Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-25
miscellaneous.
from the Springfield Republican.
JOHN DEMSTER'S DAUGHTER.
BY MRS. CHRISTINE sEEGER.
(Continuec from Yesterday. J

(Continuec from yesterday
The air grew steadily colder; the few
snowfiakes that had been floating idly here
and there, as if in doubt whether to fall or
not had multiplied until the air was dence
with them. He left the city now. and
was trudging YEARLY along the country
road. After time the road crossed the
railroad track and a crowded train came
rushing along. There was glitter OF
lights before his eye. glimpses of bright
faces-the echo of laugh as it rushed by
1t was the train that he should have taken.
but he had given the money to Delight to
buy their supper. For minute sharp
sense of hunger overcame him. He FAM
cied he could see the little table spread
and smell the baked potatoes. He stag
gered for few steps. then recovered him.
self and went on. He wondered that he
had ever longed for anything .-ner and
better than the little home that seemed so
far away. Blindly he struggled to recover
his footing, and turning he followed the
fast retreating train. Colder the air grew
and colder. The snow had changed to
sleet that cut his face as it fell. And now
and then his uncertain feet slipped upon
the treacherous ties, and he would almost
fall. So he struggled on. The night had
fallen and the storm at intervals subsidized,
when the pale moon would send its feeble
rays through the clouds and light family
enough the path outlined by the iron track.
More than once bis heart sunk within
him, and mighty temptation rose like
/ fend in his path and said to him: ''Why
/ face the ieering neighbors and the hungry
children? Why not lay down in the
whirling drift and sleepp" Well he knew
that on such bitter night he should never
wake again. But in the distance he
seemed each time to see the long, bright
hair of a child blown by the wind. and
blue eyes full of trust that even his crushed
and beaten manhood could not betray.
Once even, near the railroad bridge, he
thought he heard her voice piercing the
night and storm: Father, father - and
the wind swept by in wilder gust, and
he did not hear it again. The bridge was
about mile from home. Dangerous as
the crossing was on such a night, its near
ness brought little revival OF courage as
he struggled toward it.
Delight meanwhile, in the little kitchen
at home, had busted herself all day. AS
night drew near she piled extra wood up
on the fire, drew the supper table nearer,
and bidding Tim see that the supper did
not burn, put on hood and cloak, drew a
pair of old stockings over her shoes to
prevent her feet from slipping in the snow,
and set out to meet her father. She
walked rapidly through the village street,
her fresh young blood coursing through
her veins and defying at every breath the
cold and storm. She turned soon upon
the track. and wondered little that she
failed to see her fathers tall figure in the
distance but II shall meet him soon, -
she thought, and pushed on.
The shadows gathered grey and dense
about her, the flakes cut sharply against
her cheek; she strained her eyes anxious
ly and in vain into the distance. She was
not timid child, but the isolation of the
night and the storm became oppressive.
1t never occurred to her to turn back.
Had not her father told her to come and
meet him? Presently the heavy frame
work of the long bridge doomed dark and
wierd before her; the only pathway was
two planks close together. running be-
tween the iron rails. She hesitated before
stepping upon them. Would it not be
better to wait here until he comes? She
looked about for some sheltered place.
The wind, as she paused, seemed to chill
the blood in her veins. There was a
momentarv lull the clouds parting let
the moon shine through, and showed her
a STOPPING figure, storm beaten and bent,
staggering with uncertain steps along the
slippery and narrow pathway. Now and
then he stumbled seem to lose his footing
fall, recover himself and struggle on.
Delights heart grew sick within her.
She could not doubt that it was her father,
and that dizzy and exhausted. single
misstep would plunge him 40 feet to the
frozen surface ofthe river below. Then a
great fear grew upon her-what if the
southern bound train, coming up behind
him. should find him unable to see or
know?
She covered her eyes for moment with
her hands When she uncovered them
she saw instead of slowly moving figure
a motionless heap lying half upon the
planks, half upon one of the timbers of
the bridge, She no longer hesitated with
feet swift and sure-fear lent them wings
she ran to his side, Unconscious for a
time of cold or storm. with a strength
born of desperation. she seized the I'M
conscious man by the arms close to the
shoulders and began to pull. For a mo-
ment she thought her strength would not
be equal to the task, but another more de-
termined effort and she found herself
walking backwards over the slippery
planking whose thin coating of sleet was
at once help and danger-without it
her own foothold would have been more
secure, but save for it that it would have
been impossible for her to have dragged
such a weight after her. She walked I'M
knowingly of danger, her mind possessed
by one idea. When she neared the end of
the bridge, suddenly. sharply upon her
ear rang the shrill whistle of locomotive.
followed by the dull thunder of the train
AS it rumbled upon the bridge
With clinched teeth and face white as
the dead the brave child redoubed her
exertions; every heart beat was a PRAYER,
no thought of saving herself and leaving
her father to destruction 20 God in
heaven" she said dumbly, "help me to
save him.
Nearer and nearer came the train: near
er and nearer she drew her burden to the
end of the bridge-a step more-and vet
another-and they would be safe. She
could almost feel the hot breath of the
engine upon her face; she did not know
that the engineer at his post was irving
with might and main TO do his part. What