Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-01-04
THE RAILROAD BRIDGE,
BY JENNIE DEAN.

About three years ago my sailor
friend, Harry Moordale, went as pas
senger in the ship Tempest, bound to
Havre, at which port he arrived in due
course of time.
Among other passengers there was a
beautiful Swiss girl, whose name Harry
learned was Mary Lorme. My friend
had ventured once or twice to address
the maiden, but her timid, modest, half
frightened manner seemed to repel an
intimate mountaineering. She had
informed the young man, however, that
she had been to New York to assist a
female cousin engaged in the dry goods
business; that soon after her arrival
there, her relative had died. largely in
debt, whereupon Mary had concluded
to return home to her father, who, in
spite of q 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 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 a station fiji
teen miles distant, preparing to start in
five hours.
Is there no conveyance to that
place." queried Harry.
He was answered in the negative.
81 must go on" exclaimed Mary.
"My father, am afraid is very sick. 1
must see him as soon as eau"
Fifteen miles is long distance to
walk" said Harry.
"Not for me" answered Mary, smil-
ing. "The Swiss, you know, are great
walkers; I 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
They started, moving along the rail
road, for there was no other way. When
they came to rut or alog, Harry would
extend his hand and assist his pretty
companion, when, with a smile and q
shake of the head, she would leap over
the obstruction as nimbly as fawn.
They had proceeded about ten miles
when they saw the sun go down benin d
a range of blue hills in the distance.
The two were now moving along high
bridge raised upon spiles about two
hundred and fifty feet from the earth
while beneath it was rock and inun.
dated here and there by foaming tor
rents.
Ahead of them the travellers perceived
that a distance of about one hundred
yards there were no cross planks be
tween the rails. Therefore, in order tc
traverse this space, Mary and her com
panion must walk upon the track I'm
fortunately the track was not very
broad, yet a person Of steady balance
capable of maintaing his self possession
in spite Of the yowning abyss on eacl
side Of him. might occasionally derive
support from the beam projecting out
ward several inches beyond each side
OF the track which was riyited upon it.
Frail support, however, with thos,
Jagged rocks two hundred feet below
ready 20 receive the unfortunate oJ
yeuturer who should make the slishtes
mi-step
Harry paused looked at hs hi
friend and .huljerel
we Dad better tum about nll he
care SON aml| ahe softly boz
luIred Then ri, hn ghera g.oag
. hoIy Iurmy ns. lmuur
.lar uHrn.e. Fyt