Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-07-06

His voice Vas hoafse WIN Hlsnt' 'ue
fatal momen, approached snd still the
child laughed and repeated. "fOa cant
catch me."
No. the whistle .oandsd. The lusu.
briou. call pnalyEsd the poor man and
be los, hi. bead completely. The train
would have two victims II be did not
regain hi, eompo.ure. T"o victims IL
would be q e.ia,'rophe With iacalealable
consequences. for train was stopping AZ
the station a li,ils way ahead. and II the
elpre.. was no, switched oil there must
inevitably be a collision. Lsurrnee shook
of hi, ,orpor.
Aimee :" he cried in laundering tones.
"Here. papa
And the child continued to give sharp
little eal.. which mingled With the roar
Of the approaching engine.
The in.,ine, Of duty rather than will
urged Laurence toward the switch. lie
.sired the instrument, which oush, TO turn
the train.
"No," he cried. III mus, save her
Aimee, Aimee where are yoi' aud
hi, eye. .oush, TO pierce the darkness.
The switch tender. with hair on end
though, Of throwing himself before the
iron monster. Ba, one chance remained
,hA, Aimee va. no, on the tack over
which the trAin mus, pass. lie looked
again. and ihi. time he saw hsr she
va. there. standing on the very rack the
train mus, take II he altered the switch.
n the iron ,empe., did no, take Us true
course the child was saved. The train
would 20 on 20 crash sgains, the one At
the station. What matter Aimee
would be alive! All this ven, through
hi. mind like lightning. There would be
the killed and woandsd-,-en,y families
Ia despair. bu, Aimee would be safe and
sound Thsre would be an inquest; he
would be condemned TO prison. di'hon'
ored, ruined But hi. daughter. hi.
Aimee. would live and be happy. Ah :
how quickly one can think IN such terrible
moments
The train came ,hundsrins on. bat It
could no, be seen on aeeoun, OF a sharp
curve 10 the road. There VI. siill time
20 save Aimee. but the child would no,
stir I, seemed to her father iha, she
waited for the train with an All OF de-
hanee.
Aimee :" he repeated in a voice 'irAn'
sled by fear. "Aimee. come here. you
will kill me -
Suddenly the advancing light. Of the
engine appeared. The train was upon
him; IL was here. The man fel, hi.
whole being shake. lie was bswildsred
--coali see nothing; though, did no,
stop, however. bu, travelled faster than
the train. lie recalled in a second bis
honorable soldier. life. when be had sac
riheed everything to duty. lie saw In
the station the frishfal aeeidsn, he
would have caused. and heard the cries
Of the wounded. the last g.Ps Of the
dying. The problem Was before him
hi. daughter OF Others There va, no
alternative without miracle.
With astonishing prOmp,i,ude the sen.
,imen, Of duty became mos, powerful,
and be seized mechanically the handle OF
the iron bar The s,oie.l soldier 4, this
momen, was uppermos,. aud sh.eed the
father. lie pushed. hardly knowing
wha, be did. and the exprs.. train crossed
the switch.
On, on |, went. and be could see II
passing before the station, going by as II
|, weie happy to escape . danger. and
disappearing 10 the d.rkne.. Duty had
been strongest. s,upefed. staggered,
.peechles.. Laurence was rooted TO the
spot, holding still the cursed handle
which had helped him to kill his child.
"Now." he said, "i, is my turn ,c
die"
The other train VAS about TO pass
lie stepped forward. crossed his arms
and awaited IL. The whistle sounded
the hesving engine pulled. Besildered
thinking. there be stood.
But that instant q burst OF laughter
sounded behind him. lie turned. wild
with hope.
"oh. naug,y papa! he wOa't Pla!
with Aimee" said the most beloved o
voices.
The child was elinging to him. Lau
renee did no, seek 10 know how the ehil'
came there, alive. lie seized her. an'
fed with his treasure into his little cabin
Then be put her on the ground before III
lamp and looked q, her. lie could no
bear 80 much JOY, and fell fsiniing be
side his daughter, who. in her turn
screamed with terror.
At this moment Celine arrived. Sh
heard Aimee's voice and hastened he
steps. Then. becoming impatient. 'h
called:
"Aimee !"
The child ran TO meet her. crying:
"Mamms, mamms. am frightened !!
"what 10 the NATTER"
"Pspa has fallen down"
Celine rushed toward the seatry.boz
and found her husband completely In
sensible, and stretched on the grount
She sent for help. and the doctor. VII
had not Left the village, came and n
stored the poor man to CONSEQUENCES.
The next day when Laurence rose, b
wife looked at him in terror. lnstes
Of his former bright color, he s1hibi,e
. eorpss.liks p.llOr which never lsfs hi'
to the end Of his days. Lsurcnes ~