The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-06-28
PA, FRIDAY. JUNE %. 1889

K,
aul lie would go crashing down into
lis depths, TO certain destruction He
was nearing the cabin now. Two
more sharp turns and it would come
into view, and he would sIacken his
speed for n moment that he might
have "a word with his little girl.
she IS a sweet child" he said half
aloud 10 himself, ''she makes me think
OF Bessie" And now he turned the
first curve The turn was a sharp one,
the grade very steep and as he came in
sight of the track beyond he saw the
little girl Of whom ne had just been
thinking, lying, apparently asleep on
the track, scarcely a stones throw be
fore him.
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 a frightened. be-
wilde. cd face toward him. lie was so
near he could sec the whites OF her
eyes. He thought he heard her speak.
He closed his eyes He could not sec
his cnvino pass over and mangle
that little form. and even in that
moment Of agony he was conscious
Of q 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: Il told ye so,' and
then there came a crash and a thud,
and he knew no more
When he came to himself he was
lying on his own bed, in tho board
ing house, at the entrance to the pass.
His mother sat beside him, and
Tommy Burns, one Of the fremeu,
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 il
covered with bandages. His mother
hastily intercepted his motions.
There, there, dear" she said, its
all right L am here, take this and
she put a spoonful OF something to his
lips Weakly obedient, he obeyed,
but gradually memory asserted itself,
and he could not keep quiet.
What was it?' he asked. 81 killed
a child, didn't I?"
NO, dear said his mother. Tom
my knows just how it happened; ho
viii tell you, If you feel strong enough
to hear it"
He made a 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:
The little kid is all right he said,
though No IL meant To kill her fast
enough You see. Just before You got
I TO her, there was broken rail- Dom
know how it happened Gurus about
/ It Track walker was over there not
an hour before, an SAYS il was all
right. Wall, it was there, any how.
and No. 147 want loo11in' out
for it, an it was too much for her
She pitched ofTn the bank, and she
rolled over an over, more Il n thou
sand feet, clean TO the bottom of the
canyon An there shell be to the day
/ Of Judgment, for she's tore all to
I pieces, an serve her right, too.
You was pretty well bungcd up.
, Arm broken and head cut up-an' so
I they fixed up & 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 got
here that night You've been purity
sick. Had fever an was out'cn
/ your head, an raviug about the little
kid you thought you'd killed, an the
doctor said as soon rs you come 10 we
must tell you she want hurt, to ease
your mind -.
1t was all true In some miraculous
way Charlie had been freed from the
locomotive, and caught in a tree There
the section men found him, a few
minutes later, when they hurried 10
the spot, drawn by the danger signal
He had had u serious illness, but
his injuries were not dangerous, nor
was it long before he was able TO re-
sumo work again.
Old Mike was jUbiIant at the verdi
cation OF his prophecy. Il told ye
there was no good In her." he said;
she meant to kill the little one and
break Charles heart, but she missed
her reckoning for once An it's safe
she Is now, rusting at the bottom OF the
canyon, and the best place FOR her, the
saints be praised. Julia \. Sabine,
IN Woman's Magazine.