River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-02-22

had washed out the track OF the regular
line, and that | should be compelled to
take a branch road a score of miles
further on.
NV dream now occurred to me- / was
travelling near the region bad dreamed
Of. One accident had forced me nearer
TO it than | had any reason to anticipate
But | was not foolish enough to suppose
that any set Ofelrcumstances would bring
about the fulfillment of my vision.
During the night the train halted at a
large town on the line and the passen-
gers were informed that another trans
fer would be necessary. The rains which
had destroyed the track of the regular
line had also thrown down bridge on
the branch.
As alighted in the dark and made my
way to the train in waiting / admit that
! was very much startled to read upon
the side of the cars the words / had seen
in my dream: Northern New York &
Canada railroad / counted the cars;
they were sixteen in number-four yell
low and twelve red.
My philosophy was considerably sha-
ken. 1t seemed as if an irresistible hand
was forcing me to the fulfillment of my
dream. But / was still stubborn in my
unbelief.
| resolved to investigate the matter
still further, and satisfy myself that /
had simply met with series of coinci-
,lences. Freshets might occur on rail-
roads without the special intervention
of destiny. Cars might be of certain col
or and number without proving dreams
to be true.
At the earliest peep of dawn | went
through every car on the train, earnest
4
looking for the young girl in the gray
travelling suit. / was highly elated to
discover that no such person was on
board. Here was one point in my favor.
But very shortly this one point was OPP
posed by two others of very Startling
kind. During halt in the forenoon
alighted and went forward to the engine.
There upon a brass plate at its side was
the number II. And as the engineer
leaned from the window | was stunned
TO recognize the man in the dream, the
red face and black beard.
went back to my seat in maze of
wonder and dread. My incredulity was
oozing out at my fingers ends.
just as the train was about to start a
carriage drove furiously up to the station
and late passenger was assisted aboard
one of the forward cars as the wheels
face could not see, for she wore a veil,
but her dress was of a light gray color
AMI her figure that of a young girl
BY this time | was thoroughly UNI
nerved. | dared not go forward and
endeavor to catch glimpse of the girls
face. | feared to see the face of my
dream. | threw myself back into the
corner of my seat and fell into moody
reverie. But meantime gathered from
the conversation of two passengers in the
reat before me that were to cross the
Black river before noon on trestle
bridge.
Presently the landscape on either side
began to look strangely familiar. |
caught glimpses of hills in the distance
that seemed not new to me. A moment
later as the train passed through a cut
ting and came in sight of the river, l
started up in terror / beheld the land
scape of my dream. The wide, deep
current, the hazy hills. the trestle bridge,
the pale blue sky with its motionless
clouds, the drooping sales OF the vessels,
and the distant town with Its dun vapor5
rising INTO the air--I had seen them all
before.
was now prepared for the full reali-
cation of my dream. The last thread of
unbelief had broken. ! sprang ont up
on the platform as the train ran upon
the trestles and waited breathlessly for
the crash knew was coming.
The train ran on smoothly until it
reached the center of the bridge, then
there was a hideous jar, an explosion, a
chaos of shouts, shrieks and crashes,
and found myself in the water, swim
ming for life.
In an instant | remembered the con-
c.usion of my dream / turned about, and
there, within dozen feet of me, foated
the figure in gray, with her long hail
spread out upon the water and her beau
tIful eyes turned toward me in terrified
appeal. My dream had not told me
whether [ 81 ould escape or die in at
tempt to rescue the girl. But never
thought of that l swan toward her
and passing my arm about her. struck
out toward the shore.
1t was long and desperate struggle
The river was wide and the current swift.
| could make little progress with my
inert burden. | struggled on, growing
weaker and weaker with every stroke.
Presently | saw boat coming toward
us. | uttered shout, and was an
swered, In another moment my COM
panion was drawn into the vessel, and,
utterly overcome by my terrible efforts,
! sand back into the water insensible.
When [ awoke to consciousness [ was
lying Ia bed, aud some one was bending
over me. 1t was woman. and she was
weeping; could feel her tears dropping
on my forehead as she brushed back my
damp hair. Presently the mist cleared
away froL my sight, and recognized
the young girl whom had rescued--iD
the girl l had seen in my dream.
She uttered cry of Joy when she saw
4
hand and pressed it convulsively.
THANK heavenl" she said, "you will
live"
"Yes," said I, with feeble smile,
'since it is of Importance to you"
81 should never be happy again." she
sobhed, 'if you were to die after what
you have done for me-"
Being still very i'll, yet anxiou sto reach
my father, resolved to Bet on at once
Finding me determined to proceed my
young friend insisted upon accompany
ing me the short distance | had to 90. 1t
is needless to relate the details of the re-
mainder of my journey-how when ar
rived / found my iather in fair way to
recovery, or how in the natural course
of events l fell IN love with my beauti-
full nurse.
When I returned to the city with my
young WIle my iileiluS uiScoEeTeu lndG
[ had left my skepticism in the depths
of Black river. 1 dissolved my connec-
ton with the "Anti-Superstition Soc-
ety." not without considerable Jeerlng,
which | could afford to receive. / am
now convinced that there are things in
this world that our raw logic will not ac-
count for. My clearest proof is the dear
wife whose life / was led to save for N.Y.
self by the irresistible hand of fate.-N.
Y. News
Gossip.