion.
Il don't see anything to laugh at papa I
feel little dull myself, at the moment. Do
YOU know. fancy am in a more critical state
than you think. l may not live you know,
bury me here! You Will take me home, and"
My Laura, my Laura" exclaimed her ia
Their, drawing her to him and embracing her,
what has come over you? What sudden
alarm is thiS?"
They were alone in the carriage, and the old
mans tear dropped unchecked.
1t Will paSS away. dare say. papa: but n
curious preSeLtiment came over me, and felt
weak. Twill talk of other things. l wish this
Journey were ended, tCr am rather frightened
at such darhreSS.'
is admirably worked. and all contingencies are
provided for, and"
No. Not that of heavy bar lying on the
rails. placed there after tie last train has been
Signalled "All right
The huge engine reared up as If in rage. and
fen back On the foremost carriages. The hind
Fart of the train was jerked Off the line, the
carriages falling around aud upon one another
In hldG0uS confusion. only a Few OF the centre
carriages escaped injury. How many paSSen-
gers were killed | cannot tell yOu now. In
HOY t.at-n OH tnI1r
wounded, for the summons was Immediately
Obey6d.
Mr.. Manley rose from the efabanknlent on to
which. py some eccentrtcity OF movement OF the
failing carriages, he had been thrown. For n
! minute all was confusion in his mind Then
memory returned. Where was Laura? She re-
manned in that shattered compartment upon
which another carriage was partly resting. He
could Just hear her voice now, crying for her IA
Their.
The old man shouted for help but there were
lar worse cases, and no help came. cry then
arose that the train on the other fine was just
due, and the way being blocked b. the debris.
another accident was imminent. \ loud wall
OF despair issued from the poor father. as fruit
ICSSly he StrOVe to remove the great mass of
fragments in which his daughter was en-
tOmbed.
Who was this who. attracted b. the doleful
cry. approached 10 render aid?
Mr.. Manlcy did not know at the moment He
simply saw young and powerful man, and he
clutched him by the shoulders, and then even
vi llS hHFtS Dtlpic Iliil- tEt on man
be5ought him by all he held dear, by all his
hopes, OF present and future, TO save his child
save my Laura, my Laura sir, and all have
shall be at your cOmmandi'
What start the young man gave. One more
close look into The Snppliant5 face, and then to
work. What Superhuman force was this which
cast aside this huge bar and that great beam?
See how the fragments fly. as though they were
but pieces OF a chidS plaything.
To the right, to the left. the masses roll: the
work is more than half done, when the cry
arises that the whistle of the unStopped train
On the other line is audible. Stand aside No
use working further. Death must have his ad-
ditional victims. on comes the train.
only at the last moment did Willie Stansfield
succeed in caSping the frame Of Laura Mauley
and bearing il away.
Saved. Who could take her from him now?
ICaSseIFs Magazine.