The daily gazette., 1880-05-14
The Railroad Bridge.
BY M. l.. 8.

About three years ago, my sailor
friend, Harry Moordale, went as pas
senger in the ship Tempest, bound tc
Harve, at which port he arrived in due
course of time.
Among other passengers there was
beautiful Swiss girl, whose name Har.
ry learned was Mary Lorme. Her ster
was like roe's. her teeth were a.
white as the rim Of daisy, her voice
resembled the tinkling of silver bell.
and she had purple black hair, that
fell in ripping masses below her
waist.
My friend had ventured once or twice
to address the maiden, and her timid,
modest, half frightened manner seem.
ed to repel an intimate acquaintance.
She had informed the young man, how
ever, that she had been to New York
to assist female cousin engaged in
the dry goods business; that soon after
her arrival there, her relative died,
largely in debt, whereupon Mary had
concluded to return home to her faith
er, who, in spite of a severe illness,
had in accordance with an agreement
by letter, come to Dion with the old
family coach to wait for her.
Having learned this much, Harry
took great interest in the girl, and
felt almost bound to the act the knight
for one in her lonely, defenseless con-
dition.
When the boat-which, among 9TH
e. passengers, contained her and him
struck the landing, Harry politely
offered to carry the fair ones carpet
bag, which, containing, besides her
clothing, such articles as fower-lines,
lines for hosiery, etc., etc., was very
heavy.
She thanked him with her usual
sweet smile just raising the long lashes
of her soft eyes, revealing both orbs
glistening like diamonds.
He took the bag, and the young
couple entered the diligence which
was to carry them to Paris.
There they finally arrived, ten min
utes too late for that days train. The
travellers were informed, however, that
there was another train at station fif-
teen miles distant, preparing to start
in five hours.
"Is there no conveyance to the placer
queried Harry.
He was answered in the negative
by the polite oficial.
"I must go on !" exclaimed Mary
"My father, am afraid, is very sick.
/ must see him as soon as | can"
"Fifteen miles is long distance to
walk" said Harry.
"Not for me" answered MAJ y, ,smil-
ing. "The Swiss, you know, are great
walkers. l have been brought up to
1t almost from infancy"
AS her soft, pleading eyes seemed to
say, "You must go with me-" Harry
could not resist the appeal.
They started, moving along the rail-
road, for there was no other way
Whenever they came to log or rut,
Harry would extend his hand and as
sist his pretty companion, when, with
a smile and shake of the head, she
would leap over the obstruction as
nimbly as fawn.
They had proceeded ten miles, when
they saw the sun go down behind
range of blue hills in the distance
The two were moving along a high
ldibCo hpOh bpliC6 dUOuJ TWO
hundred feet from the earth, which
beneath it, was rocky and inundated
here and there by toaming torrents.
Ahead of them the travellers per-
ceived that for distance of about one
hundred yards there were no cross
planks between the rails Therefore.
in order to traverse this space, Mary
and her companion must walk upon
the track. Unfortunately, the track
was not very broad, yet a person of
steady balance, capable of maintaining
his self-possession, in spite of the
yawning abyss on each side of him,
might occasionally derive support from
the beam projecting outward several
inches beyond each side of the track,
which was riveted upon it.
Frail support this, however, with
those jagged rocks, two hundred feet
below, ready to receive the unfortunate
adventurer who should make the slight
est misstep.
Harry paused, looked at his fair
friend, and shuddered.
owe had better turn about" said
he.
care you afraid ?" she softly inquir.
ed. Then, as his cheek glowed hotly
-"for my sake, mean |"
"For your sake Yes"
Mary smiled.
81 have been on the Alps" she said,
"following those who hunted on lev
ruins of precipices for the chamois.
Therefore why should shrink now,,,
Still Harry hesitated. A rail was
different from the edge of a precipice,
and the young man fancied he could
already hear Mary's piercing Shrek
could already see her form cleavlng the
air headlong toward those dangerous
rocks beneath.
Meanwhile twilight was gathering; tie
crimson hues on the sky were melting
away in shadows. The travellers, If in.
tending to attempt the perilous crossing
had better do so now while light enough |
remained.
30 said Mary, and her glance was firm
her cheek unblanched as she spoke.
"Iet me go alone," she continued:
"then, il anything should happen to me, |
You will not feel responsible. Go how
ever, must, for perhaps my flther lies
diving. If SO, | will see him before he |
breathes his lastp'
"Come, then," said Harry. "Keep
hold of my jacket to support yourself as
we 20. Ii should stumble, however, do