The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-01-15

HfAAf sAa - papa Nu9 AA1 w. ~es@N w
from lhe ofiee, would lblnk to take one
over to ths station.
A few minutes sfssFWard QaiE arose
aud slipped quietly out Of The loom, bat
VIC thought nothing Of Il. ior she was n
the habit Of slipping away Wilhoat saying
anything, and We eoneladed THAI she bad
either gone 10 the Kitchen TO BIddy, or
else bad gone 10 her own room.
sbe bad done neither, however. Step
ping quietly iaIo the ball, she bad hfss
pot on ber thick waterproof aud rnbber's
then lighted Fred's lantern, taking bis
overcoai from the nAih aud went softly
out OF the front door iulo the driving
storm.
The wind almost blew her over, Asd
the rain beat on her face; bat she on y
tossed her head dsfiaDtiy, and whispered;
The elements cannot beat me ! know
them they obeyed my voice once. Just
then the wind caught up her cape aud
blew II over her head in such 3 manner
that she could not see where TO step, and
and she stumbled against the fence aud
slmost fell.
The ssucy win twisted aud pulled at
her clothing, the rain beat into her face,
aud The thunder rumbed and roared On
every hand,
But Quiz didn't care. She struggled
bravely on until she reached disused
she'd near the bridge which she won a
have 10 cross on her way TO the depot.
Here sbe paused moment, partially
sheltered from the storm, 20 regain her
breath before attempting the highly ex-
posed bridge.
The village streets were deserted, for
no one would venture out 10 sucha storm
unless urgent business called him, yet
Quiz heard voices quite near her.
She was frightened at 6rst, but listen
ing moment and fading they came from
the shed against which she was leaning,
she was about TO hurry on when sen
tence attracted her attention, and she stood
still aud listened.
But, jim, the whole train will 90 to
smash.
Don't keerl guess it'll teach 'em not to
discharge fellow like fur nothin'. You
see johnson, the engineer, and Hinkley,
the conductor, are ones that reported me.
The bridge is turned now anyway, Corey
aud Kemph, the bridge-tenders, are dead
drunk, and there's nothing for you and
but to skulk, and see 'em all go TO Satan.
4 The bridge turned Quiz's heart gave a
great jump, and then sank like lead; her
head grew dizzy, and she was obliged to
lean hard against the wall TO keep from
falling.
Then she stepped cautiously around the
corner OF the shed, and with beating
heart looked down the river. A flash of
lightning showed her The railroad bridge
turned, and the dark river rolling be-
tween 1t and the bank where the express
train would soon appear. Ia imagina-
tion she saw the train plunge down the
bank, followed one after another by the
cars loaded with passengers unaware of
approaching death.
She heard the shrieks of the poor
victims as they were buried in the crash
and the groans of the dying as they sirug-
gled 10 the waves or lay gasping near the
ruins.
Then she covered her face with her
hand to shat ont the vision and thought
could she save themi But how7 What
should she do? Go back home? There
were noue but helpless women there.
Hurry on 10 tell papa7 Il would then be
too late.
must save them myself, she whispered
and shutting her lips tight, grasping har
lantern firmly she dashed down q cross
street In the direction OF the railroad
track
Then she remembered that Fred, one
day 10 explaining to her about 10 Dmen.
tum, had told her that The engine could
not stop on the down grade on this eide
of the river, but that 1t was necessary, 10
order TO do so, TO go back from the river
about a mile and halt to where the de.
scent first began, near the curve.
To save time she decided TO go across
lots. The storm increased but Qniz never
paused moment; over fences, through
brisrs, across bitches, into mud and mire
aukle deep, she staggered along, holding
close to the lantern on which all her
hopes depended.
Once she fell down and hurt her side,
but she scrambled up and hurried on,
never needing the pain. at last she
neared The track and saw the bead light
of the locomotive rounding the curve.
She tossed of ber CLOAK, which impeded
her progress, and with redoublcd energy
pushed on. Nearer and nearer came the
locomotive aud fainter came her
brealh--she was growing weak-she
stumbled over 9 tione-when she arose
the locomotive was almost opposite her
she gathered all her strength and reached
the side Of The track on time with the en-
, gise; she SWING her lantern above her
bead and shouled with All her might:
The bridge Is iurbedl
The train whizzed past her aud she fell
. fainting 10 the grounf.
When she came to beraelf she was ly-
. ing on the damp ground with seat eush-
! ion under her head, and number oi
gentlemen standing aroand ber.
Are they ell killed asked Qaiz, with s
} shudder.
: No; thanks 10 you, my brave girl, we