The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-08-26

most power, but 1t was in vain nor
could I extricate my foot, which was
lacerated and smarting with pain in its
close confinement.
At first / did not consider the extent
of my peril, but I soon began to per
ceive the danger Of my situation and |
shuddered with honor 10 think that /
should be obliged to remain there and
be crushed to death by the next train
1t was cold day in December, and yet
the beaded drops burst from every pore.
! A moment of frenzied delirium succ ,ed-
ed, and when rallied again I found NY
self lying on the rail, my foot still
prisoner, and no prospect Of delivery
| Hooked at my watch it was half-past
8. The express would go up at half.past
5; and at half-past 4 it would be dark.
1t was possible, nay probable, that
some one would pass by before it should
be too late. This way was nearer to
the town than by the bridge ! have men-
toned, though always regarded as more
dangerous on account of its narrowness,
from which there would be no possibili-
ty Of escape in case train should come
in sight while passing over it. Already
one person had been killed by endeavor-
ing to cross at time when the train was
due; and should I be the second to per-
ish there? How the thought"tortured
me, and once again I tugged at the re-
sisting plank. With all my strength l
tried to withdraw my foot and leave the
boot; but impossible!
1t was 4 o'clock-In half an hour it
would be dark-another hour, and death
would be certain. shouted for aid, but
no habitation was within half a mile, and
no answer was returned to my cries.
Again and again l shrieked, while the
despairing echoes reverberated through
the distant wood, as though they would
mock me in my misery. And then, with
all the accumulated strength of mad
ness, I wrenched the plank, but could
not move it from its place. Surely it
could not be possible that should be
obliged to sit there and be crushed to
death, when human aid was so near.
Had l been in some isolated forest, some
depth of country, distant from town Or
cottage, my doom might have been more
certain. Once again I shrieked with
agonlzing fury; wildly, desperately, the
soun, of my voice rang out on the chill
ing air while nothing but the mocking
echoes made reply.
The sun had set, and the darkness was
gathering fast over the valley below.
Already the last reddening glow Of sun
shine was cleaning on the tops of the
! forest trees. My irrevocable destiny be-
came every moment more and more ap-
parent.
Hark It is the train. No, no ! I
stretched forward, and listened with
breathless eagerness. There was not
sound to break the silence; L must have
been deceived. But list A voice, a
voice !! Thank Heaven
"Help help help!" I cried, and
each time shouted the words | seemed,
in despair, nerved up to greater power
of speech, and called louder and louder
each time. Did he hear me ? There
was no answer-all was still. Oh, merci-
full Heaven ! was this last chance for
life denied me?
"Hall-oo !" shouted some one.
The voice was distant, hut, oh, how
my blood leaped with joy at the sound !
Again called with all the strength of
my lungs, and again Twas answered. In
little while a figure appeared advanc-
ing toward me, but it was growing all
ready so dark I could not recognize him,
nor did I care TO do so but when he
came close to me, one glance showed
me it was Arthur Wesley.
Should l let him pass by, nor ask him
to assist me? Would he do SO? As he
approached he asked:
els that you, Mr.. Worthington !?
Bless me, are you hurt ?"
ono, thank you, not much hurt" |
replied " but see, 1 am so nicely trapped
here that could not free myself alone,
and I think it is nearly time for the ex-
press train to be DUE"
1t was growing dark very fast; so
dark, indeed, was il that found 1t i'm
possible to discover what time it was by
my watch. He never hesitated mo-
ment, but seized the detested plank with
both hands, and at the same instant /
also initiated his movements. The ac-
cursed thing resisted all our efforts, and
remained obstinately immovable. What
could be done? In half an hour the
train would be due. Would there be
time to 90 for assistance-to bring an
Ak and liberate my foot? He would try.
"For Heavens sake, Mr.. Wesley"
said I, as he started to 60, "be expe-
ditious. It is too terrible to be obliged
to sit here and face death unwillingly."
was alone again. The winds sighed
mournfully about me, but felt relief.
even forgot my danger, and turned
nv attention once more to the thoughts
with which l had been occupied when i
had unwittingly stumbled into my pres
ent difficulty.
Nevertheless I was apprehensive that
he might be delayed until the train
should pass. In fact, 1 had no assur-
ance that he had time to go to MIR.
Ames' and return before it would be too
late. Another thought rushed through
nv frantic brain. Had he deceived me !!
Would he not be only too happy in be-
ing thus easily rid Of my unwelcome
presence7 felt he never would come
TO me again-he would leave me to the
mercy Of such cruel death. Heavens
there is no mistaking that sound-the
whistle at the Forest station, only five
miles distant
How well do I remember the thoughts
that passed through my mind as pa
tiently awaited the return of Arthur
Wesley; for, although I had every rea-
son to believe he would not come, still
instinctively awaited him, and hoped,
oh, how I hoped he would return
Nearly two hours had I sat there, and
now 1 was still waiting and vibrating be.
tween the hope of delivery and the al
most-certain conviction Of destruction
The fearful chill Of despair was creep
ing over me; my trembling limbs al.
ready announced that my nerves were