The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-28
THE SWITCHTENDER.

peared at the threshold. a smile on his
face and an expectant look in his eyes.
There was movement behind the trunk
of an apple tree The mans smile grew
broader, and from the tree, like dryad,
rushed charming little flaxen haired
girl, who threw herself with burst of
laughter into his arms.
MAY take the little one, Celine?" said
the father.
"Againl" she said, with shade Of an
noyance.
"Oh we share her very fairly" said
the man, with the kindest and most pa
ternal smile. "If you knew" he re-
sumed, show quickly the hours pass
when she is down there with me-"
Don't you think know, when find
them SO long in her absence?"
1t was embarrassing. Aimee herself
began to be troubled by this conversation,
and feeling that she could not please both
these beings that she loved so much. she
was ready to cry. Celine saw it at once
and yielded.
take her, Laurence; would rather
have her 60 than feel badly about it,"
"No, said he in his turn. "keep her
you deserve it; you love her best"
The discussion began again, but it was
this time a struggle Of generosity. At
last the husband took his darling in his
arms, and smile reappeared on the
child's lips.
One morning without saying anything
to Celine, Laurence took the little girls
hand to lead her away, when her mother
suddenly appeared.
"Whatl" she said "You would take
her without telling me?"
Don't think that" said Laurence, in
some confusion. ave were in fun-we
were going to hide behind the trees and
see you look for us"
Listen, Laurence" she continued.
"Aimee grows more restless and trouble
some every day. 1t is dangerous to let
her 60 with YOU.
"What do you mean?" said the man,
turning pale.
II mean that am afraid Of your rail-
road. with its trains and locomotives"
You are very foolish. "
"Leave her here. can hardly breathe
while my little girl is down there. 1t is
frightful to think of it, but she might got
away and be killed"
"Don't talk 80, Celine."
"She might run away while you are at
the switch, and if you left it to look after
her, you would fail in your duty, and
might be the cause of a dreadful disaster"
The young woman did not insist. The
kol I,,n h
self.
Celine smiled, and the conversation
ended as usual with these words from
Laurence:
"You will come for her at noon"
Little by little their terrors faded away.
Laurence reasoned with himself.
"The child" he said. "is familiar with
the passage of trains, it is true, but she is
old enough to comprehend the danger"
And his apprehension vanished.
One evening, however, when he went
home he found he had been preceded by
the rumor of an accident which had oc.
CURED at a neighboring station. A brake
man had been crushed by an express
train. Celine questioned her husband
while they were at supper.
as it true that Simon is killed." she
asked.
"No," replied Laurence, ~he was in
great danger, but he escaped, thanks to
his wonderful coolness.
"Then he is not dead? ?" said Celins.
"No; and yet the whole train went
over him. When Simon saw it was too
late to save himself he laid fat down in
the middle of the track, and when the
train passed by he got up again safe and
sound. ] saw him. l asked him how it
made him feel. At first, he said, when
the engine went over him, he was very
warm; after that the time seemed long.
That was all. You \, now Simon is not
easily frightened. He h ready to go to
work again" added Lam'ence tran
quilly.
Some time after that the hours OF .serv-
ice were changed and Laurence took tie
night section. He could no longer think
OF taking Aimee with him.
\ One evening" however, poor woman
in the village was taken very ill. The
doctor who came wrote prescription and
said to the neighbors he found there:
These medicines can only be had in
the town and you must not wait for
them. Let one Of you go to the railway
station, where there is portable
pharmacy, and ask the station master on
my account for little laudanum. That
will quiet the pains till you can have the
prescription. Which of you will go?"
"Celine! Celine!" said several voices.
IT was certain that the station master
would not hesitate to give her the medi-
cine.
The young woman thought Of leaving
Aimee, but, as she had been particularly
restless all day, Celine concluded to take
her. They had to pass Laurence's post
to go to the station. He saw them COM
ing, and as soon as they were within
hearing, began to question them.
sold Gertrude is very i'll, and am go
ing to the station for medicine.
"That's right. But let me have Aimee;
Twill keep her till you come back.
Celine lifted the little girl over the
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