The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-06-25

such manner that no effort of mine
could remove it. | strove with my ut
most power, but it was i'll vain nor
could / eXtricate my foot, which was
lacerated and smarting with pain in its
close confinement.
At first L did not consider the extent
OF my peril, but L soon began to per
ceive the danger of my situation; and |
shuddered with honor to think that |
should be obliged to remain there and
be crushed to death by the next train
1t was n cold day in December, and yet
the beaded drops burst from every pore.
A moment of frenzied delirium succeed
ed, and when / rallied again found my
self lying ON the rail, my foot still
prisoner, and no prospect of delivery.
looked at my watch it was half-past
3. The express would go up mt half-past
and mt half-past 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
III sight while passing over it. Already
one person had been killed by endeavor-
ing TO cross at time when the train was
due F.; and should be the second to per-
ish there? How the thought tortured
me, and once again | tugged at the re-
sisting plank. With all my strength |
tried to withdraw my foot and leave the
boot but impossible
"a A 5. Il LIZ
would be dark-another hour, and death
would be certain. | shouted for add but
no habitation was within half a mile, and
no answer was returned TO my cries.
Again and again | shrieked, while the
despairing echoes reverberated through
the distant wood, rs though they would
mock me III my misery. And then, with
all the accumulated strength of mad
ness, | 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 / been in some isolated forest, some
depth of country, distant from town or
cottage, my doom might have been more
certain. Once again / shrieked with
agonizing fury; wildly, desperately, the
sound of my voice rang out on the chill
ing air. while nothing but the hooking
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 irevocable destiny be-
came every moment more and more APP
parent.
Hank ! 1t is the train. No, no ! /
stretched forward, and listened with
breathlcss eagerness. There was not Il
sound TO break the silence; / must have
been deceived. But list A voice, II
/ voice Thank Heaven
"Help help help!" l 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, but, oh, how
my blood leaped with JOY at the sound |!
Again L called with all the strength of
my lungs, and again | was answered In
little while figure appeared advanc-
| ing toward me, but it was growing all
ready so dark / could not recognize him,
nor did l 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:
Us that you, Mr. Worthington :?
Bless me, are you hurt ?"
"No, thank you, not much hurt.
replied " but see, L am so nicely trapped
here that l could not free myself alone,
and 1 think it is nearly time for the ex-
press train to be due.
1t was growing dark very fast so
dark, indeed, was it that / found it i'm
possible to discover what time it was by
my watch He never hesitated a 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 he due. Would there be
time to go for assistance--to bring an
AK and liberate my foot? He would try.
" For Heavens sake, Mr.. Wesley"
said !, as he started to go, abe expe-
ditious. 1t is too terrible to be obliged
TO sit here and face death unwillingly."
I was alone again. The winds sighed
mournfully about me, but L felt relief.
| even forgot my danger, and turned
my attention once more to the thoughts
with which l 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, l had no assrr-
ance that he had time to go to Mr..
Ames' and return before it would be too
late. Another thought rushed through
my frantic brain. Had he deceived me
Would he not be only too happy in be-
ing thus easily rid of my unwelcome
presence? L felt he never would come
to me again--he would leave me to the
mercy of such cruel death. Heavens I
there is no installing that sound-the
whistle at the Forest station, only five
miles distant