The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1881-04-09

had a good effect, for it diverted
his thoughts from Ia subject that
was about to dethrone his rea.
son, | was somewhat surprised
when the train came to a sudden
halt in front Of the fernando Sta
ton. Mr.. SteAlbrim thrust his
smutty head into the front door anG
said:
"By jing! we made the best time
on record; the old gal is In a splen,
did humor o.night-made mile a
minute from Sardis here, and I'll
bet she could distance a streak ol
creased lightning from here to
Memphis. Ii | had a track from
here to the -moon, | could make
the old gal climb the grade in time
to make the connection. We are
now three minutes ahead OF time,
and according to orders, we must
not move peg 'til time is up"
Then he turned round and address
ed the fireman:
Feed the old gal little Mr..
Smutty, and lie her jiats good for
I'm gwine to- let her rip from here
to Memphis; she'll make itin TWEEN.
ty.fve minutes like a top. That old
gal knows me, and she alters makes
up her mind for business when
this chap holds tie throttle. Tom
Scratchler undertook to manage
her 'tother DAY, but she took the
dumps and wouldn't run worth a
cent; but it takes me to hold her
down to her work"
"Wait moment Mr.. Steelbrim," !"
said. the telegraph operator, "a
dispatch is coming for Edward De-
mar"
"All hunkaGory," replied the &c.
centric little engineer, "plenty OF
time, and if necessary | can per.
Suade the old gal to.put in few ex-
ira licks."
The rain had ceased, and the dark
clouds began to move rapidly
northwards; and the moon that had
been obseured, emerged from be-
hind them, casting a bright, cheer
ful light over the earth.
"Here we are, Mr.. Demar," ex-
claimed Mr.. Steelbrlm, as he came
in and handed me the telegram. |
tossed it dowA-oA, the seat, not car.
ing to read any news since Lottie
was dead. In fact | felt a peculiar
hatred against all telegraph lines,
and more especially against the one
that had brought me the fatal news.
Mr.. Stee!brim started his engine
forward with such a sudden plunge,
that it threw me 20 the third seat,
behind where was standing, pitch.
ing me head!oremost against the
stove-pipe, slightly bruisiAg my
head, L think the effect Of the
shock was beneficial, for lt's6emed |
to relieve the smothering sensa
ZION which had afflicted me for some
time. Seating myself where |
could watch Wallingford-tor was
afraid he meditated self-mnrder-I
began to conjecture in regard TO
he contents Of the envelope thai
ay on~the seat just in front OF me.
and as is usual lin such cases never
guessed any where near correct
might have gone on conjecturing
or an hundred years, and | dare
Jay never would have made the
light guess as to the purport Of the
Message.
After taxing my mind in that
way for five minutes, Il have hit
he mark at last.p | muttered to my
elf: "The sheriff will let Miss Bran.
EFT attend Lottie's funeral"
Having satisfied myself that |
lad at last made the proper guess, l
cOk the envelope and tore it open
md heIdlt carelessly for some time
'efore | commenced reading it.
ave that particular telegram here
n my bosom; and have no doubt
ny friend would like to hear it read.
had often heard men say that the
anger Of death being caused by
cod news was equal 10 that produ.
ed by bad; and Lsnever did credit
ny such notions until after | re.
elved that dispatch. am now |
i'll believer in the idea that death I
ould be, and doubtless has often
cen, produced by the sudden shock t
cOasloneh by the reception of un- {
good news; but let me !
ead you the telegram, I
"Memphis, 1910, p. m.
Bless God, my dear boyl A won t
erful miracle has been wrought '
Ledical science is all a humbug, a .
auble, a farce, nonsense, moon