Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-01-05
But it was Fred who held complete

D
draw pictures and write letters when
she came to 60 to school it was to him
she confded all trials and triumphs, and
to him she went for aid and. assistance
in managing hard sums, and so We call
ed her Fred's protegee.
When she first went to school, Fred
gave her the name of Orphania, and the
children called her Orphie, but she re-
tanned her habit of asking questions
about everything, and SO. partly for fun
and partly because the name suited her,
we continued to call her Quiz. and thus
things went on until she was twelve
years of age and Fred was twenty.
One day Fred went to the city on
business for papa, and we did not ex-
pect him home until the o'clock ex-
press came in the evening. Toward
night, there came up furious storm, it
thundered and lightened, the wind blew
and ratified the window easements, while
at times the rain fell in torrents. AS
we were all seated around the evening
lamp with our work and studies, mamma
shivered and wondered if Fred had an
overcoat with him, and if papa, who had
not come up from the office, would
think to take one over to the station.
A few minutes afterward Quiz arose
and slipped quietly out of the room, but
We thought nothing of it, for she was in
the habit of slipping away without say
ing anything, and we concluded that she
had either gone to the kitchen to Biddy,
or else had gone to her own room.
She had done neither, however. Step
ping quietly into the hall, she had first
put on her thick waterproof and rub
ber's, then lighted Fred's lantern, tax
ing his overcoat from the nail, and went
softly out of the front door into the
driving storm.
The wind almost blew her over, and
the rain beat on her face; but she only
tossed her head defantly, and whisper
ed:
"The elements cannot beat me; |
know them; they obeyed my voice once. "
Just then the wind caught up her cape
and blew it over her head in such a
manner that she could not see where to
step, and she stumbled against the
fence and almost fell.
The saucy wind twisted and pulled at
her clothing, the rain beat into her face,
and the thunder rumbled and roared on
every hand.
But Quiz didn't care. She struggled
bravely on until she reached an old dis
used shed near the bridge which she
would have to cross on her way to the
depot. Here she paused moment,
partially sheltered from the storm, to
regain her breath before attempting the
highly exposed bridge.
The village streets were deserted. for
no one would venture out in such a
storm unless urgent business called him,
yet Quiz heard voices quite near her.
She was frightened at first, but listen
ing moment and finding that they came
from the shed against which she was
leaning, she was about to hurry on when
sentence attracted her attention, and
stood still and listened.
"But, Jim, the hull train will 60 tt
smash
"Don't keer guess it'll teach 'em mo-
to discharge feller like fur nothin'
You see Johnson, the engineer. and Hink
ley, the conductor, are the ones that re
ported me. The bridge is turned nov
anyhow, Corey and kemph, the bridge
tenders, are dead drunk, and there
nothing for you and l but to skulk, ane
see 'em all 60 to Satan"
The bridge turned Quiz's heart CAV
a great jump, and then sank like lead
her head grew dizzy, aud she was oblig
ed to lean hard against the wall to keel
from falling.
Then she stepped cautiously aroune
the corner of the shed, and with beatin,
heard looked down the river. A Aasl
Of lightning showed her the railroat
bridge turned, and the dark river rollin,
between it and the bank where tn
express train would soon appear. Il
imagination she saw the locomotiv
plunge down the bank. followed one af
ter another by the cars loaded with pas
sengers unaware of approaching death.
She heard the shrieks of the poo
victims as they were buried in the crash
and the groans of the dying as the.
struggled in the waves or lay gaspin
near the ruins.
Then she covered her face with he
hand to shut out the vision and though
could she save them ? But how? Wha
should she do? Go back home Their
were none but helpless women there
Hurry on to tell papa? 1t would the
be too late.
Il must save them myself" sh
whispered, and shutting her lips tight
grasping her lantern firmly she dashe
down cross street in the direction {
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