The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-10-16


an hour and half. Robert will be on
the train, l will 60 to the station and
tell them my dream-no. I can not do
that, they will pronounce my fears the
vagaries of an insane person."
Ethel clasped her hands nervously.
"Hadley's bridge is only half mile
from the village she unused; cit will
be relief to know that the bridge is all
right and, in case there should be any
thing wrong can use one of my Chi
nese lanterns for a signal"
Twilight was rapidly merging into
the somber shadow of night when
Ethel reached the bridge. Every
thing seems to be all right" she whis-
pered in tone of relief. AS her eyes
became more accustomed to the gloom,
she saw what appeared to be huge
body lying across the track near the
center of the bridge. Lighting match,
she glanced at her watch. mo time to
go back for help What shall I do?"
The precious moments were passing.
With a prayer upon her lips, Ethel
stepped upon the bridge. Slowly and
cautiously she felt her way.
oHCc Sllo SldHCou uON uWdru through
the cross beams that connected
the post of the bridge-she almost lost
her footing: with frightened exclama-
ton she clutched the rough post fran
tically; with a mighty effort she con-
trolled her swaying body and continued
her perilous journey. Creeping on
hands and knees she finally reached the
object that lay upon the track. Mis-
creants had fastened two immense logs
to the rails with strong wire. Ethel al
most shrieked in her despair. Il must
warn Them" she painted. 1t seemed an
age to Ethel ere she reached the oppo-
site end of the bridge Thank Heaven
that this is safe" said Ethel, taking the
little lantern from her pocket 1t was
the work of a moment to light the small
candle, and as the ruddy glare il
lumlned the space around Ethel, sho be-
came aware of the fact that her slippers
had fallen from her feet, her hands
were bruised and bleeding, and, as she
raised the lantern above her head, a red
stream slowly trickled down the white
arm from which the sleeve had been
rudely torn during her perilous jou rney
across the bridge.
rumbling noise is heard. then a
sharp, quick whistle sounds upon the
air Ethel realizes that there is not a
moment to lose. A hundred yards have
been traversed: onward she flies like
the wind; the train rounds curve in
the distance; she swings her lantern
frantically; the engineer does not see
the signal; the brave little woman will
be run down. She totters onward,
waves the lantern wildly and shrieks
aloud in her agony. The signal is seen.
A moment later train hands and passen-
gers crowd around Ethel, who has just
sufficient strength left to tell about the
bridge ere she sinks into unconscious
ness.
"There is no time to lose,' muttered
Robert Carroll as he hurried toward P.
St. wharf. Thrusting dime into the
grimy band of a newsboy, he snatched
a morning Herald and boarding the
steamer and went directly to his state
room.
At last the moving of freight, hurry
ing of footsteps and clanking of chains
wood moves slowly out of the dock and,
guided by busy little tug boat, moves
ma estically down the harbor towards
the broad Atlantic.
Robert leaves his state-room and go
ing on deck PAGES restlesslv to and fro
At the end of half an hour he takes the
Herald from his pocket and chances list
lessly through the columns. Suddenly
his face blanches, he utters an excla-
nation, passengers who are in his vi
cinity gaze at him curiously. The words:
TERRIBLE CALAMITY AVERTED!
HERoIsM OF THE YOUNG WIFE OF ROBERT
CARROLL OF THE FIRM OF JOHNSON,
CARROLL & co..
danced before his eyes; with mighty
effort he read on, when his eyes rest
upon the words:
She thought her husband was on the train
and went through the terrible ordeal 10 save
him.
He jumped upon his feet and rushed
into the presence of the captain. A few
words explained the situation and an
hour later Robert Carroll was trans
ferred to the returning tug which car
ried him safely to tho wharf from which
he had taken his departure earlier in
the day.
The hours that followed seemed like
an eternity to Robert Carroll AS the
train approached Hadley's bridge, he
pictured in his Imagination the slender
form of his young vito moving eau
tiously across the long stretch of trestle
work to save the life of the man whom
she declared that she hated.
Poor little girl" he murmured, ten
derby.
With eager footsteps he traversed the
well-known pathway. His heart beat
unanimously as he crossed the thresh-
old of the cozy little sitting room.
Ethel met him with a glad cry: ooh!
Robert! knew that you would como
back to me-" she exclaimed, ioyously.
"Forgive me, Robert and forget if you
can the cruel words that have caused US
so much suffering"
Ethel raised her hands, all bruised
and SCARED and gently stroked her
beautiful brown tresses now SO thickly
streaked with silver.
Before the expiration of another week !.
Robert Carroll and his wife were on
their way to Europe, and Ethel never
knew that Robert had planned to go
alone.-M. A. Thurston, in The Home.
5-A'Five o'clock teas are nuisance
remarked Nuwed, who always found
company in his house when he got,
homo from his Office "Five O'Clock
vexations would be more appropriate
title for them"