Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-08-19

1--WE are beating the Wlnd, SAID the
engineer "If we can keep up this pace
we shall soon overtake them"
"How long have they been gone;"
shouted the fireman above the roar of the
engine,
81 don't know screamed the woman,
without taking her eyes from the horizon,
where the rails met the sky. 1T may
have been two hours or more. They
were playing in the empty car
"How did she get out of the siding
(He meant the car.
ats one of the new switches" said
the engineer. Cars can easily jump
out on the main line
All something ahead. Was it the
runaway car? No, the next station.
What a terrible pace. Twenty miles al
ready!
"Oh, don't stop" cried the woman,
as she saw the engineer put his hand on
the throttle-valve.
Il must, marm. We are getting out
of water, and perhaps we can learn some
thing of the runaway
The sudden arrival of solitary engine,
containing two men and woman, start
led the station-master, and he came out
to see what it meant. He seemed to
guess at the truth, for he said:
After the runaway carr:
y oh lraf,
inside"
"Oh, marin, I'm sorry for ye. 1t went
past here, going twenty miles an hour.
1t came down grade all the way, but the
upgrade begins about two miles out. |
was inside when it passed, and didn't see
it till it had gone past the door.
How long it took to fill the tender;
The engine stood hot and smoking by the
water-tank, and the water came out in a
slender stream, while the poor mother
stood looking on, fearful and impatient
"Good-by! I'll put up the pipe
Heaven help ye,-thc upgrade '-
The rest was lost, for the engine shot
ahead on and on out over the open prairie.
The water-tank seemed to sink into the
earth, and the shining rails stretched
longer and longer out behind.
All. What was that; 4 cloud of
steam on the horizon, far ahead. The
engineer took out his time book and
studied it carefully.
Freight No. 5, bound west, stopping
on the two-mile siding
How swiftly Freight No. 8 rose above
the grass and grew big along the way |.
Listen 4 whistle. The engineer whIs-
tied in reply and shut off steam. Their
engine quickly slowed down, and they
could see men leaning out from the other
engine, as if to speak to them.
ITS ten minutes back. Running slow
on main-h -hnc-road- -
Thank Heaven" said the woman.
The engineer said nothing: but at that
instant the engine gave great leap and
shot ahead, at the rate of fifty miles an
hour, up the easy grade. How long the
minutes seemed, and yet each meant al
most a mile.
All. \ speck-a black dot on the
horizon. The car: Yes. 1t was the car,
1t grew bigger and bigger. Now they
could see it plainly. But the children!
Where were they; The fireman sprang
out through the forward window, and
ran along the engine and down upon the
cow-catcher. The monster began to
slacken It's terrible pace, and in a mo-
ment it struck the car with gentle jar
and stopped.
The fireman thought himself lively
man, but the woman was before him and
sprang up into the car
There they lay, safe and sound IN the
corner of the car-Mary and Tommy
fast asleep, and Kitty watching over
them.
"Oh, mother. l knew YOU would
come. Mary and Tommy cried them
selves to sleep, and II
Nobody could say word. The fire
man tried to rub his eyes, and only
marked his face with black streaks. The
mother laughed and cried all at once.
The engineer picked up the little ones
and quietly took them into the cab Of the
engine.
There, now, my hearties, you have
had a risky ride; but it's all right.
Come! We're more than thirty miles
from home, and it won't do to be late to
dinner. Fire up, Jack
AYE, aye, sill" said Jack.-Charles
Barnard, in July 81. Nicholas.