The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-15
THE SWITCHMAN'S CHILD


Theme was a movement behind the trunl
of an apple tree The mans smile grew
broader, and from the tree, like a dryad
rushed a charming little faxen haired girl
who threw herself with burst of laughte
into his arms.
MAY take the little one, Celine?" sait
the father.
At these words a progressing looking
woman made her appearance.
T'Againp she said, with shade of annoy
ance.
"Oh, we share her very fairly" said the
man. with the kindesb and most paterna
smile. eff you knew" he resumed, chow
quickly the hours pass when she is down
here with me-"
Don't you think 1 know, when find
them 50 long in her absence?"
1t was embarrassing. The child, Alice
herself ba.gan TO be troubled by this con-
versation, 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; I would rather have
her go than that you should fret about
it."
The father atathese words showed som
feeling.
"No," said helm his turn keep her
you deservedt; you love her best"
The discussion began again, but it was
this time struggle Of generosity.
At last the husband took his4darling In
his arms, and smile reSppeared on the
child's lips.
Celine looked longingly aftersthem and
re-entered the house.
One morning it happened that, without
saying anything to Celine, Laurence took
the little girls hand to lead her away,
when her mother suddenly appeared.
'fWhatl' she said. ''You would take her
without telling me?"
Don't think that" said Laurence, in
some confusion. 1--WE were in fun-we
were going to hide behind the trees and
see you look for usy
''Oh" said Celine, doubtfully.
Listen, LaureHce," she continued.
"Alice grows more restless and trouble
some every day. 1t is dangerous to let her
go with you"
"What do you mean?" said the man
turning pale.
81 mean that l am afraid of your rail-
road with its trains"
~"You are very foolish"
Leave her here. l cans hardly breathe
while my little girl is down there. 1t is
frightful to think of it, but she might get
away and be killed"
Don't talk so, Celine."
"She might run away while you are at
the switch, and if you left to look after her
you would fail in your duty, and might be
the cause of dreadful disaster"
''No, Celine, beg of you, don't talk SOP
cried Laurence, who shuddered at the idea.
The young woman did not insist. The
pointsman acknowledgements himself.
my poor Alice"F he cried, embracing
the child frantically. ut is too bad, Ce-
line; it is shame to brighten me So"
Celine smiled, and the conversation end
ed, as usual, with these words from Lau-
renee, ''You will come for her at noon"
Laurence liked to take his daughter
down to the line with him, although rather
nervous about it at times, but reasoned
with himself:
THE child" he said, 'is familiar with
hepassage of trains, and she is old enough
to comprehend the danger"
And his apprehension gradually van
ished.
One evening, however, when he went
home, he found he had been preceded by
the rumor of an accident which had oc-
CURED at neighboring station. A man
had been crushed by an express train.
Celine questioned her husband while at
supper
as it true that Simon is killed." she
asked
NO" replied Laurence. f'He was in
great danger, but he escaped, thanks to
his wonderful coolness."
"Then he is not dead?" said Celine.
mo; and yet the whole train went over
him. When Simon saw it was too late to
save himself, he laid fiat down in the mid
die of the track, and when the train passed
by he got up again safe and sound. saw
him. 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
know Simon is not easily frightened. He
is ready 90 go to work again." added Lau-
renee TRANQUILITY.
But Celine's anxietieS were aroused
afresh.
Some time after thas the hours of service
were changed, and Laurence took the night
duty. He could no longer think of taking
Alice with him.
village was taken very i'll.
The doctor who came wrote prescrip-
ton, and said to the neighbors he found
there:
These medicines can only be had in the
next town, and you must not wait for
them. Let one of you 60 to the railway
station, where there is portable pharmacy,
and ask the station master on my account
10 10, Il Al.
pains till you can have the prescription.
Which of you will gos"
"Celine! CelineI" said several voices
1t was certain that the station master
would not hesitate to give her the medi- |
cine.
The young woman thought of leaving
Alice, but as she had been particularly |
restless all day Celine concluded 10 take |
her. They had to pass Laurence's place to
90 TO the station. He saw them coming,
and as soon as they were within hearing |
began to que ion them.
"Old Cert le is very i'll, and am going |
to the static for medicine"
That's right, But let me have Alice. |
/ will keep her till You come back"
Celine lifted the kctle girl over the fence |
10 her father. who took the precious bur |
den in his arms and returned with her to 1
his box, before which lamp wss burning. /
Darkness covered the metals. which crossed |
each other in several directions.
1t would not take Celine more than I
twenty minutes TO get to the station and /
back. The child was in one of her most /
frolicsome moods. She ran suddenly into I
tie garden. Laurence ran laughing aftel /
her.
''You can't catch me,n she said.