, 1881-12-04
KATE SHELLY.

KATE SHELLY.
. =. Fer Tne Chica1o 7rilnns-
Hsye you heard how girl saved the hsh'n'ne
of Eatc Shelly, whose father was killed on the
were d. living today, he'd be proud 10 posses
snch daughter as Kate. All. twas grlt tnat
n, ,,sI sitI terrible evening when Donahues train,
ggrmpcd me bridge and went down, Ill the da1h-
ucss and rain:
she was only eighteen but woman III siz,.,
E,th a s1vi,r,. as graceful and 1.-the Us 4 doe,
with peach-blossotn cheeks ana VIII ''o'e'
And teeth and complexion like ne~-fallen
With soni nature unspoiled and unblemished by
witb =, u generous soul. and warm. noble heart!
IT'S esenins-she darkness is dense and pro-
Men ,oI:c inner at home by their brisht-blazing
Gbe wind wildly howls with i horrible sound.
And shricks4 4hrough the vibrating telegraph
rbe t,crsc lightning flashes along the dark Sky;
The rain falls iu torrents; the river rolls ny.
The scream OF q whistle! tho rush of train!
1The suund OF 4 btit! q mysterious light
Thai Haslcs and flares through the fast-fallin@
ruin. ev,,.,
The f,l,nv nj 1i1nuers! the space of breath!
A D.a:h in the river: then darkness aud death!
Ea,e Shelly .eco!ls at The terrible crash:
The sounds Of DESTRUCTION size happens u
she snr;n.s to the window-sne throws up the
Ard listens aud looks, with feeling Of fear.
The tali 1ree~tops groan and she hears tue 'a'''
Of drowning man down in the river near by!
Her heart 1eeb]y tlutters, her features grow
VIII, ,
And !hen through her soul in II moment there
Afore.housht that gives her the strength OF
She turns to her trembling old 1nother aud
Il must save the e1press-'twiil be here in an
Then out through the door disappears in the
- shuwer.
She flies down the track through the pitflcss
She reaches the riycr-tne water below
Whiris and seethes through the 1imocrs. She
~1he S bridee: i 10 10 Molnxoua God help me to
Then closely about her she gathers her gown
And cu the wet ties with ashivcr sinks dowu.
Then cdrcfuliy over the timbers she crccps
On her hands and her knees, almost holding
her breath.
The loud thunder peals aud the wind wildly
and struggles to hurry her downward TO death:
But the tanught OF the train to dcstTacnon ~
ne1r
Removes from her soul every feeling OF fear
With tho blood dripping down from each torn'
Slowly user the timbcrs her dark way she
feels;
Her fingers grow numb and her head seems 10
Her strength is fast failins-=he staagcrs! Sue
Ehe faIls!-Ah. the danger is over ut last,
her feet touch the earth, and the long bridge Is
passed.
In an instant new life seems to come to her
She. springs to her feet md torsets her
despair.
ca, on 10 Moingona. She faces the storm.
she eeaches the stadon-the keeper IS mere. ,,+
the red light:
There's death On the bridge al the river to-
A3s< mgnt:'
onr flashes the signal light, rosy aud red:
Then sounds the loud roar Of the switt-conliue
H. train
The hIsscg of steam. and there, br!e ehtly nhc:d,
The glenn Of Il headlight iilu,nines the rain.
~Do1u hrakcsr shrieks the whistle, defiant anu
- shrin,
sAe heeds the red signal-she slackcns! she's
-: still
Ah! noble Kate Shelly, your mission is done;
: 1our deed that dark night will not fude IRON
our gaze;
An endless reno,sn sou have worthi]y won:
Let the Nation bc just. and accord you its
praise. -.... ......--
Let your name, let your fumc, and your courage
=, declare
What ,ou,nan can do, and Il tco'nan eau dare!
: ~. =. EUGENE j. HALL.
AnLARn AvEsuE STATION. Chicago