The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-12
excursionists for Hampstead Beach will pass at nine-thirty. Look ont for it."
 He turned leisurely and sauntered up


 word, l started the mare into a trot.
 A special train at hali.past mir el l drew taut rein with my right hand, and took my watch from my pocket with my trembling left.
 Nine twehty-twol Three miles Of a straight road-less, perhaps, a quarter of a mile of de;our to the station, when l should reach the track--and the main line open to me westward for the passage out of the mal. Three miles, and eight minutes in which to accomplish itl
 In my youth had known something about horses, and that knowledge dld not fail me now. drew out the long whio seldom used, as have noticed-and touched the mare quietly on the flank.
 How can describe that ride?
 l have been where charger met charger in the swirl and dust of battle, and men and horses have gone down together but in that there was iello vship-association In this but no words can ftly describe the fierce emotions of that solitary ride against time, where hundreds of innocent lives, all unconscious of the peril toward which the, were speeding, hung trembling in the balance.
 recall now the tempest which swayed my shrinking soul, as, outwardly calm and rigidy erect, with every muscle as strong as steel, l held the mare firmly up to her work and, by voice and touch, electrified the noble animal with almost human con- sciousness of the necessities and peril oi the occasion.
 Trees, houses, fences, gardens-some- times men, s:aring in widowed aston. ishment flew past in one unbroken flight. My ha, was of, my hair and beard streaming in the wind, my lips compressed, save when emitting low cries of encouragement to the noble mare; and thus l reached low rise Of ground commanding a view of the line tor mile or more on either hand.
 Up to this moment from the time had drawn taut rein and glanced at my watch, shls point had been the objective goal for which 1 was riding.
 If l could reach it before the whistle blew at the crossing below, theye would be hope. If not-l shuddered at the al- tern ative.
 recalled afterward, and many times, how though ht of my dream-a long line of switches-swept across me then l how my eyes for the first time swerved from their steady gaze a, my horses head, and flashed glance up and down the whole visible line for the coming speciall
 Not in sight-thank God
 Stay there is smoke on the horizon
 But there is no stay in the wild rush of our onward course. With as unflinchins nerve as when she started, the gallant mare stretches away down the gentle de- clvIty, while every moment tho distance iessens, and the oncoming train gets larger and noisier as 1t near us.
 stand up in the wagon urge to greater speed; wave scarf and hand; shout, but my voice is beyond my con- trol.
 Ha Joy uuutterable am seen!
 A whlstle-the agent runs out with a red flag two whistlesl Down brakes The train is saved, and comes to halt not a dozsn yards from the open switch. It was time.
 (rime-as they sayin the racing-calen- dar-seven minutes and a half. This 1 confirmed aferward)
 l complete the last quarter of the de | tour to the station more leisurely, but am ID tune to receive from the arms of the | agent my sleepy little girl, whom he has snatched from tho shadow of that mis- placed switch, where she was lying fast asleep, with her golden curls directly on the rail.
 That dream againl Shall ever be thankful enough2
 am au older man now, and have other and higher interests in railroads, but net in that line. That experience was too much for me. left so-n after, and my fortunes greatly improved.
 My golden-haired ht,Ie darling is now | a woman, and happily married, and has little darling of her own just beginning to walk.
 And if you would like 10 see the gal lant mare. Fanny, that won the Race against Time" and an affectiona,e place in my remembrance evermore, come out to the orchard, and you will see her en. oyipg comfortable old age, pened and by the whsle family.
 5, end as began:
 Dreams are not always true.
 Nor, on the other hand, are they always salse. se.-Erehangs.