Osage Valley banner., 1880-04-08


was no answer all was still. Oh, mer-
ciful Heaven vas this last chance for
life denied met
"Hallo-ool shouted some one.
The voice WIZ distant, but, oh, how
my blood leapcg with JOY at the sound
Again | called with all the strength
of my lungs, aid againI was answered.
In little whilt . figure appeared ad-
vanuing toward me, but rs Il was grow
ing already sodsrk, could not recog-
nize him, nof siisl care to do so; but
when he came lose 10 me, one glance
showed me il IS Arthur Wesley.
Should 4 ~ u pass by. or ask him
20 assist me Nould he do soP AS he
approached he asked
"a Is that you, Mr.. WorthingtonP
Bless nae, are you hurt9'
No, thank you, | am not much hurt, v
| replied "but soc, / am so nicely
trapped here that can not free myself
alone, and think it is nearly time for
! the express train TO be duen
! twas growing dark very fast so dark,
| indeed, was II that found it impossible
TO discover what time il was by my
watch. lie never hesitated moment,
/ but seized the detested plank with both
| hands, and at the same instant | also
initiated his movements. The accursed
| thing resisted all our efforts, and re-
manned obstinately immoyable. 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 libcrate my foot? He would
| try.
+" For Heavens sake, SIr. Wesley"
said /, as he started to 90, "be eXpedi-
| ;iOus. Il is too horrible 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 my
attention once more to the thoughts
with which had been occupied when
had unwittingly stumbled into my pres
ent difficulty.
Nevertheless / was apprehensive that
he might be delayed until the train
should pass. In fact, had no assur-
ance that he had time TO 90 90 Mr.
| Ames' and return before il would be
too late. Another thought rushed
through my frantic brain. Had he de-
ceiyed me? Would he not be only too
happy in being thus easily rid Of my
presence9 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 souud-the
whistle at the Forest Station, only five
miles Distant
How well do remember the thoughts
that passed through my mind as pa.
tiently awaited the return of Arthur
Wesley; for, although had every rea-
son 10 believe he would not come, still
instinctively awaited him, and hoped
oh, how / hoped he would return
Nearly two hours had sat there, and
now / was still waiting and vibrating
between the hope of delivery and the
almost certain conviction of destruction.
The fearful chill of despair was creep
ing over me; my trembling limbs al
ready announced that my nerves were
sinking in exhaustion At every mo.
ment | kept watch for his returning
footsteps, but no welcome sound fell on
my ear.
clark II is the train! The low, dis,
tant thunder can not deceive me now
II win be here in a few minutes.
Helpl helplM | cried,
The wailing cry faded away, and there
was no answer. Louder and louder
came the thunder; nearer and nearer
: came the train. Tho rising moon dis
= closed 10 me the white column of smoke
and steam, rising above the hill beyonC
r the curve; and now the regularly beat
ing puff and cough Of the engine strucl
r my ear, like the gleating chuckle o
0 some terrible monster regarding hi
! victim. How like frenzy the though
came on me that il was now too late 70
= assistancol No human being wOul,
5 venture on the bridge when the trail
- was within hearing distance, when
i was too dark To distinguish objects il
c time 10 stop the impemous fire-horse
: and yet, furious and frantic at tn
G thought of such death, stretched m
4 trembling limbs 20 their utmost, an
d shrieked again aud again until grey
= hoarse, and the laundering trai
Z, drowned the feeble efforts of my voice
u And now delirium seized me. | fancie
e some giant fiond held down the plan
F; which vainly tried to wrench from II
y firm posilon--l could hear the chuGkl
e of satisfaction that it gave 10 think
Il had me there safely in its power.
The loud roar that now reached m
IS ear announced that the train had strlC
D. the bridge-then came an end 10 hof
" no power could avert the death thi
II stared ne in the facel For an instant
3 saw countless demons lowering throup
d the air. made a superhuman effort
move my body on the line, fire an
i smoke enyeloped me there was n crus
h ing blow, conyulsion, dim recolle
a tion OF keen pains shooting through N
'e imprisoned limb, aud all was darkness
n knew no more.
d When returned again to consciou