Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-06-17
THE ACCIDENT.

Within a few miles of its terminus the
railroad passed through a valley, IA
row, to be sure, but of great and unu-
sual beauty. The sides and crests Of
the surrounding hills were dotted with
the pretty cottages Of suburban resi-
dents. but the country was moi yet SO
closely settled as TO have lost all pict-
u~resqueness. and. although the houses
were neat. they were simple, and the
lawns. though well Kept. were still I'M
disfigured by brazen ur cast iron statu.
airy. The neighbor'Iood had not yet
reached that stage in its development;
where its new houses were built upon
uninteresting plai Is furnished ready
made to rural en- penters by enterpris.
ing publishers Tor had its occasional
churchySrd yet LIST all sense of rest and
peace. Simple Eravestones there were.
but no pretent Gus monuments. But
even here death slyly took his victim
or stood forth 10 fight boldly
for his own as lie pleased.
II was here that many years before
John Dorsey had made for himself a
home, and it wa here that he was
now about to die.
There had been an accident. II was
a very slight one, and its cause was al
most ridiculous, John Dorsey, the con-
ductor of the sleeping car train. had
been the only one hurt. He, however,
although fatally injured. suffered al
most no pain and was entirely conscious
Of his surroundings and condition. He
had. indeed. stated his belief that he
was about to die long before the doctor
had been able to ascertain the charac-
ter Of his injuries or TO form any opin-
ion Of the probable result. His in
~sistance upon this v annoyed the
doctor.
Dorsey" he said, you must not
speak SO. You are too young to die.
and we shall save you"
As soon as could be after the acct.
dent Dorsey had been carried to a
neighboring house. and DIR. Irwin had
been sent for by men on the train who
had known of the intimate friendship
which existed between the two. This
friendship was of earlier date than Dor.
sey's connection with the railroad. and
that seemed to Dorsey's fellow EN-.
ployes to have begun almost ages
before.
Although Dorsey had been always as
frank and candid as a man well could
be in reference TO all his later life, in
regard 20 his earlier past he was singu.
larry reticent Among his fellows there
had always been considerable specula-
ton as to what his youth had been.
Some who had known of his intimacy
with DIR. Irwin. and Of his ability to
meet upon terms Of personal equality
the high officials of the road, and of
their regard for him, believed that he
had been an old college friend of the
doctors, and that some accident of fate
had made him a working railroad man
while the doctor had secured his profes,
sion. Others less charitable or with an
unhappier experience of the world, and
puzzled by the reports which reached
them of the repeated refusal Of Dorsey
TO take other positions higher and more
remunerative, believed that he must
have committed some crime. and was
therefore careful not to expose himself
30 too bright a light.
As a matter Of fact, he and the doc
tor had been classmates, but after their
graduation they had lost sight Of each
other for "A few years while DR.. Irwin
pursued his studies in various foreign
hospitals. Upon his return from abroad
he had heard Of the death of Dorsey's
wife and child. lie had looked Dorsey
up and expostulated with him upon his
selection OF a vocation. But Dorsey
was silent as to the reasons for his
choice and quietly persistent in his de
termination not to change his work II
he could help il.
But as frequently as he could Dorsey
would visit the doctor and stay with
him as much AS possible, and their
early friendship had grown and ripened-
tom" Dorsey said TO the doctor al
most upon his arrival. II am glad they
. 6 for you. but you cannot do any
thing"
An time went on the doctor reluctant
" began to believe that Dorsey was
hght-that his recovery was impossible.
Deeply as the doctor was grieved he
vas annoyed, too, to feel that his skill
would be Of no avail to his old friend.
why did you follow such an In
fernal business" he asked, impstiently.
Don't, Tom. Doney replied. Don't
call Il that
"And why should you b the only
one to be hurtf'
''was I tbs only onsr' Dorsey asksd
Yea"
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