Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-01-04
Pap, is Driving"


car nearest 10 me. The door was
quickly shut. The whistle Was blown
and We were of.
Curiously enough the car was crowd
ed formed the fifth passenger. Two
of the corners were occupied, one by
an officer and the other by civilian.
Facing me was a woman, about thirty
years old, neatly and modestly dress
ed, and beside her sat the most beau
tiful little child | ever saw-a little
girl about six years old, with flood
of blonde curls waving under her i'm
mense straw hat. Now and then the
child would look through the window
in the direction of the engine, and
then her eyes seemed 10 wander in
the infinite space that was enrolling
itself before her We came TO sta
ton. The train stopped. The little
girl put her face TO the window. Il
don't see HIM" Then suddenly her
face frightened and her eyes lii with
golden hues. shining with indescriba
BILE JOY, while her lips came down
upon two hands that came from the
exterior and were plodded upon the
frame of the open window. "Ah,
papa Here is papa exclaimed my
little neighbor with the exuberant
and innocent JOY of her six years.
1t was the engineer Of our train,
who had come to speak To his little
daughter and his wife, who were
seated in front Of me.
We are going very fast, said the
woman.
we must make up for lost time,
replied the man. Were you afraid
Jeanne?
No" said the child, because !
knew that you were driving.
We'll, bye-bye, said the man a. he
left.
"Bye-bye, papa" said the child
throwing herself into his arms.
The train started and gradually
reached an extraordinary speed. !
worship children, and began 10 eN-
anime the little one in front of me.
She was iull OF life aud good humor.
She amused herself with everything
and nothing, cajoling with her moth
er. inquisitive with the window, severe
with her doll. She was carrying on "A
thousand different conversations all
at once. and with IA noise that was
almost deafening, when suddenly the
gentleman in the other corner eX-
claimed
Decidedly we are going too fast.
The train will surely run oil the
track
"Oh. don't be afraid" said the
child seriously; papa is driving
The officer was reading. Helooked
out OF the window, and then resumed
his reading without making any OBJ
servation.
The other gentleman again began
70 talk.
This is certainly madness, said he.
yet. madam. ne continued, address
ing the lady, your husband is either
drunk or crazy.
"Oh, sir, said the lady, my hus-
band never gets drunk. You saw him
a little while ago Certainly the train
is going at furious rate. ! don't
quite understand II.
The officer closed his book and
stretched himself along the seat. II
would advise you TO do the same. III
you keep seated your legs will he
smashed. Remember the Nersilles
accident.
Certainly the train was running at
a terrifying rate. What in the world
could the engineer mean by such
driving. II AIN afraid said the citi-
zen, white with terror.
Then the officer took me aside.
Here is my name and address, said
he. IF | AIN killed or mortally
wounded in the accident 10 which we
are running. and you escape, promise
me now that you will carry these dis
patches without moments delay TO
the General whose name you will find
by opening this envelope
| Ipromised.
The woman took the child ia her
arms and covered her little face with
tears and kisses. She seemed 10 wish
to make a rampant Of herself 10 pro-
tect the little one against the fright
ful smash-up that was mOmemtarily
expected.
Il am not afraid. said the child
smiling, papa is driving. And she
along among all OH board the train
had faith and confidence. We could
hear in the other cars cries Of terror
and wailings Of despair, and in spite
of the mother. the child leaned out Of
the window in the back door and
shouted out with ali the force Of its
little lungs: Don't be afraid; papa j.
driving" An. that sweet little girl
i'm the general terror, was a tower OF
strength with that sacred love Of a
child for a father-an affection that
nothing can break down.
Gradually the train slowed and then
came to a standstill. We were at a
station. The engineer came TO the
door.
we have been going very fast,
said he, "But all hazards we must get
to Reims before the Prussians. That
we must do at the risk of being blown
up or smashed 10 pieces on the way.
I'm told we are carrying important
dispatches aud he looked at his lit
tie girl with tears in his eyes.
Give me your hand said the Off