Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-25
What Katie Did.


What Katie Did.
40 mother I" exclaimed Katie, rushing |
into the room, an open letter in her hand,
Jack is coming home to night He says
one of the locomotives needs repairs, and |
he is to bring 1t over to the machine-shop
this afternoon. He's going to ride over on
the engine, with just fireman, and he'll be
home TO supper. Isn't that grand ?"
Jack was Katie's brother, and he was an
engineer in the employ Of railroad COM
paDy. Proud enough he was when he got
his first engine; ay, and happy, too, for his
mother was widow, and far from rich, and
now his earnings would smooth away many
hill and hollow in her daily path.
The line Of road he belonged to ran along,
not far from his mothers house, after CROSS
ing. on high trestle bridge, the broad river
on whose banks the little cottage nestled.
1t was one of Katie's delights to 60 up the
shore to the bridge, and watch the trains
coming across and this afternoon, though
the road was wet and muddy, she begged so
hard to go and SEQ Jack come across with
his locomotive that her mother finally con-
sented to her going.
There had been great deal Of bad
weather ever since spring had set in; the
ice had broken up suddenly, and the heavy,
rugged cakes had come down the river alto.
gether, piling up on the shores and backing
the water over the land; then the river had
frozen again, and after that the ice and
snow melted rapidly, the mountain torrents
came rushing down to the river, and the
current became so swollen that it was now
several feet higher than usual, and several
of the Trailer bridges had been swept away.
Even during the last three days there had
been such heavy, continuous rains as were
seldom seen but now the storm was over,
and the sky bright and clear.
"Jack said he would be over about five
o'clock, and it is nearly that now" thought
Katie, as she settled herself down under a
tree, close to the great bridge. 1 hope he
will, for it will be dark soon, and mother
will worry If I'm not back in time; it gets
dark so quick this time of year."
She sat there looking at the swollen river,
finding strange fascination in watching
the angry, turbid current rushing under the
arches, and dashing up against the piers, as
if determined to batter them down only
Katie laughed at that idea, it seemed SO
ridiculous.
She did not know that it was one that had
occurred to others more experienced in such
matters, nor that some were, even now,
urging an examination of the old and the
construction of new bridge to replace it,
for it was very old, and had not been well
built in the first place.
The sun sank low in the horizon, and
Katie began to grow uneasy, for the twi-
| light would be short and darkness quickly
follow. She was making up her mind to
wait for Jacks coming no longer, when she
saw the locomotive speeding down the line,
far away then it reached the bridge, slowed
down, and began to creep along the huge
structure. Nearer and nearer it came, and
Katie jumped up and waved her handker.
chief, delighted to see that Jack answered
the well known signal that his little fifteen
years-old sister was wont to wave to him
from her favorite post under the big tree.
On and on, nearer and nearer came the
monster mass of iron and STEEL like some
giant animal of olden times. Katie always
liked to watch the locomotives, they looked
so strange moving along without any visi
BILE power to propel them, just like living
breathing creature and this particular
one--wby, it was Jacks hand that was
guiding the huge creature 80 no wonder
that she watched its slow approach SO
eagerly.
Nearer and nearer, until II entered on the
last span that led to the solid ground and
then God what was it ? What, what
had happened
Katie heard a crash OF falling timbers
and masonry; the great throbbing mass OF
iron and steel plunged head foremost down,
down into the shallow water near the Shore
and then-then an utter blank and silence.
Katie rubbed her eyes and stared as II
she thought she were dreaming, & she did
think, in truth, for the reality way too sud
den and too horrible to credit.
And then, with wild cry OF "Jack !
Jack !" she darted down the steep bank, and
reached the spot where the proud locomo-
tive lay PROSTATE amid the mud and slime
and fallen timbers and stones.
Before she reached it she tripped over
something, and recoiled from it with cry
of horror, as she saw it was the body of the
fireman, who had been instantly killed by
the falling masonry OF the arch.
Quivering from head to foot, and fearing
to advance, lest she should find her dear
brother lying as was this poor man, Katie
yet forced herself to hurry on until she
reached the wrecked engine.
"Jack, Jack, where are you 2" she cried,
and her heart gave great leap of joy as the
well-beloved voice answered her, although
it was weak and shaken by pain.
al am here, Katie, inside the engine,
pinned down by some Of these heavy stones.
You can't lift them no use to try. Where
is Williams 7"
"Killed, Jack |" sobbed Katie. "I'n run
and find some one to help you out"
ayes, dc, like dear girl these weights
on my legs are fearful. But-good heav.
ems, Katie come here. Look at me, child
Are you brave2 Are you steady Yes,
you are. You used TO walk rail where
my head would spin round. Kstie" he
cried, with wild energy, raising his poor,
bruised body on one elbow, ais 1t in you TO
save three hundred lives In half an hour
there is an excursion train due here, and If
it is not warned back, it will plunge through
this fatal breach. It's too far to the tele
graph station, near town f; are you brave
enough to climb up on the bridge, and
creep across on the ties TO the other side
There will be time enough to reach the sta
tion near the bridge, and the train can be
stopped there. Oh, these awful stones that
chain me down here Dare you do it,
Katie Never mind me; | can wait till
afterwards"
Poor Katie She looked up at the broken
arch She could reach the bridge, she saw,
by climbing up on the engine but then to
cross that quarter of mile Of water, deep,
turbid, swift, on those open ties, creeping
from one TO the other-why, 1t would have
been hard task for q steady head, even in
broad daylight; and now, in the night, with
the darkness all around, the stars twinkling
overhead, and the cleaning water below, it
required a stout heart TO contemplate it
without shudder.
"My Godl" moaned Jack, "three hun.
dred people doomed to death, aud no one to
save them"
al will I'll 20, I'll 60, Jack |" cried
Katie, with gasp.
Dear sister brave sister Go then go