Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-12-02

only replied: 1.-The road is all flashed but
this bridge. Ii must be opened. The peo.
pie want it. Besides, I must show can
move the bridge, or my reputation is gone
forever. and my business is ruined"
AS for the reward, she never lost faith
in her lover. She admitted he had mad+
a most objectionable blunder, yet she had
faith that he would exiricate himself with
honor and credit. She found him working
on the bridge in sort of feverish anxiety
pale, excited and harassed. She drew him
away from his work for moment.
You have eaten nothing. You must
rest, and work more carefully, OF you may
have sunstroke. It's going to be very
warm to day."
Yes, bring me something. III eat it
here; and then do you pray that it may be-
the hottest day of the season. hope it
will be hundred in the SHADE. for it Is
my only salvation"
Farmer Chase said his daughter should
have nothing to do with Sabbath break
er, tut she refused to leave the bridge, ex-
cept to go to the house tor food for her
lover. Her father objected even to this,
but her mother, being wiser, gave her both
meat and drink.
He is doing it all for my sake, mother.
He is going to put the bridge back, and l
shall stay with him.
1t was nearly eleven o'clock before the
last bit of metal was torn up. The bridge
had already begun to show signs OF dis
trsss. as il pulled and strained by some IT,
visible vet appalling power. Some of the
beams began to show signs of distortion.
and the rods, when struck with a hammer
rang sharply like the strings of a piano
strained up to a concert pitch. The last
bolt was almost off when il suddenly broke
with a loud snap. The Whole gigantic
was in travail. An instant af-
ter the end slipped, it moved and crepi
upon the stune ledge of the abutment near
~ hall an inch.
1t was great triumph for the young
man. He had harnassed the sun TO do
more than many men and engines. lie
moved the bridge and all for loves sake.
at will reach its full expansion about
three O'Clock. You had best go to your
liuner, men, and then we must anchor her
fast before she begins to contract again at
The men were wild with enthusiasm for
the Young engineer. He had brains. He
would have the bridge to its right place in
three days.
Old Jimmy Walsh said he had heard o.
such things, but he never rightly under
God it till now, and vent ured the opinion
that it would take power of chains and
livets to hold her back when she began t.
cool down.
The sun shone clear all the morning. and
at one o'clock it was very hot aud sultry.
The people round about gathered to SET
science toiling for love, and the little
meeting house was quite deserted. The
good man preached "a mild reproof against
worldly people at WORK in the bridge, but
the entire congregation to a woman said
in their hearts that the young man was
doing just right. The bridge travelled
again about two O'Clock, aid advanced
another half inch. II now it could b.
held there, if it could be prevented from
retu rning to its old position, the gain
would be permanent, and the bridge would
be moved without hands.
With blazing FORCES and resounding
hammers, the mel, worked on in sort OF
frantic haste. Iron bars we're rivited to
The bridge and clamped to the stones of the
abu ment. Even chains were bound round
tie beams of the bridge, and anchored to
the ties aud tracks Of the railroad. 1t was
now half past two The temporal ure
would be at Its highest very soon, and then
it would gradually fall, and keep falling
through the night till morning. AS the
air cooled, the bridge would contract.
Would it return to its old position, or re-
main IN its new place Would the an
,hored end remain fast, and the contrac-
ion pull the other end forward /! So eager
we're the people gathered near to watch
lie work that they did not observe the
West, till sudden peal of thunder startl-
ID sbem.
First the sun was obscured, and then the
lnt and sultry air was stirred by a fitful
)rtez-. The people sought shelter in the
leighboring houses, but the workmen only
-edoubled their exertions. TIE rain would
, oil the heated bridge quickly, and it
would contract neutrality-suspicious. tear all
he work to pieces. Either the bridge
mast contract as whole, and the free end
move, OF the fastenings would he torn
part. The rain clma down in a flood.
The temperature fell twenty degrees IL a
ew m ments, and they all ran over the
lip cry and dripping bridge. The young
nan sprang down on the ledge of the abut-
nent. There was clear space betA cen
he bridge and the wedges they had driven
u that morning.
"Tne bridge has novel;
AT nine O'Clock the next day an engine
anne up, bringing the manager of the
company and number Of carpenters and
The scaff Id must be rebuilt.
md the blilge lifted on rollers, and forced
ver into it's place by hydraulic jacks.
They found the young man calmly talk
ng to young girl, and experimenting
he men who were driving wedges into the
arrow space between the bridge and the
locks put in the day before.
''What are you doing menu" said the
manager.
Knowing the bridge, sir. What with the
un and rain, we moved her an inch yes
erday, and if it holds hot for few days
nore we'll have her in place."
The reward stood there when it all hap
ened Farmer Chase was there, and the
.awsons, and many of the neighbors.-
hey all said they knew Thomas Lawson
youId he a credit tn the town IT. was