Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-10

THE swIrCH.rEyDER's CHILD.
A THRILLING FRENCH STORY.

threshold, a smile on his race, ana an eA-
pectant look in his eyes. There is
movement behind the trunk of an apple
tree. The mans smile grows broader.
and, from the tree. like a Dryad, rushes
a charming little faxen-haired girl, who
throws herself, with burst of laughter.
into his arms.
"May | take the little one, Celine ?"
asks the father. At these words lovely
blonde, the mother of the child, made her
appearance.
again ~ she said with shade OF an
noyance.
'Oh. we share her fairly" said the
man, with the kindest and most paternal
smile. 'If you knew" he resumed,
"how quickly the hours pass when she Is
down there with me-
Don't you think know. when lind
them so long in her absence Aimee
grows more restless and trOubleso me
every day. it is dangerous to let her go
with you"
"What do you mean ?" said the man,
turning pale.
81 mean that am afraid of your rail-
road. with its trains and locomotives"
"You are very FOOLISH
while my little girl is down there. 1t is
frightful to think of, but she might get
away and be killed"
Don't talk so, Celine."
"She might run away while you are at
the switch, and if you left it to look after
her, you would fail in your duty. and
might be the cause of dreadful dlsas-
ter"
"Oh, Celine, | beg of you, don't J"
cried Laurence, who shuddered at the
idea. The young woman did not insist
The switch tender gradually recovered
himself. MY poor Aimee' he cried.
embracing the child frantically. 1T is
too bad, Celine; it is a shame to brighten
me So" Celine smiled, and the CONVEX
saton ended as usual with these words
from Laurence "You will come for her
at noon"
Little by little their terrors faded away.
Laurence reasoned with himself
1.-The child" he said, lis familiar with
the passage OF the trains, it is true, but
she is old enough to comprehend the dan
ger" And this apprehension gradually
vanished.
One evening, however, when he went
the rumor OF an accident which had oc-
cured at neighboring station. A brake
man had been crushed by an express
train. Celine questioned her husband
while they were at supper. us it true
that Simon is killedP" she asked.
mo, replied Laurence, "he was in great
danger. but he escaped, thanks to his
wonderful GOODNESS"
Then he is not dead" said Celine.
"No; and yet the whole train went over
him. When Simon saw it was too late to
save himself, he laid down in the middle
of the track, and when the train passed by
he got up again safe and sound. | saw
him and asked him how it made him feel
At first, he said, when the engine went
over him, he was very warm, after that
the time seemed long. That was al.
You know Simon is not easily frightened.
He is ready to 90 to work again." added
Laurence TRANQUILITY.
But Celine's anxieties were aroused
afresh. Some time after that the hours of
service were changed, and Laurence took
the night section. He could no longer
think of taking Aimee with him. One
evening. however, a poor woman in the
village was taken very i'll. The doctor
who came wrote a prescription, and said
10 the neighbors he found there: These
medicines can only be had in the town.
and you must wait tor them. Let one of
you 90 to the railroad station, where there
is portable pharmacy, and ask the sta
ton master on my account for a little
laudanum That will quiet the pains till
you can have the prescriptions. Which
of you will gop"
"Celine! Celine!" said several voices,
1t was certain that the station master
would not hesitate to give her the med-
cine.
The young woman thought at first of
leaving Aimee, but, as she had been par
ticularlv restless all day, Celine concud
ed to take her. They had to pass Lau-
rence's post to 90 to the station. He saw
them coming, and as soon as they were
within hearing, began to question them.
"Old Gertrude is very i'll. and am 60
ing to the station for medicine"
THAT'S right. But let me have Aimee
| will keep her till you come back"
Celine lifted the little girl over the
fence to her father, who took the precious
burden in his arms and returned with her
to his box. before which lamp was burn
ing. All around darkness covered the
tracks, which crossed each other IN every
direction. 1t would not take Celine more
than twenty minutes to get to the station
and back. The child was in one of her
most frolicsJme moods; she ran suddenly
into the garden. Laurence ran laughing
after her.
"You can't catch me-" said she.
"Yes can"
But the little witch evaded Laurence s
pursuit, leaving laughter behind her.
Here, here!" she said. and rushed to
the track and began to cross it.
Don't go there, darling" said her
father 1t was very dark-the switch
tender could hardly see his daughter.
You can't see me. repeated the child.
Come. come here" said her father.
'Look for me-" answered the child.
Aimee, Aimee. don't play any more,
I shall be angry. Come here"
"Ohl you say that because YOU can't
catch me-"
Come back, | will give you a cake.
THAT isn't true. you haven't one. You
want to make me come back"
Yes, don't want you to stay there.
The express train is coming"
"Oh | shan't let you catch me. The
train has gone by"
There is another"
Instead of replying the child said: Run
after me, papa. run"
Laurence saw there was nothing to be
t,,tt h.,- s,1-< H,.