Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-30
NV little Joe. She spoke from her

y soAA thNs ~ lev q AtS'tA
to find with you before. You've beef
kind, and loving, and good always, bu
1 shall he sorry we vel met if YOU g
on in this way. Don't ask me what
mean; you know.
Joe" said I, cts only one clul
night"
ut will grow" said she.
Then she put her arms around m,
neck.
Don't be afraid, child, I'll never pain
you so again
And l meant it; but at - O'Clock
that night I felt that ] had forgotten my
promise and my resolution.
1 couldn't go home to Joe. I made
up my mind to sleep on the club-sofa,
and leave the place for good next day.
Already l felt my brain reel as l never
had before. In an hour I was in the
land OF stupor.
1t was morning. A waiter stood
ready to brush my coat. l saw a grin
upon his face. My head seemed ready
to burst; my hand trembled. 1 looked
at my watch; l saw that [ had only five
minutes to reach the depot.
ooioo Stl-liC W IL llliil. w bS
l fit to take charge OF an engine? [
was not fit to nswer I ought to have
asked some sober man. AS it was, I
only caught UP my hat and rushed
away.
I was Just in time. The San Fran
cisco glittered in the morning sun. The
cars were filling rapidly. From my
post l could hear the ,alking-bidding
each other good bye, promising to write
and come again. Among them was an
old gentleman [ knew by sight-one of
the shareholders; lie was bidding two
timid girls adieu.
Goodbye, kitty-good-bye, Lue,"I
heard him say. Don't be nervous, the
San Francisco is the safest engine on
the line, and Gueldon the most careful
engineer. l wouldn't be afraid to trust
every mortal in the batch to their keep
ing. Nothing could happen wrong with
the two together
said, III get through it somehow,
and Joe shall never talk to me again"
After all it was easy enough. L reeled
as l spoke. l heard the signal. w
were off.
Five hours from IL to D., five
hours back. On the last 1 should lie
myself again, 7 knew. 1 saw a red flag
%iutter, but l never guessed what it was
until we passed the down train at the
wrong place. Two minutes more and
We should have had a collision. Some
body told me; / laughed. L heard him
say, respectfully:
"Of course, Mr.. Gueldon, YOU know
what you are about?'
Then / was alone, and wondering
whether 1 should go slower or faster. /
did something, and the cars rushed on
at a fearful rate. The same mar who
had spoken to me before was standing
near me. I heard some questions.
How many miles an hour are we MAX
ing? l did not know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle. l was trying to
slacken the speed Of the San Francisco.
l could not remember what ] should do.
Was it this or that? Faster-onlv
faster. I was playing with the engine
like a child.
Suddenly there was a horrible roar
a crash. I was flung somewhere-it
was into the water. By a miracle L was
only s~obered-not hurt. I gained the
shore. | stood upon the ground be-
tween the track and the rivers edge,
and then gazed at my w work.
The engine was in fragments, the
cars in splinters; the dead, dying and
wounded were strewn around-men,
women, and children. old age and tender
youth. There We're groans and shrieks
OF despair. The manned cried out in
pain; the injured bewaiied their dead:
and a voice, unheard by any other, was
in my ear, whispering, "Murder!!"
The news had gone back to A.,
and people came t%hronging back to find
their lost ones. Searching for an old
mans daughter, l came to a place un-
der trees, and five bodies were lying
there in all their rigid horror-an old
woman, a young one, a baby, and two
children. 1t was fancy-it was pure
fancy, borne to anguish. They looked
like oh, great heavens! cold and
How did they come on the train?
What chance had brought this about?
l gazed on the good old face of her who
had given me birth, on the lovely fea-
lures of my wife, on the innocent chill
dren. [ called them by name, There
was no answer. There never could be
never would be. And as 1 compre-
hended this, on the up-track came thun-
derlng another train. It's red eye glared
on me; l flung myself before it; I felt
1t crush me to atoms.
His head is very hot" said some
body.
[ opened my eyes and saw my wife.
"How do you feel?" she said; "a little
better?:"
l was so rejoiced and astonished by
the sight of her, that / could not speak
at first. She repeated the question.
Il must be crushed to pieces" said L,
Tor the train passed over me; but I
feel no pain"
There he goes about the train again"
remarked my wife. why, Ned!!"
L tried to move; there was nothing
the matter with NE; 1 sat up. Twas in
my " room, opposite the cribiu which
two children were asleep.
My wife and children we're safe. Was
l dellrlnns, or could it DO
joe" cried J., Just tell me how it
happened"
Its 8 O'clock" said Joe. "you came
in c,,nl , Jr,,lG,1 .L.I. r.--