The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-22

cit as read slowly down the first
page and turned the sheet to continue.
Such feelings are indescribable. A
nearly as / remember, it was, at first, q
dull stupidity which seemed to envelop
my mind SO thoroughly that I needed
to read the opening sentence half
dozen times or more ere comprehend
ing. After this came strong. cold
shndder of mortal fear and agony,
which lasted many moments; then
quiet, absolute quiet in every nerve and
fiber except the heart, which beat with
clear regularity, like calm voice de-
vising and arranging.
/ knew what my lover was involved
in, what he purposed, and where he
had gone tonight. l knew that my
father had Judged Claude's companions
correctly-that they were vagabonds,
villains, who had planned to wreck the
night-express at the great curve, before
it could have reached the village.
At the great curve! Oh, God! /
could picture the Hene. The heavy
logs laid close across the track, the
swift rush, the crash, the overturning
coaches pitching and piling into the
ravine- the shrieks, perhaps the flame
the awful doom of the innocent and
helpless!
And what madness to think that
vengeance would not quickly fall upon
such deeds. No doubt, no doubt they
had made him-Claude-th merest
tool, and would manage their own
escape in some way, leaving him to the
hands of village justice. Ours was
q quiet town, but what place would not
rouse at this fiendish work. Mobs,
ropes, tree-limbs-oh, could / do moth
ing? "God in Heaven" I moaned,
aid me. give me strength"
ran to the clock. Ii was long past
Z, and the train should reach the
village before 8, if on time. l prayed
it might be late, for l had miles and
miles to 60 in the night and the storm,
I glanced into the sitting room; father
was asleep in his chair-he often dozed
thus through the entire evening. /
trusted his sleep would last, or he
would think I had gone up to my bed
room, if he wakened.
caught little jacket from the wall
and slipped it on; no hat or bonnet,
though-the less burdened the better.
l thrust some matches in my pocket,
and found the lantern hanging in the
woodshed. / shook it and knew there
was oil enough.
Then l started.
I tried to run steadily, with lips
tight shut, to waste no breath. I did
not light the lantern, for / must not lie
seen. Nor did I fear running bliadly
onward since I knew the roai-cn this
side the village at least. Sometimes |
almost flew; sometimes I stumbled into
puddles, and felt the water soaking
through my shoes.
If only I could reach there in time
l chose the darkest street of the vii
lage, when at length tina. far, slacken.
ing speed until out again upon the road
beyond.
It would not have served me to rouse
the station-master, for telegraphing
would not avail, since the train would
have left the nearest station where there
was an operator. Beside, could trust
any one with this secret? Nay; Imust
manage with my own strength and
prayers.
Still on madly. wildly! There was a
sharp pain in my chest, but it shonld
not check me. God would surely help
me on; He would not let me die till
had accomplished this task.
At last l struck the railroad at road
crossing, and thenceforth followed it,
running as best I could between the
tracks.
remember the wet cinders cringing
under my feet; the rank weeds, un,
harvested by frost, and the burrs tina,
gathered on my skirts.
l remember feeling that I must bt
near the awful spot, where lay til,
death-line of low-piled logs.
But, oh, God be thanked if I had
come in time!
just for q second I stopped and tried
to push the obstacles from the track
The strength of two men was needed
and WAS breathless.
opened the lantern and struck {
match. The wind blew it out I strncl
another and shielded the blaze. Th.
lantern burned brightly, and. now
even now fancied, began the faintes
tremor of the rails. passed the curve
and ran desperately forward. trembling
rs / ran, to see the headlight burst from
behind another, lesser curve and
woods, a half mile down.
Was it coming? Could it stop il
time? / flew on.
But, what was this? Another stel
besides my own, following, overtakine
me, . grasp Of my arm, terrible gril
that made me moan with pain-a voice
that Kissed into my very brain:
How came you here?'
lifted my lantern and stood face K
face with Claude.
Even then, at that awful moment
when my life was trife to undo what
he had done-I loved him. At tha
awful moment when his glance wa.
hatred-hared and vengeance com
mingled.
Had he crucified me, it must still
have been the same.
raised the lantern higher.
"Thank God if have saved you!"
cried, shrilly.
Then the headlight burst from be
hind the lower curve and grew ter
sible glare.
/ started ahead, waving the Lantern
from side to side and shriekin.
hoarsely.
danger, danger! Stop, for God
sake! Danger, danger"
How the shrieks Glove to my numl
mouth and tongue! How he held MI
back! Need he have feared? Coul,
he not trust me?
How / battled to swing the Lantern
free from his grasp!
was strong-strong for the momen
as a tiger; and, though he tried to hin
der me, Iswung the light and shriekel
against the thunder-dance and tht
lurid eye that shook and scorchet
both.