Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
L seemed to have lost all fear, and I
watched the line OF smoke nearing us go

watched the line Of smoke nearing us 60
fast with sort of vague wonder as to
what the engineer of the other train
would do when he saw us coming, too
late to save his train. / was reused from
this'sort Of stupor into which l seemed
in danger OF falling, by seeing the girl
again reach for the oil can. I shock my
head.
"Tt won't do I said. 1T may be
DEATH
"But,' she said, it is death if
don't
81 nodded, and, without word, she
poured the remainder of the oil upon the
wood, and threw it into the fire. We
were close to the station now, and
could see people running across the
platform, and hear the women scream as
they saw our danger; for right in front
OF us was the extra, so near that it
seemed as if nothing but miracle could
save us. I looked at Miss Lord. With
that last effort her strength seemed to
leave her, and she sank upon the seat,
covering her face with her hands, wait
ing for the death that seemed so near.
'"There was moment of awful sus-
pense, and then we were safe upon tue
side track, just as the extra train went
laundering by, so near that scarcely an
inch separated the engine from the
hindmost car. The brakes were put on,
and the long line of cars came to a
stand-stlll just beyond the station, and
then slowly ran back to where the crowd
of alarmed and curious men stood
watching us. At the shrill sound of the
escaping steam, Miss Lord raised her
head, and looked anxiously around, then,
seeming to realize that we were safe, she
tried to say something, but the words
died away in murmur, and the next
moment she fell on the floor of the cab
like dead woman. But before / could
call any one to help her, for l was pretty
well shaken myself, one of the directors,
who was on the train, came along in a
fearful passion. He wanted to know
what I meant by running the risk that /
had done.
Haven't you any brains? and don't
you care any more for human life than a
donkey| he clustered.
81 handed him the telegram l had re.
ceived at A, and which, fortunately
for myself, I had put into my pocket,
and then l pointed to the floor of the
cab, where Jim lay in a drunken sleep,
and Miss Lord in dead faint, and | tod
the story as well as | could. | tell you
there was pretty lively times there for a
few minutes. The passengers found out
that something was the matter, and
they came pouring out of the cars, and
crowded round the engine, and L had to
tell my story over and over to them.
Well, some OF the men carried Jim of
into the station. and dumped him down
on the floor, and Miss Lord was taken
into one of the drawing.room cars, and
fused over as though she was one OF the
creates ladies in the land and, before
she came to herself enough to sit up,
there was purse made up for her, of
more dollars than she'd ever had in her
life, and that want all, for Mr.. Runals
the director that was aboard the tram
found that she wanted work, and that
she knew something OF telegraphy, and
put her in the office at G. for awhile,
and in few months gave her a steady
job. So you see it want bad ride for
her, after ALL"
"But what became of her?" 1 asked.
SIS she still in the office"
"Oh, bless you, no sir. She did what
most all the women do sooner or later,
got married"
"Well," said I, "snch woman de.
served good husband; hope she got
one."
"Well, I don't know, pretty middling.
I guess" and then he added with a
laugh, "She seems to be satisfied, so |
spose there's no occasion for any one
else to find fault"
Just then there was a whistle, and the
down train came into view, and, putting
his pipe into his pocket, the engineer
made ready for his homeward trip, say.
ing, with q sly smile, as he sprang on
the engine, and said good.by:
"If ever you come to G. l shall be
glad to see you, and you can ask my
wife what she thinks of the husband
Miss Lord got"