The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-04-18
SAVED BY A MIRACLE.

1t was a hot summers day. The metals
cleaned in the sunshine, and stretched like
fiery brazen serpents away to the distant cap
ital. Every minute lessened the distance;
the express few along with terrible speed
it appeared to have wings. Pouring out
dense volumes of smoke and vapor, it dashed
along toward the great city whose numerous
towers began to emerge on the horizon only
a few leagues more, and Paris would clasp to
its breast one of its own children.
The stoker of the engine was on his last
Journey; he now intended to remain in Paris
his dearly-beloved Paris. Leroy, the stoker,
was not old, thirty years at the outside, tall
with bright eyes, and something decided and
naughty in his bearing Over his open fore
head fell lock of thick black hair; courage
and audacity sparkled in his eyes A full
dark moustache jealousy concealed his red
lips and snow-white teeth his face was
marked with certain features which bespoke
pride with shade of Simperiousness. He
was dressed in blue linen trousers and blouse,
which articles of attire were held together by
means of broad leather belt. On his head
he wore broad brimmed hat.
With a Joyous heart he went on feeding
the black monster with fuel, which was eager
ly consumed by the devouring element. Lee
roy's sharp gaze chances up the line, when all
at once he sees there in the midst of the soil
tary plain over which the train is passing, at
distance of about five hundred yards, hui
man figure stretched at full length across the
metals. What was to be done? To stop?
Impossible! This was before the invention
of the vacuum brake)
"Do you see that creature lying across the
rails, Rollin % he hurriedly asked the driver.
"Yes!" 81
''Shall we reverse the steam ~
g On no account: it would shiver us all to
pieces" 81 ~ VIZ +f'- sssst-
we shall have to do it, or else that per-
sons fate is sealed" exclaimed Leroy.
And I say it won't do, replied Rollin,
decisively: "we should be stalking the lives
of several of the passengers in our train in
the attempt to save that one"
Leroy gazed forward in despair. The train
rushed nearer to its victim. The poor crea-
ture was lost Then suddenly the stoker's
eyes fell upon the signal cords. Quick as
lightning he fastened them round his body.
" Now summon all the strength you have
got, take firm hold of the cords, and follow
me-" cried Leroy to the engine-driver and
quickly, in less time than it takes to relate it,
he creeps along the foot-plate which runs by
the side of the boiler, gets in front of the en-
CINE, steps down on a projecting bar, and
then holding fast by his legs to one of the
buffers, he hangs suspended, his head down
ward, his arms stretched forward, and his
body held in position by the rope, which the
driver has meanwhile passed round the funnel.
At that moment-another revolution of the
wheels, and it had been too late-just as the
engine was about to crush its human victim
Leroy seized the body, snatched it upward,
and lifted the burden a few inches above the
rails The engine-driyer then slowly dragged
him up, and in few moments later he stood
with his capture in the space which divides
the engine from the tender
Leroy held in his arms blooming, elegant
ly dressed young damsel about eighteen sum-
mers whom, as by miracle, he had rescued
from certain destruction. Long hair fell in
wavy tresses over her closed eyes, over her
breast and shoulders. Sorrow and anxiety
were depicted on her countenance. The stok-
er carefully laid down his burden, a shrill
whistle and soon afterward the train rolled
into the station.
On the following day people read in the
Paris morning papers the bold, foolhardy ex-
plot of the stoker And a few weeks later
there appeared in the Marseillaise an an
nouncement of the betrothal of Louise Mar
tin, the daughter of Martin, the banker, to
Leroy.