The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-28
"You can't catch me-" repeated the


catch mel"
"Yes, I don't want you to stay there.
The express train is coming"
"Oh! l shan't let you catch me. The
train has gone by"
"There is another"
Instead of replying the child said
Run after me, papa, run"
Laurence saw there was nothing to be
done but to run after her, and take her
out of danger. He rushed toward the
place where he heard her voice. 1t was
dark, and Aimee escaped him still. His
alarm increased. At any instant the
whistle Of the oncoming train might be
heard, and Laurence redoubled his ap-
peals. His voice was hoarse with fright |;
the fatal moment approached, and still
the child laughed and repeated:
"You can't catch me-"
Now the whistle sounded. The lucu-
brious call paralyzed the poor man. and
he lost his head completely. The train
would have two victims il he did not re-
gain his composure. Two victims It
would be catastrol he with incalculable
consequences for a train was stopping at
the station little way ahead, and If the
express was not switched off there must
inevitably be collision. Laurence shook
off his torpor.
"Aimee !" he cried in laundering
tones.
Here, papa" And the child continued
to give sharp little calls, which mingled
in the roar of the approaching engine.
The instinct Of duty rather than will
urged Laurence toward the switch. He
seized the instrument which ought to turn
the train.
"No," he exclaimed, II must save her.
Aimee, Aimee! where are you?" and his
eyes sought to pierce the darkness.
The switchtender, with hair on end,
thought of throwing himself before the
iron monster. But one chance remained
that Aimee was not on the track over
which the train must pass. He looked
again. He saw her-he saw her. She
was there, standing on the very track
the train must take il he altered the
switch. If the iron tempest did not take
its true course the child was saved. The
train would go on TO crash against the
one at the station. What matter? Aimee
would be alive! All this went through his
mind like lightning. They would be
killed and wounded-twenty families
in despair, but Aimee would be safe and
sound. There would be an inquest; he
would be condemned to prison, dis
honored, ruined! But his daughter, his
little Aimee, would live and be happy.
All! how quickly one can think in such
terrible moments!
The train came laundering on, but it
could not be seen on account of a sharp
curve in the road. There was still time
to save Aimee, but the child would not
stir. 1t seemed to her father that she
waited for the train with an air Of def
ance.
Aimee, he repeated, in voice stran-
gled by fear, Aimee, come here!"
Suddenly the advancing lights Of tho
engine appeared. The train was upon
him; it was here. The man felt his
whole being shake. He was bewildered
could see nothing; thought did not
stop, however, but travelled faster than
the train. He recalled in second his
honorable soldiers life, when he had sac.
rificed everything to duty. He saw in
the station the frightful accident he would
have caused. and heard the cries Of the
wounded, the last gasps Of the dying.
The problem was before him-his daugh-
ter or others? There was no alternative
without miracle.
With astonishing promptitude the sen.
timent of duty became most powerful,
and he seized mechanically the handle Of
the iron bar. The stoical soldier at this
moment was uppermOst, and effaced the
father. He pushed, hardly knowing
what he did, and the express train crossed
the switch.
On, on it went, and he could see it
passing before the station, going by as if
it were happy to escape a danger, and
disappearing in the darkness. Duty had
been strongest. Stupefed, staggered,
speechless, Laurence was rooted to tho
not, holding still the cursed handle
win. IN had helped him to kill his child.
4NNv," he said, ut is my turn to die. "
The Oth,,r train was about to pass He
stepped forward, crossed his arms, and
awaited it. The whistle sounded, the
heaving engine pulled.
Bewildered, thinking of nothing, there
he stood.
But that instant burst of laughter
sounded behind him. He turned, wild
with hope.
~Oh, naughty papa! he won't play
with Aimee" said the most beloved of
voices.
The child was clinging to him. Lau-
renee did not seek to know how the child
came there alive. He seized her and fled
with his treasure into his little cabin.
Then he put her on the ground before the
lamp and looked at her. He could not
bear so much joy, and fell fainting be-
side his daughter, who, in her turn.
screamed with terror.
At this moment Celine arrived. She
heard her child's voice, and hastened hel
steps. Then, becoming impatient, she
called:
"Aimee!"
| Tho child ran IN rneet her CRYING.