Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-07

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shelter of the embankment, on which the
mercIIees though tender falling winding
sheet was surely wrapped. Past these,
and many mora sights, did the Pullman
carriage rush and scream. and yet no
stopping for the train.
But ten miles farther on tha trsp was
laid. In deep cutting, tie northern
wind and drifting cloud cOnspired 70 DO
battle with the boosted power of man.
Lie closer still, o drift! blow fercer still,
o wind! Ye wait the daring monster
who boasts he can out-strip the wind,
and rattle wildly over the snow-ciad
fields.
A roar through tunnel-Bertie had
once egain turned in-the train emerged;
it slackened speed; q long deep whistle.
The engine stopped dead short, ana
pushed up a six-foot mound of snow,
melting it for one brief half minute, the
water dash a at its enemy fire, and hiss
ed its vengeance in its burning ears. The
fiery foe collapsed, the mighty monster
lay imbedded in the drift, harmless as
fettered giant, but still noisy in its pro-
tests.
Clouds of steam anxious TO be free
from that fatal cutting rushed upward
and disappeared. or unable to escape,
1
snow-White carpet. The engineer let Il
boiler run empty, and sent his fireman
back to the last station for assistance.
| Man was powerless against the snow.
| The soft, the gentle snow!
The passengers aWOke and shiyering
came out one by one at the emo platform
| of the train, asking questions and not
waiting for replies. No need to ask what
vas the matter a second time. The help
less lighted train glowed like a long
| liz hthouse beneath the snow clad en-
bankment. bank in front, a tunnel be
hind yawning darby like an immense
hole cut in white paper, q biting wind
and driving snow told the tale ali too
clearly.
Showed up! Not doubt of it. When
| could assistance arrive? No ladies; only
% travellers, all men.
/ An hour passed. A scout who was sent
ahead reported the drift almost impos-
sible even Cd foot, and the wind at the
end of the cutting rendered progress high
! ly dangerous. They must camp where
! they were until day, at least. Better in
the Pullman sleeper than upon the slope
of that fatal drift.
But BERTHE was due at his Manchester
office at 9 O'Clock that morning. It was
now about a quarter of 4. He must get
on, and he expressed his determination
aloud.
| 81 will accompany you-where are we,
guardf"
"Atween Ambergate and MaIlock-but
don't know where though, gen lemen ex-
actly."
| Ben, the engine driver, informed them
that they were about an hour and quar-
| ter's run from Manchester and added a
word of carlton. But BERTHE was detar-
mined to push on, and accompanied by
two other passengers he started on his
expedition.
Once out of the cutting they trusted to
be free. Surely the stoppage of the line
would be telegraphed by this time and
perhaps a train would be waiting to take
them on. So they stepped manfully out
sinking deeply at every step but still
progressing.
The snow had ceased; the sky was clear
ing fast and frosty looking stars peeped
out TO view the desOiation. The wind
was bitter cold. Every now and then the
snow would be dashed in their faces as
by handfuls caught up by spirit fingers
to bar their way.
For awhile they kept side by side
| Struggling against the blast they pressed
on till, unknOwingly, they mounted the
side of the cutting, and wandering far
away across a level field, and over the
distant hedge covered up with newly fall
len snow.
| The sudden ease with which they step,
| ped now had the very opposite effect to
what might reasonably have been ex-
peoted. They knew they had strayed.
| Where was the railroad! They must re-
| gain 1t at any risk. Bnt the two old
travellers determined to remain where
they were, sheltered com paratively be-
| hind the hedge, in only a foot of snow,
till daybreak. BERTHE rashly made up his
mind to return in his tracks, which were
plainly discernible, and against the ad-
vice of his comrades he acted upon his
resolution.
His one idea was to reach Manchester,
If he did not succeed in averting the
| impending crash there, all bis prospects
would be ruined. His hopes of ever win
ming his lady-love would be com pletely
shattered, and what was life without love?
He must succeed, though he persisted in
the attempt. He would do his duty,
whatever happened.
So ne manfully struggled on-at times
up to his knees in snow: once com pletely
buried in the drift; he fell down, down,
until nothing but small star was visible
| overhead. The snow kept closing in. He
breathed hard upward toward the hole.
His hands were fastened to his side by
pressure of the drift. By breathing hard
at the tiny hole it became larger, the snow
melted and he got hand free. Atlength
| he got his head cut, and after severe
struggle he fell forward half insensible.
| He rolled over the harder snow for a
space; down, down, it seemed as if he
would never stop-a hard substance re-
ceived nina crash of glass or ice, a
moment afterwards fell upon his I'M
conscious ears, and he lay unconscious
on the ground. light was burning
| over his head.
|
The spirit remained in the body, but
the clay tenement refused to acknow-
ledge the presence of the master Sense
lay wrapped within the brain and be
hind the sullenly closed lids. Speech was
there, but somehow it could not force it's
way through the stubborn lips. The ears
were open to catch the slightest sound,
and eagerly they drank it in; but the
shaken nerves refused to listen, or at
best only grudgingly as yet.
And thus lay BERTHE in trance-dead,
and yet alive; ready TO speak, dying to
utter his thoughts, and yet dying, be-
cause his speech was locked; the pressure
on the brain was not yet unloosed, and
BERTHE lay there, almost as he fell, it
seemed to him.
But yet things we're curiously mixed
| up around him. He coald move his hands