The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-05-26

1
Eyes, can"
But the little witch evaded Lsurence's e
pursuit, leaving laughter behind her
"Here, here!' she said and rushed to the
track and began to cross it.
Don't 60 there, darling" said her ia.
ther 1t was very dsrk-lhe switch-ten.
tder could hardly see his daughter.
"You can't catch me-" repeated the
child
"Come, come here" said he- father.
"Lcok for me-" answered the child.
"Aimee, Aimee, dom, play any more
shall be angry. Come here"
"Oh, you say that because you CAM
catch me.''
"Come back; will give you cake. u
THAT isn't true; you haven't one,
You want TO make me come hack "
Yes; l don't want you 10 STAY there
The express train is coming; be quick .
"Oh! shan't let you catch me the
train has gone BY"
There is another"
Instead OF replying the child said,
"Rnn alter me, papa: run
Laurence cav there was nothing TO be
done but to run after her and take her
ouf of danger; he rushed toward the
place where be heard her voice. 1t was
dark and Aimee escaped him still his
alarm increased; at any instant The whis-
tie OF the on-coming train might be
beard and Laurence redoubled his APP
peals; his voice was hoarse with fright.
Tne fatal moment approached and s'ill
The child laughed and repeated: :"You
can't catch me-" Now the whistle SCUM
del The lugubrous call paral, Fed the
poor man and he lost his head complete
| ly. The train would have two victims il
be did not regain bis composure Two
victims! 1t would be catastrophe With
iucalculsble consequences for a train
was stopping at station little way
ahead, and if the express was not switch
ed of there must inevitably be Q coils.
ion. Laurence shook of his torpor.
"Aimee!" be cried, 10 laundering
tones.
"Here, papa" And the child con.
tinued to give sharp little calls, which
mingled with the roar OF the approach
ing engine The instinct OF duty, rather
| than will, urged Laurence toward the
switch. He selzed the instrument which
ought to turn the train. NO." be cried
Il must save her. Aimee, Aimee, where
are your" and his eyes sought 10 pierce
the darkness. The switch-tender, viii
hair on end, thought of tbrowing him.
self before the iron monster. But ont
chance remained. that Aimee was not or
the track over which the train must pass
He looked again, and ta;s time be saw
her-he saw her. She was there, stand
ing on The very track the train must taxi
il ne sltered the switch. If the iroI
tempest did not take its true course th'
child vas saved. The trsin would g
on 10 crash against the one at the eta
lion. What ma terp Aimee would b.
alive! All this went through his mint
like lightning. There would be the killet
and wounded-twenty families in despair
but Aimee would he safe and sound
There would be an inquest; be would b
condemned 10 prison, dishonored. ruin
ed! Blu, bis daughter, his Aimee, would
live and be happy. Ah! how quickl.
one can think in such terrible mo onents
The train came laundering on, but
could not be seen on account OF sharI
curve in the road There was still tim
to save Aimee, but the child would no
sir. 1t seemed TO her father that sh
waited for the train with an air of def
snce.
"Aimee," he repeated, in voic
strangled by fear, "Aimee, come here
you will kill me-"
Suddenly the advancing lights OF 'h
engine appeared. The train was upol
him. It was here. The man felt hi
whole being shaken. He was hewildered
could see noting Thought did no
stop, however, but travelled faster thai
the train He recalled in a second hi
honorable soldiers life, yben he ha'
sacn6ced everything to duty. He cav
in the station the frighttul accident b
would have caused and heard the erie
OF the wounded, the last easps Of th
dying. The problem was before bin
His daughter. or otbers2 There was p'
alternative, without miracle. With as
tonshing promptitude the sentiment o
duty became most powerful, and b
seized mechanically The handle of tn
iron bar. The stoicai soldier at thi
moment was uppermost. and effsced tn
iather. He pushed. hardly kn, wing wha
be did, and the express train crossed tb
switch. On, on it wen', aod be conl'
see it passing before the station, goinI
by as If it we're happy to escape dan
ger. and disappearing in the darkness
Duty bad been strongest. Siupelfed
staggered, speecbless, Laurence wa
rooted TO the spot holding still the curse
hsadle which had helped him to kill bi
;. child Now" be said, sit is my tur
! to die"
n The other train was about to pass H
stepped forward, crossed his arms, an
, awaited It. The whistle snunded, th
3 heavy engine pufIed. Bewildered, tbiul
q iDg OF nothing. there he stood.