The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-09-24

they could carry my thoughts
! through the outward space to the
great beyond. Would that my
prayer had never been answered,
since my happy home must ever
have the cloud of that sinful wish
for the death of his mother. |
| would gladly serve that hard na-
fturcd woman for years if | could
only atone for the SIM She little
knew Of The invisible saunders that
are beating in every brain, in every
heart, and that the fingers of God
are upon the keys. The waters
cleaned beneath, for the tide was
coming in t.; and the heavy splash
against piers seem to foretell a
coming danger. The insulators
cleaned in the light, like SO many
eyes along the wires length, while
the hum Of the faithful sounder
seemed to fall upon her ear from
time TO time, causing her electric
pulse to thrOb in unison. For there
is a current through all nature, and
the soul Of mankind reaches its
home over invisable wires. She
had walked heedlessly forward, but
stopped, for there crouched upon
the last tie of the bridge his-shock
of tangled hair, balf covering his
6rOws, was the sleeping form of a
mudstained tramp, all begrimed in
dust and rags. A great fear seized
her, and she turned to fly, but could
not tor the great gulf of waters that
yawned below, seemed-seemed TO
threaten as she became aware that
the turning bridge had been thrown
from its place. She could see the
keepers lodge on the other side,
but silence reigned supreme, save
for the kissing of the waves as they
lapped the piers and seemed ready
to euguiI the Oucoming train. il
must even NOW he due Yes, at
this moment, The distant roar
what can be done Can q moment
be gained +? And now--the sun
light gone-tbe gray mlsts came uD
from the surging waters.
She called loudly, aud roughly
shook the ragged creature at her
feet; she almost dragged him up;
she called again aud again for the
keeper OF the bridge, but the sound
of her voice died in the gathering
gloom. The shadows from the
great timbers of the bridge fell like
giants into the yawning gulf below,
where the waves dashed and broke
themselves in pieces.
"Man! Man! If you be human
creature save that train.' He
shook himself, half aroused from
his stupor aud said gruf1ly, "Fm
only a tramp, but III do what |
can" Not a mOrsel of food had
passed his lips during the long
hours of the day; he had been
turned, foot sore and weary from
door to door and yet he had tOiled
on, until finding himselfOn the very
verge of this great gulf, this break
ia the iron rails, he had sunk down
to rest, aud wait and wait for whatf
1t might be for death for only a
step would hurl him into eternity.
The blessed periods in Gods sen
tences, where the thread Of life, the
wire is suffered to sway-tO rest.
A stupOr from WEAKNESS aud
hunger had stolen over him. He
did not know, poor wretch, that he
was On guard, that a long drawn
chain of circumstances had brought
him from his childhood home,
through those haley on years long |
past, to hold a seutinePs place. !
That the master had sent him, toll
ing forward, suffering cold and
hunger, and the scOrn OF those on
the highway that he might show
courage, strength aud manhood in
this great hour OF need, and I've the
means of saving the lives OF hun
lreds of people.
"What can be done p he mutter.
ID, 81 see the cleaning OF the head
light now, tell me, tell me W
"a light, a light" she cried, "if
We only had a light-we could save
hat trdin.n
As thought flashes over wire,
10 that earth-stalned creature
tattered scarf from his
hrOat, and held beneath 1t light
d match. The flame leaped up,
hen fell with an expiring flicker,
,ut the eager, trembling hands of
he woman sheltered the spark and
lighted a gauzy veil, then higher
md higher brazed the burning
cart. "ItcannOt last" she gasped,
1t will die before the engine gains
he bridge" "But it shall last
hough die in feeding il, he NUT
cred, tearing off his threadbare
oat, aud holding its ragged edges
'ver the flame. Tue wInds came
lver the waters aud blew vide the
burning banner. Never did royal
obe, all crusted with regal stones
,laze upon the night with mole
pleudOr. The seven wires above,
Ike silver threads OF destiny, lead !
ug outward into the dun beyond, |
effected the flashing illumination ;
nd the seethiug waters below
he heavy piers stood forth likei
aighty giants guarding the break
The wild-eyed woman, with blood I
ess cheeks, stood in the lurid glow
ike some vague spectre nisht
While the blackened aud earfh-pol-
uted tramp, even as vuicsn, she1
ie lighted the frcs Of his immoi i'ii
orges. Side b side. the one sue !