The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-05
AT FULL SPEED.
lCourier des Eta,s Unis.l

arrived at the station at the appointed hour. entered, or rather was thrown by an attendent into the car ueares, to me. The door was quickly shut. The whistle was blown and we were eff.
 Curiously enough the car was not crowded. formed the ffth passenger. Two of the corners were occupied, one by an officer and the other by a civilian. Facing me was a woman about thirty years old, neatly and modestly dressed, and beside her sat the most beautiful little child l ever saw-a little girl about SIX years old, with flood of blonde curls waving under her immense straw hat Now and then the child would look through the window in the direction of the engine and then her eyes seemed to wander in the infinite space that was un- rolling itself before her. We came to a station. The train stopped. The little girl put her face 10 the window. :" don't see him." she said to the lady beside her "I don't see him." Then suddenly her face frightened and her eyes lit with golden hues, shining with indescribable joy, while her lips came down upon two hands that came from the exterior and were placed upon the open window. "Ah, papa! Here is papa r exclaimed my little neighbor with the exuberant and in- nocent joy of her six years.
 It was the engineer of our train who had come to speak to his little daughter and his wife, who were seated in front of me.
 "We are going very iast," said the woman.
 We must make up for lost time," re- piled the man. "Were you afraid, len nie?"
 "No," said the child, because knew that you were driving"
 Well, by-by," said the man, as he left
 "By-by, papa," said the child, throw ing herself into his arms.
 The train started and gradually reached an extraordinary speed. worship chil- dren, and began to examine the little one on the front of me. She was full of life and good humor. She amused her self with everything and nothing, cabling with her mother, inquisitive with the wiA- dow and severe with her doll. She was carrying on thousand different conversa- tions all at once, and with noise that was almost deafening, when suddenly the gentleman in the other corner exclaimed
 Decidedly we are going too fast. The train will surely run of the track"
 "Oh, don't be afraid" said the child seriously; papa is driving"
 The officer was reading. He looked out of the window, and then resumed his reading without making any observation.
 The other gentleman again began to talk.
 (" This is certainly madness" said he. " Yes, madam" he continued, addressing the lady. your husband is either drunk or crazy"
 "Oh, sir" said the lady, !" my husband never gets drunk. You saw him a little while ago. Certainly, the train is going at furious rate. don't understand it."
 The officer closed his book and stretched himself along the seat. q would advise you all to dc the same" said he, with the greatest coolness. If you keep seated your legs will be smashed Remember the Versailles accident"
 Certainly the train was running at terrifying rate. What in the world could the engineer mean by such driving2
 am afraid" said the citizen, white with terror.
 Then the officer took me aside. Here is my name and address," said he. eff l am killed or mortally wounded in the accident to which we are running. and you escape, promise me now that you will carry these dispatches without mo- ment's delay to the general whose name you will find by opening this envelope"
 promised.
 The woman took the child in er arms and covered her little face with tears and kisses. She seemed to wish to make a rampant of herself to protect her little one against the frightful smash-up that was momentarily expected.
 am not afraid" said the child, smil- ing; papa is driving" And she alone among the passengers of the car, and doubtless she alone among all on board the train, had faith and confidence. We could hear in the other cars cries of ter TOT and wailings of despair, and, in spite of the mother, the child leaned ont of the window in the back door and shouted out with all the force of her little lungs: " Don't be afraid papa is driving" An, that sweet little girl, ;n she genera: terror, was tower of strength with that sacred love of a child for father-an affection that nothing can break down.
 Gradually the train slowed and then came to standstill. We were at station. The engineer came to the door. We have been going very fast" said he, ~but at all hazards we must get to Reims be- fore the Prussians. That we must do at the risk of being blown up or smashed to pieces on the way. Pm told that we are n ' | looked at his little girl with tears in his eyes.
 Give me your hand" said the officer aYou are brave fellow. It IS who have the dispatches." En route P then said the man, and he gave a parting glance at the fair form of his child as if to bid her farewell. But Jeanne vas not afraid and, moreover, nobody in our Compartment was afraid any longer. We knew that we were risking our lives for our country. and that satis6ed us. As for