, 1881-05-13
"DAVE.0

Engine No. % left the round house,
moved slowly out of the yard, and down
the track to the depot platform, where
she WAS taken to the Southern express
over the Western division, the trip be-
ing twenty. four hours run.
1t had suited the handsome man who
stood at the throttle to make the magniti-
cent engine of which he was so proud,
and which was noted for its speed, al
most creep down to duty this morning,
and it required no stretch of the imaSi
nation on his part, and he rather liked
the fancy, to think that 1t was the leaden
weight of a strong mans heavy heart
that bore her down and impeded her
progress SO wonderfully at times.
How we'll he remembered Flora La
mar, black eyed Flora, who was older
than he, but who had ever shown such n
decided preference for him, and had
been so jealous of simple little Viola
White, whom he had met and loved, the
modest, unpretentious country girl.
She had been the object of his first boy
ish 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 her
whereabouts and giving no reason for
her strange conduct.
To the boys on the road he was Dave"
handsome, kind but close-mouth
ell 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 sun
dsred.
One night he received the intelligence
that a woman answering the description
given 10y him of his wife was lying at the
morgue, having been lifted from the
riVcr that morning. He had hAstened 10
che place. but IA the swollen, bloated
features Of this poor creature. he could
trac. little resemblance TO his wife. She
vas much such a formed woman as
Niols. but lacked the symmetry and
graceful outlines that had belonged to
the latter. The only thing that could
raconCilo him % the thought that this
wzs all that remained to him of his wife,
the only thing that could I'LL his heart
with a soTrow over this as his dead, was
the hair 10 like hers. The little. short,
Amber-eolorcd ringlets were the exact
shade and curl Of the longer tresses
Viola had worn.
Herbert Graham buried this dead as
has own. aud hal come To duty this
morning, carrying the saddest of all sad
burdens. strong. brave heart. robbed
Of all hope.
Just beyond NJ they side-tracked
for the Western express TO pess, and
Dave was anxious To make it by the usual
time.
At this place they often had to wait
some httle time and he had become won
dcrfully interested IN a little child who
always came to the gate and peered
through the Piekets Of the train. The
little cottage was a gem of itself in a set.
ting Of profusion Of blood and ever
greens.
They were running faster than usual
this morning 20 make up lost time, and
were just turning Il curve when Herbert,
looking from the cab window, beheld a
sight which made his blood run cold.
There on the track ahead was that
child from the cottage, looking straight
at the coming train, but making no
movement TO escape from its certain and
awful death.
Quick as thought he applied the air
brake and reversed the engine, but the
headway was too great, and he saw with
horror that the fate of the innocent
manly little fellow was sealed unless
something was done ut once Filled
with the one idea of saving the imper-
lied life, he left the cab, where he had
done all that human hand could do to
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 he
bent over and stretched out his strong
right arm, the pilot struck the helpless
child that lay face 10 face with an awful
death. But quick as 1t was, the brave
hearted Herbert was quicker, and in an
instant he lifted the child and held 1t
aloft IN air, as the heavy engine thun-
dered over the place where the boy had
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 of
the applied brakes, came to standstill.
Then he stepped TO the ground with
the rescued child in his arms. The
little fellow put his arms around his
neck, and laying his head on the brave
mans shoulder, his mouth, which was
bleeding from the contact with the
pilot, kissed his cheek, and the little
wounded lips murmured almost
dreamily:
'Herbie loves papa; poor papa"
Herbert started and almost let the
child fall from his arms in his great
agitation; but before he could collect