Osage Valley banner., 1880-04-08

tons that may lead TO an explana-
tom
al ask no explanation" hurriedly
replied, and Immediately took my de-
parture in no very amiable mood, nor
did / wish 20 humble myself sufficiently
TO ask her any questions that might, as
she had suggested, lead 10 a satisfactory
explanation.
What victory pride had won! How
perfect and complete had been its ulu-
mate suncess on beth sidesl
| hurried from the door as / turned
my steps homeward again. Instinct
lively took the usual course in return
ing homo (for Lucy lived nearly a mile
out Of town), and walked along, so busy
with my thoughts as TO be utterly un-
conscious OF any thing and every thing
else. There was high railway bridge
that lay between me and the town, Just
wide enough for the lines, the middle Of
which was planked over for the con
yenience Of pedestrians, as there was no
other bridge over the river for some
miles. Outside the lines il was impossi.
blc 10 walk.
One of the planks, which was very
thick and heavy, had been partly raised
for some purpose, and left in that posi-
ton. In endeayoring 10 pass II, ! struck
my foot against it, stumbled, and in
recovering myself forced one leg through
the aperture, and, striking my other
foot with all the force required to gain
my equilibrium, replaced the plank in
such manner as not only left my foot
protruding through the narrow crack,
but threw me on the line and promised
to present difficulty in removing the
plank.
smiled 10 think how curiously had
been entrappcd, and stopped down 10
! remove the plank and free myself from
so dangerous a position. The task was
not so easily performed rs | had inn
agined. The plank was wedged in in
such manner that no effort Of mine
could remove il. | strove with my ut
most power, but Il was in vain; nor
could / extract my foot, which was
lacerated and smarting with pain in its
close confinement,
At first did not consider the extent
Of my peril, but | soon began TO per-
ceive the danger of my situation; and
! | shuddered with horror TO think that
| should be obliged to remain there and
be- crushed to death by the next train!
| II was a cold day in December, and yet
/ the beaded drops burst from every pore.
| A moment OF frenzied delirium succeed
ed, and when l rallied again
found myself lying on the rail, my foot
| still prisoner, and no prospect of de-
livery.
looked at my watch; It was half past
three. The express would 90 up at
half past five; and at half past four it
would be dark.
1t was possible, nay probable, that
some one would pass BY before IL should
he too late This way was nearer to
the town than by the bridge | have
mentioned, though always regarded as
| more dangerous on account of its mar
rowness, from which there would be no
possibility of escape in case a train
should come in sight while passing over
It.. Already one person had been killed
by endeavoring 10 cross at time when
the train was due; and should be the
second to perish thereP How the
thought tortured me and once again
tugged at the resisting plank. viii
ali my strength tried to withdraw my
foot and leave the boot; but impossi
BILE!
II was four o'clock-in half an hou
Il would be dark-another hour, ant
death would be certain. | shouted fo
aid, but no habnation was within half ;
mile, and no answer was returned 10 M
cries. Again and again shrieked
while the despairing echoes reyerber
ated through the distant wood, n
though they would mock me in my mis-
cry. And then, with all tho accumulate,
strength of madness, | wrenched tn
plank, but could not move IL from il
place. Surely il could not be possibl
that | should be Obliged To sit there ant
be dashed to death, when human ai
was 80 near, Had / been in some iso
! lated forest, some depth Of country
distant from town or cottage, my doom
might have been more certain. Ono
again | shrieked with agonihng fury
, wildly, desperately, the sound OF m
! voice rung out on the chilling air, Will
nothing but the mocking echoes mad
, reply.
The sun had set, and the darknes
was gathering fast over the valley b'
} low. Already the last reddeniug glo'
! OF sunshine was cleaning on the tops {
the forest trees. Mp irreyocable de-
| tiny became every moment more AN
! more apparent.
llarki Is is the trainl No, no.
= stretched forward and listened wit
broathless eagerness There was not
sound to break the silence; | must haN
been deceived, But list A voice,
Q voice Thank heaven!
r Help help! helpl" cried, an
/ each time | shouted the words | seeme,
I in despair, nerved up to greater pow,
= OF speech, and called louder and loud,
+. each time, Did he hear meP The