Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-03-21

line track OF iron was the making OF
Beaumont, for the road was new, and towns
were springing up all around the line.
Viola could see the cars from her window,
and often had she sat there until the fam
ing headlight Of the midnight express had
appeared and disappeared. An opening in
the woods enabled her to see the headlight
for moment, and then the lighted win
dows of the cars.
Did the engineer know she was watch
ing-that this engine gave two shrill
shrieks as it reached the opening two
shrieks that seemed to say, "Viola! vio-
la!" She always smiled when she heard
the familiar sounds, and with smile
lingering on her face, or flush, she would
listen to the rumbling of the train as it
died away beyond tie uncommercial
Beaumont. 1e Il.
The brace of shrieks loud and shrill,
told her who drove that engine toward
the great city on the Missssipri's banks.
They recalled the day, one year since,
when the first engine she had seen stopped
at Beaumont scarcely station then.
The engineer was young and handsome;
as he saw her examining the great driving
wheels, and looking with wonderment
upon the mighty beauties of his iron pet,
he leaped to the ground. ..,t.to
IA pretty piece of machinery" said he
to her, land she goes like q bird"
| She blushed when she caught his eye,
and the sound of his voice thrilled her.,
Overcoming her timidity. he helped her
] into his cosy apartment on the engine,
and explained to her the wonderful mech
anism Of this beautiful monster. Then he
said good bye, and she saw the train move
off, and his hat waving from the engine
was the last thing she saw as the train
darted around the curve. .fe..s
A week later she found herself at tho
station talking to him again. Their meet
ing seemed purely accidental, andno doubt
it was such, but am sure the4meetings
that followed it were not.
BY and by Ed Gordon, the engineer, car
ried a picture over his heart, and on Vio-
las bureau lay the Photographic semblance
of his face.
Thus the acquaintance at the station,
during the Red Birds trial over the new
road had ripened into love, and two mid
night shrieks told her he was safe and
driving his engine towards the river me-
tropolis. sl 7e4
She sat at her window oftimes, with the
lamp on the sill, and Often fancied she
could see him leaning from his engine,
with his eyes fixed to catch glimpse of
her. but the train would be swallowed up
| in the woods again.
This life was excitement and joy to Vio-
la; but it was passing away. The time
was coming when Ed Gordon would leave
the road and accept the superintendency
of the company's car shops in fiourishing
town. lat 4rea
But let me return to the October night
when Viola left her home to investigate
the sounds that seemed to come from
Gwynnet's Cut
She felt that distractions were being
placed upon the track in the dismal place.
OF late the company had incurred the
hatred Of several persons residing in the
vicinity of the station, and once or twice
the track had been tempered with, but
fortunately to no serious extent.
The night express generally went
through the cut with undiminished speed,
for no obstruction had been encountered
there, though the cattle guard in the CEN
tire would assist the evil disposed.
| Viola at last reached the cut. into which
the mellow moonbeams fell, and paused.
Something high and dark INSTRUCTED the
track before her, at the very spot where
the cattle guard seemed to be, and she
held her breath. It was IL O'Clock when
she left the house. and her walk occupied
number Of precious minutes. The shrieks
of the Red Bird would soon be heard, and
a moment thereafter its head light would
flash into the cut or gorge.
She saw more than one pile of strong ties
on the track. She saw the dark figure of
a man moving about the pyramids, as it
contemplating his nights work and spec
ulating upon the death and ruin it would
cause. She watched until she believed
that one IN an had accomplished the dia-
abolical deed, then she crept forward
through the shadow of the bushes that
lined the sides of the cut, until she stood
within ten feet of him.
s'I'Il go back to the station, now" she
heard him say to himself. II can get
there before the accident, and when it oc-
ours, why can run up there and see him
under the ruins of his engine, so crushed
that the doll faced girl of his will not re-
cognize him."
A cruel laugh rippled over his lips as he
stepped back from the heap of ties, several
Of which he had forced into the guard
where they were wedged like posts of
iron. He enjoyed his own words, and
viewed the work of his mad hands.
sI'll crush the Red Bird" he said, turn
ing away, sand put him out of my path
forever!''
The last words, full of devilish triumph,
still quivered on his lips, when Viola
stepped from the shadows and thrust the
muzzle of her revolver into his face.
"Tbis is your revenge, Morgan Duke"
she said, looking sternly into his eyes.
''Now, obey my commands or there will be
a lifeless body on this track. to be mingled
with the ruins of the lightning expires. To
work at once; off with your coat, and re-
move every obstruction your wicked hands
have placed here"
''The train can't be saved now, +" he said,
and there was joy in his tones. ut took
me one long hour to obsJruct the guard.
In twenty minutes, or less perhaps, you'll
see the Red Birds headlight up the cut. -
"Villainl,, she cried ttif this track is