The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-01-14

and sat down by the stove. Th
conversation among the men for th
first few moment had a local flavor
and needs no mentions. Then i
branched into more importan
theme-the overdue wages. Even th
lovers discussed the matter, and sfte
a few minutes they stopped abruptly
Tears were in the girls eyes, and sh,
turned away and gszed out Of th,
window at the great glowing head
light.
Then one Of the brakemen said:
"And the president ia racing rount
the country in drawing room car
He's coming up the road tonight OF
a special car, and everything has t
give way to his train"
II wish be might get tumbled into
the DITCH" said deep voice, that star
tied them all
"Ob, Samson, how can you say
tbat?" said Mart's tremulous tone.
Because I'm mad Here we can't
=" He stopped, and the girl blushed
scarlet. "The president can make
excursions over the line, and disar.
range the timetables, aud yet we were
two months waiting for our pay |
think"
He stopped and looked toward the
door; a hideous creature stood be.
fore them a tramp, footsore, hungry,
aid homeless, had found the door un-
latched and wandered in, looking for
shelter. The station-master let the
man come in and stand by the stove
to warm himself, for be was very
cold, and the conversation was con-
tinued in whispers.
Suddenly there came the sound of
a distant whistle. The ststion-mss.
ter looked at the switch bar to see
that all was right, and Samson Gill
der rose and said:
That's Williams traio. I'll go
out and wave him friendly light. -
The sound Of the approaching
freight train came nearer, aud the
engineer took the lantern from the
desk and went out. The others fell
into silence as the rumbling train
crcpt past the door. The young
girl stared at the headlight in sor-
rowtul silence. hoping, thinking,
wishing
Taking advantage of the noise the
tramp shuffled away toward the door
just as be reached it he looked hast
lily around the room and then slyly
took up the trackman's bar and van
isbed. His presence had been bur.
den. and they paid no heed to his de
parture A moment after the door
opened and Samson Glider entered
The special is light, boys. We
must be off," be said.
The men reluctantly went out to
their train, and the lovers met to
part at the door. Her eyes were
bright with i'll suppressed tears
at seems so very long to wait
and all for liet,e riOney. %
II know it dear; yet when the
company do pay US we will have all
the more"
Nearer and nearer came the great
yellow star that bad sprung up in
the horizon. From afar came the
long wailing sound of the express
whistle. The lovers heard IL, and
held each tighter clasp The track
before the door began to sing. The
monster came on IN frightful fury. |
Sparks shot up in fountains from its
stack. The ground quivered, the
windows shook
Ah? dispairing scream from the
whistle. An earthquake?
Some one rushed past the girl.
She clasped the door for support.
not knowing what had happened,
aud looked out into the gloomy
night stunned and terrified
There was nothing save a vast
cloud of dust, white and ghostly
All gleam of light. IL shone
through the curtain of dust as it
drifted before the Wind. The was
hurrying footsteps, cries for help,
and groans. The dist disappeared,
and the end of an overturned car
stood out 10 the bright light. The
wreck grew in horid proportions
Ahl it was on fire.
1t is peculiar feature OF Ameri-
can life that new AMI unexpected cir
cumstauces are always met and con-
trolled by a spirit of organization
that creates out of ue men and ma
terials at hand the mastery of events.
In half an hour aftH the first crash,
as the train left he metals, the
frightened passenges were comfort
ably housed in cas- of the freight
train A carload of lumber had
been despoiled TO make seats for the
whole, and beds for the Injured. The
freight train on the siding was used
to drag the wreck away from the up
line, aud it's tank vater and steam
had been used TO ,ut out the fire.
In an hour the feight engine, in
charge of the express people, started
away with its dreay load, the well
to the forward cars the injured on
beds of hay robbed from the freight
in the next cars, tb, dead in the last
of all.
Darkness and silence fell on the
lonely way station, aud save where
the black wreck lhed it's mangled
bones against the sky, there was 4
nothing TO mark ue disaster except 1
the pale faces Of te men who gath {
cred around the stSe 10 the switch
house. For longtime nothing was
said. There are lines when speak
ing is imperteneni Events become I
too big for word, At last one of 1
the men spoke. ans said; I
"The did say itwere the president
who was killed inlhe forward sleep j
er."
Mary Rriltoa danced at Samson
Glider lie was silent and self-ab.
sorbed. and bib fee gave no indics-
ton thai be h,edd this remark. At
that moment ne door opened, and
Jack Clnder eme in bringing 10 bis
hand new tra&-layer's bar. He
brought it Il the light and held it
before them 81.
DO you sc that boys? found it
under the Token sleeper. It's q
new bar, anE"
TIE men looked at the bar for q
moment in pparent indifference, and
aa;d no,bint The boaaar fanan;co