Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-01-17
THE RAILROAD BRIDGE.
ny JENNIE DEAN.

RY JENNIE DEAN.
.,nut three years ago my sailor
friend, Harry Moordaae, went as pas
.anoer in the ship Tempest, bound to
T.yre, at which port he arrived ia due
course of time.
Among other passengers there was q
beautiful Swiss girl, whose name Harry
learned was Mary Lorme. Ny friend
had veptured once or twice to address
,ha maiden, but her timid, modest, half
frightened manner seemed to repel an
intimate acquaintanceship. She had
informed the young man, however, that
.ba had been to New York to assist q
female cousin engaged in the dry goods
business; that soon after her arrival
Their. her relative had died, largely in
debt vhereupon Mary had concluded
TO return home to her father, who, in
spite Of severe illness, had, in accord
nee with an agreement by letter, come
to Dion with the old family coach to
wait for her. Having learned this
much, Harry took q great interest in
the girl, and felt almost bound to act
the knight for one in her lonely, de-
fenseless condition.
When the boat, which, among other
passengers, contained her and him,
struck the landing, Harry politely Of
fered to carry the fair ones carpet-bag.
She thanked him with her usual sweet
smile. He took the bag, and the young
couple entered the diligence which was
to carry them to Paris.
\ There they finally arrived, ten min
utes too late for that days train. The
travellers were informed, however, that
there was another train at station fif-
teen miles distant, preparing to start in
Eve hours.
is there no conveyance to that
place." queried Harry.
He was answered in the negative.
4 must go on!" exclaimed Mary.
MY father, [ am afraid is very sick. 1
must see him as soon as can"
Fifteen miles is long distance to
walk" said Harry.
Not for me" answered Mary, smil-
ing. "The Swiss, you know, are great
walkers; 1 have been brought up to it
almost from infancy"
As her soft, pleading eyes seemed to
say, You must go with me-" Harry
could not resist the appeal.
Ihey started, moving along the rail-
t s Tor there was no other way. When
they came to a nut or log, Harry would
extend his hand and assist his pretty
companion, when, with smile and a
SNAKE OF the head, she would leap over
'n e, obstruction as nimbly as fawn.
lney had proceeded about ten miles
"nen they saw the sun go down benin d
=, range of blue hills in the distance.
: ne re TWO We're now moving along high
bridge raised upon spiles about two
uu ~ IL and fifty feet from the earth,
Snlle beneath it was rock and inun-
ua'eo here and there by foaming tor
:, Anead of them the travellers perceived
WA. distance of about one hundred
: .alos there were no cross planks be-
."een The rails. Therefore, in order to
~. .aaSefse this space, Mary and her com
t talllon must walk upon the track. I'm
:, 0tVunately the track was not very
a oaOaa, yet-a person of steady balance,
~ OF maintaing his self possession,
-, sp'.e OF the yawning abyss on each
s s, MN, might occasionally derive
support s'a,9 from the beam projecting out
~ ra =, several inches beyond each side
~ rue track, which was rivited upon it.
lfall support, however, with those
legged s rocks two hundred feet below,
-eaay to receive the unfortunate I'D
suVufer who should make the slightest
nisstep.
larry paused, looked at his fair
ilend and shuddered.
we had better turn about" said he.
or; are you afraid?" she softly in.
ha a,eo' Then as his cheek glowed
sg For my sake, I meant"
=, For your sake, yes"
Mary smiled.
Lfoi, nave been on the Alps" she said,
w. o:llo~ing those who hunted on the icy
mh nus OF precipices for the chamois,
oa'1, why should shrink now?'
,;s null Harry hesitated. A rail wa.
sna 1. 81. from the edge of a precipice,
VIZ The young man o1r,o.t s.:a