The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-03-25

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The loud roar that now reached my
ear announced that the train had struck
the bridge--tlien came an end
to hopc--no power could avert
the death that stared me in
the face! For an instant saw count
less demons lowering through the air.
made superhuman effort to move my
body on the line. fire and smoke envel-
oped me-there was crushing blow,
a convulsion, a dim recollection of
keen pains shooting through my impris-
oned limb, and all was darkness. I
knew no more.
When returned again to conscious
ness l was lying on an easy couch, in q
room dimly lighted. but neatly and
tidily furnished. While wondering
where. was, and trying to recall what
had passed, the door was slowly opened,
and Lucy Ames entered the room. In
q moment she was by my bedside,
watching the motions and the express
sions of my countenance, doubtless inn
agining that was still delirious.
Lucy-Miss Ames?' said.
She started back rs I uttered the
name, as though unwilling that should
discover her real thoughts; but, in q
moment recovering all self-possession,
she looked calmly toward me, and
asked, with tone of affected indiffer-
ence:
"Do you feel easier now?'
"Indeed, scarcely know how I do
feel" replied, "but there is pain
and soreness in my head, and, in fact,
in all my limbs. 1 must have been bad
ly hurt" .....
had dim recollection of the occur
renee above nar1 ated, and 1 felt sur
prised that should have awakened to
life. The pain which l felt, on regain
ing my reason, increased now moment
arily. A physician was at hand, and
every effort was made by him, as well
as the members of Mr.. Ames' family,
Tin whose house 1 was then lying), in
which also Lucy and Mr.. Wesley joined,
to alleviate my sutferings.
In spite of all their attentions my
pains rapidly augmented, and in short
time l was again lost in the unconscious
delirium of fever. In my vague dream
ings was again on the narrow bridge.
bending every effort. and straining
every nerve, to remove the piece of wood
that bound me there. Again l was
chained to the huge rock. in which un-
conscious laborers were drilling holes
which they filled with powder to blow
the unseemly mass to atoms. Fiends,
shapeless and hideous, flew about me,
chattering in glee-demOns danced on
the sharp edges of the rock, chuckling
again like the measured puff of the en-
CINE; and at intervals they stopped to
bind the chains closer, until the links
festered into the very flesh, and turned
my blood to gall with the poison in
which they had been dipped. Caverns
yawned on every side to receive me.
All at once was heard the long shrill
whistle of the engine, and voices, that
seemed the very agony of despair,
screamed on every side, 1.-THE train!
the trainr'
But all this passed away. was well
again. and could walk about the house
with the aid of a crutch, for had left
one foot suspended in the bridge where
| had so miraculously escaped death.
Lucy had treasured me of her love; not
indeed by words, but by her actions.
Long and patiently had she watched by
my side; and to her more than any other
do owe the preservation of my life.
No words had passed between us in re-
lation to the subject which had so nearly
separated us, yet there seemed to be q
tacit acknowledgment of the error on
my part, and a cheerful forgiveness on
ha.ry Rp,f law Vr,l,n oIo~
to be alone, l required to the folly
of which I had been guilty, and more
formally asked her forgiveness.
Freely do forgive you." she said,
eff, indeed, you have been guilty of
any act which would seem to require
it. You doubtless acted according to
your earnest inclination, which would
not wish to oppose. supposed your
only object was to secure the hand of
another, in leaving me, and that -"
Lucy, Lucy!' exclaimed, cit was
not SOL was mad; was fool! l
believed too rashly, but now I believe
nothing; I will not even credit what l
see. But tell me, Lucy, how it hap
pened that on one or two occasions,
after excusing yourself from accompa-
nyiDg me to an evenings visit or party,
| should afterward meet you return
ing home in company with Mr.. Wes-
ley?"
"Still jealous, see," said Lucy.
No, no." l replied; "but-'
Listen, them" she said, inter rupt-
ing me, ''and [ will explain all. which I
might have done sooner had you re-
quested it. Twas anxious to improve
my singing, and as this was probably
the only opportunity should ever have,
l had engaged to take private lessons
of Mr.. Wesley. l did not think it
necessary to tell every one why l was
so often seen in the company of that
gentleman, who, must assure you, is
not only a very amiable young man, but
is engaged to my cousin, with whom no
inducement could cause him to break
his compact"
'But why did he delay so long to
come to my assistance, when I was
about to be crushed by the train?"
"He did, indeed, make all the haste
in his power" replied Lucy; ''but in
company with her brother, arrived q
moment too late, when it would have
been madness to have gone on the
bridge. In the dim light they saw you
fall into the water, which, fortunately,
was deep and rapid, and consequently
free from ice. They fastened to the
bank of the stream, and in q few mo-
ments succeeded in rescuing you from
this second danger, and bore you to the
house." hn III.
Friends, thank God; all friendsr'
could not help uttering, after listening
to Lucy's explanation of all that had
TRANSFERRED. was happy again, though
MANNED for life, fact which Lucy gem
erously seemed to quite overlook, as
she did not hesitate to become Mrs.
Worthingt IN in less than a month after
my perfect convalescence.-Loconotiv
Ftreme'ss Magazine.
A Conscientious Man.
An affecting and novel incident was
presented in connection with the recent