Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-01-21
,efore attempting the highly exposed

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 listening
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 she stood still
and listened.
But. Jim, the hull train will 60 to
smash"
Don't keer guess it'll teach 'em not
to discharge a fellow like fur nothin'.
You see, johnson, the engineer. and
Hinkley, the conductor, are the ones that
reported me. The bridge is turned now
anyhow, Corey and Kemph, the bridge
tenders, are dead drunk, and there's
nothing for you and | but to skulk, and
see 'em all 60 TO Satan"
The bridge turned! Quiz's heart gave
great Jump, and then sank like lead !;
her head grew dizzy, and she was obliged
10 lean hard against the wall TO keep from
falling.
1UGu SIG SltDptN ClulFJuoll
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 between
it and the bank where the express train
would soon appear. In imagination sue
saw the locomotive plunge down the bank,
followed one after another by the cars
loaded with passengers unaware of ap-
preaching death.
She heard the shricks of the poor vic
tins as they were buried in the crash. and
the groans OF the dying as they struggled
in the waves or lay gasping near the ruins.
Then she covered her face with her
hand to shut out the vision and thought,
Could she save them? But how? What
could she do? Go back home? There
were none but helpless "omen there.
Hurry on to tell papa? 1t would then be
too late.
Il must save them myself" she whis-
pered, and shutting her lips tight, grasp
ing her lantern firmly she dashed down
cross street in the direction of the railroad
track.
Then she remembered that Fred, one
day, in explaining to her about momen-
luLD, Iliu lUlu lltl tIdI lut Guy COulu
not stop on the down grade on this side of
the river, but that it was necessary, in
order to do SO, 10 90 back from the river
about mile and half to where the de-
scent first began, near the curve.
To save time she decided to 90 across
lots. The storm increased, but Quiz never
paused moment; over fences, through
brlars, across bitches, into mud and mire
ankle deep, she staggered along, holding
close to the lantern upon which 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 headlight of
the locomotive rounding the curve.
She tossed off her cloak, which impeded
her progress, and with redoubled energy
pushed on. Nearer and nearer came the
locomotive-fainter and fainter came her
breath-she was growing weak-she
stumbled over stone-when she arose
the locomotive was almost opposite her
sne gathered all her strength and reached
the side of the track on time with the
engine; she swung her lantern above her
head and shouted with all her might:
"The bridge is turned"
The train whizzed past her and she fell
faintng 10 the ground.