The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-06-19

him Of sliding down hill. He kept
the fires low, and the engine slipped
along OF its own weight, gathering
momentum as it went, until 1t almost
few. To-day he stood watching the
track before him, as No 147 sped over
the rails, admiring, half unconscious
ly, the wonderful panorama spread
out before him, and thinking. quite
consciously, of little blue-eyed girl
he had left at the East, wondering how
soon he might have home for her in
the West. Then he thought OF No.
l47, with how much distrust he had
undertaken her. and how pleasantly
she had disappointed him. He felt
in perfect sympathy with her
now--sure that she would respond
to his touch, confident that he
could always guide her. 1--WE un.
derstand each other, don't we. my
beauty" he said, half aloud. s.o
The locomotive whizzed along.
Looking up above him, he could see
the other engines, apparently not far
away, but he knew that miles of tort:
uous, twisting track lay between them.
And below was the most unfathomable
abyss. One deviation from the track,
and he would 60 crashing down into
its depths, to certain destruction. He
was nearing the cabin now. Two
more sharp turns and it would come
into view, and he would slacken his
speed for a moment that he might
have word with his little girl.
"She is sweet child" he said half
aloud to himself, 'she makes me think
of Bessie.'' And now he turned the
first curve. The turn was sharp one,
the grade very steep and as he came in
sight of the track beyond he saw the
little girl of whom he had just been
thinking, lying, apparently asleep on
the track, scarcely stones throw be.
fore him. s I}
To reverse his engine, to put on the
full power of the brakes, to whistle
the danger signal loudly, all this was
but the work of an instant, but he
knew only too well that it was useless,
that before the engine could possibly
be stopped he would be Upon the
child.
The noise awakened her. She raised
her head, and turned frightened. be-
wildered face toward him. He was so
near he could see the whites of her
eyes. He thought he heard her speak.
He closed his eyes. He could not see
his engine pass over and mangle
that little form. and even in that
moment of agony he was conscious
of hundred different things OF
wondering how he could ever meet
the mothers eye, when he had killed
her child. OF how old Mike would
exult, and say: II told We So" and
then there came crash and a thud,
and he knew no more. .a 7,|
When he came to himself he was
lying on his own bed, in the board
ing house. at the entrance to the pass.
His mother sat beside him, and
Tommy Burns, one of the firemen.
was at the window. He felt strange
ly, he tried to move his right arm,
but it was useless. Then he lifted
his left arm to his head, and found it
covered with bandages. His mother
hastily intercepted his motions.
There, there, DEAR" she said, '.it's
all right. l am here, take this" and
she put spoonful of something to his
lips. Weakly obedient, he obeyed.
but gradually memory asserted itself,
and he could not keep quiet.
What was itP" he asked. II killed
child, didn't ~"
mo, DEAR" said his mother. tom
my knows just how it happened; he
will tell you, If you feel strong enough
to hear it." rye'1
! He made gesture of assent. and
Tommy came from the window to the
bedside with that sheepish air which
strong, well men often wear, and be-
gan: lW1i5
1.-THE little kid is all right" he said,
Though No 147 meant to kill her fast
enough. You see, just before you got
to her. there was broken rail. Don't
know how it happened. Gurus about
it. Track walker was over there not
an hour before, an says it was all
right. Wall, it was there, any how,
and No 147 want lookin' out
for it, an it was too much for her.
She pitched off'n the bank, and she
rolled over an over, more'n thou.
sand feet, clean to the bottom of the
canyon. An there she'll be to the day
Of judgment for she's tore all I'd
pieces. an serve her right, too.
You was pretty we'll bunged up.
Arm broken and head cut up-an' &C
they fixed up q bed for you. an
brought you right along on the train.
An we tellygruffed for your mother to
come an take care Of you. an she 20,
here that night You've been purity
sick. Had fever an was out on
your head. an raving about the little
kid you thought you'd killed. an the
doctor said as soon as you come to w
must tell you she want hurt to cas-,
your mind"
It was all true. In some miraculous
way Charlie had been freed from tn,
locomotive, and caught in a tree Their
the section men found him, q few