The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-12-29

no habitstion was within half q mile, and |
no answer was returned to my cries. |
Again and again 1 shrieked, while the
despairing echoes reverberated through |
the distant wood, as though they would
mock me in my misery. And then, with
ali the accumulated strength of mad
ness. I wrenched the plank, but could
not move it from its place. Surely it
could moi be possible that I 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. nv doom might have been more
certain. Once again I shrieked with
agonlzing fury, wildly, desperately, the
SCUM, of my voice rang out on the chilli
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. Ny irrevocabls destiny be-
came every moment moro and more ap-
parent.
Hank It Is the train. No, no I
stretched forward, and listened with
breathless eagerness. There was not o
sound to break the silence must hsvo
been deceived. But list A voice, .
voice Thank Heaveni
"Help helpl helpl" I cried, and
each time / shouted the words 1 seemed,
in despair, nerved up to greater power
of speech, and called louder and louder
each time. Did he hear me 2 There
was no ansver-all was still. Oh, merci-
ful Heaven vas 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 I called with all the strength OF
nv lungs, and again / was answered In
a little while figure appeared advanc-
ing toward me, but it was growing all
ready so dark could not recognize him,
nor did I care to do SO; but when he
came close to me, one glance showed
me it WAS Arthur Wesley.
Should 1 let him pass by, nor ask him
to assist me? Would he do SO? As he
approached he asked
dis that you, Mr.. Worthington
Bless me, are you hurtf"
HEo, thank you, not much hurt. !
replied; but see, am so nicely trapped
here that could not free myself alone,
and think it is nearly time for the ez-
| press train 70 De Que.
It was growing dark very fast so
dark, indeed, was it that I found 1t I'M
possible to discover what time it was by
my watch. He never hesltated mo
| ment, but seized the detested plank with
both hands, and at tho same instant /
also initiated his movements. The ac-
cursed thing resisted all our efforts, and
remained obstinately immoYable. What
/ r. LII lnI1Y fha
train would be due. Would there be
time to go for assistsnce-to bring an
AZ and liberate my foot? He would try.
"For Heavens sake, Mr.. Wesley,
said [, IS he started to go, "he expe,
ditious. It is too terrible to be obliged
to sit here and face death unwillingly. y
I was alone again. The winds sighed
mournfully about me, but 1 felt relief.
I even forgot my danger, and turned
nv attention once more to the thoughts
with which I had been occupied when
had unwittingly stumbled into my pres
emit difficulty.
Nevertheless I was apprehens1Ve thai
he might be delayed until the tralI
should pass. In fact, I had no assur
ance that he had time to go to MIR
Ames' and return before it would be tot
late. Another thought rushed through
nv frantic brain. Had he deceived me
Would he not be only too happy in be
ing thus easily rid of my unwelcom
presenceP I felt he never would COM
to me aoain-he would leave me to tn
mercy OF such a cruel death. Heavens
there is no installing that sound-th
whistle at the Forest station, only nv
miles distant
How well do Remember the thought
that passed through my mind as pa
tiently awaited the return of Arthu
Wesley; for, although had every rea
son to believe he would not come, still
! instinctively awaited him, and hoped
oh. how I hoped he would return
Nearly two hours had sat there, an
now was still waiting and vibrating bt
tween ths hope of delivery and the a
most-certain conviction of destruction
i The fearful chill of despair YVES oreeI
, ing over me my trembling limbs
: ready announced that my nerves wei
= sinking in exhaustion. At every m'
ment I kept watch for his returnin
7 footsteps, but no welcome sound fell @
= nay ear. !.
T Rark it is the train The low, Oh
Y tant thunder cannot deceive me now.
s will be here in few minutes.
y d" Help help !! cried.
The wailing cry faded away, al
' there was no answer. Louder al
+ louder came the thunder; nearer al
nearer came the train. The riaog moo
a disclosed to me the white column
- smoke and steam, rising above the h
beyond the curve and now the regula
2 ~ beating puff and cough OF the engh
= struck my ear, like the gloating chuck
- Aorr,1N1a vnnnctAr TarrarIlnR Il
= victim. How like frenzy the thong
!: came on me that it was now too late
= assistance No human being won
e venture on the bridge when the ira
- was within hearing distance. when
WAS too dark to distinguish objects
" time to stop the impetuous tire-hort
70 and yet, furious and frantic as t
l. Thought of such death, [ stretched 4
trembling limbs to their utmost,
= sbrieked again and again until gr'
"a Loarse and the laundering trs
l. drowned the feeble efforts of my Volt
4 And now delirium seized me. l fancl
some giant fond held down the pla
= which 1 vainly tried to wrench from
y firm position-I could hear the chucl
70 of satisfaction that it gave to think
=, had me there so safely In its power.
" The loud roar that now reached
ear announced that the train had SIT
- the bridge-thers came an end 70 nc
o no power could avert the death Z
> stared me in the face For an instan
ia saw countless demons lowering throu
70 the air. 1 made superhuman effort
IN move my body OF the the line, nre
as smoke enveloped me-there was
E crushing blow, convulsion, a Z
IN recollection Oh keen pains shoot
ne through my imprisoned limb, and
III was darkness. knew no more.
or
as When I returned again to console
It's ness was lying ON an easy couch, 4,
room dinly lighted, but neatly and tt
Mt furnished While wondering vhsr
ar was. and trying to recall what
/ / passed. the door was slowly cPoped.
l f,ucv Amos entered the room In
nd mont she was by my bedside, Vstoh
n tbe motions and the expressions OF
ret countenanoe, doubtless imagining VI
rs was still delfrious.
ID "IIucy-Miss Ames ?" said
~ She started back ~ uttAred
name, As though unwilling that she
discover har real thoughts; but, I
asst moment recovering all seh-Posseszi
ase .he look ed calmly toward me-, and Asl