Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-27

AN INCIDENT OF RAIDKoAD LIFE.

AN INCIDENT OF RAIDROAD LIFE.
Engine No. % left the round house
moved slowly out of the yard, and down
the track to the depot platform, where
she was to take the Southern express
over the Western division, the trip
being a twenty-four hours run.
1t had suited the handsome man who
stood at the throttle to make the mag.
nificent engine of which he was SC
proud, and which was noted for itf
speed, almost creep down to duty this
morning, and it required no stretch OF
the Imagination on his part, and he
rather liked the fancy, to think that i,
was the leaden weight of strong mans
heavy heart that bore her down and
impeded her progress so wonderfully al
times.
How we'll he remembered Flora
Lamar. blsck-eyed Flora, who was
older than he, but who had ever shown
such decided preference for him, and
had been SO jealous of simple little
Viola White, whom he had met and
loved, the modest, unpretentious coun.
try girl. She had been the object OF
his first boyish dream, of the strong,
fervent love of the man, and the cause
of all the sorrow he had ever known
he had lived over their happy married
life, until his wife deserted him, leaving
no clue to Ler whereabouts and giving
no reason for her strange conduct.
To the boys on the road he was
"Dave," handsome. kind-bearted but
close.mouthed Dave" They knew
nothing of his past. He had come
among them and made his way up, and
all they could ever learn was that he
was from the. East. His father and
mother were dead, and all ties to the
old home were sunGeled.
One night he received the iptelli-
gence that a woman answering the de-
scription given by him of his wife was
lying at the morgue, having been lifted
from the river that morning. He had
hastened to the place, but in the
swollen, blosted features of this poor
creature, he could trace little resem-
blance to his wife. She was much
such formed woman as Viola, but
lacked the symmetry and graceful out
lines that had belonged to the latter. The
only thing that could reconcile him
to the thought that this was all that
remained to him of his wife, the only
thing that could fill his heart with q
sorrow over this as his dead, was the
hair go like hers. The little, short,
amber-colored ringlets were the exact
shade and curl of the longer tresses
Viola had worn.
Herbert Graham buried this dead as
his own, and had come to duty this
morning, carrying the saddest of all
sad burdens, q strong, brave heart
robbed of all hope.
Just beyond M they side-tracked
for the Western express to pass, and
Dave was anxious to make it by the
usual time.
At this place they often had to wait
some little time and he had become
wonderfully interested in little child
who always came to the gate and peered
through the pickets at the train. The
little cottage was gem of itself in 8
setting of profusion of bloom and
evergreens.
They were running faster than usual
this morning to make up lost time, and
were just turning curve when Her.
bert, looking from the cab window
beheld q sight which made his blood
run cold.
There on the track ahead was thai
child from the cottage. looking straight
at the coming train, but making M
movement to escape from its certain and
awful death.
Quick as thought he applied the air
brake and reversed the engine, but tht
Roadway was too great, and he saw with
horror that the fate of the innocent
manly little fellow was sealed unless
something was done at once. Filled
with the one idea of saving the imper
lied life, he left the Cab, where he hac
done all that human hand could do Il
avert the dreadful accident, and rapidly
made his way along the side of the
throbbing engine until he reached the
pilot. He was just in time, for as ht
bent over and stretched out his strone
right arm, the pilot struck the helpless!
child that lay face to face with an awfu
death. But quick as it was, the brave
hearted Herbert was quicker, and in az
instant he lifted the child and held il
aloft in air, as the heavy engine thun
dered over the place where the boy haG
rested an instant before. In this posi-
ton he remained until the engine
which had been gradually SLOWING
down its reversed lever and the drag O.
the applied brakes, came to standstill
Then he stepped to the ground will
the rescued child in his arms. TIL,
little fellow put his arms arouEd hi
neck, and laying his head on the brave
bleeding from the contact with thu
pilot. kissed his cheek, and the littl,
wounded lips murmured almost dream
lily:
"Hertie loves papa; poor papa"
Herbert started and almost let tn,
child fall from his arms in his grea
agitation; but before he could collec
his thoughts the mother rushed to the
spot almost frantic with grief at the
sad fate she thought had befallen hel
darling, and in her great joy at finding
him safe, saw nothing save her baby.
But Herbert Graham looked at her in
wonder and establishment. There be.
fore him was the living, breathing
image of his lost wife, widows cap
above her rich hair, and clad in deep
mourning. There was no time for
wonder, however. for the Western ex-
press rushed past them and he must go
on to duty.
"Thank you, sir, again and again. -
the little woman murmured. GOD
will reward you; never can"
Madam" said Herbert, "no thanks
are called for q duty performed. l
will, however, request the pleasure of
calling at your home on my return. and
inquiring for the welfare of your child.
May I ask for your name?"
His heart stood still as he listened
breathlessly for her reply, and as she
was about to speak it bounded high,
and at the name, sunk like leaden
weight.
my name is Brown, THE Widow
Brown and I live in the cottage yon-
der. Do call when you are at leisure,
for you will be q welcome visitor at q