Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-09-24
THE SWITCHMAN'S CHILD

eKpectant look In his eyes.
There was a movement behind the trunk
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 laughter
into his arms.
"May take the little one. Celine9" said
the father.
At these words a prepossessing looking
woman made her appearance
Again. she said, with a shade Of annoy
ance.
"Oh, we share her very fairly" said the
man, with the kindest and most paternal
smile IF 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 so long in her absenceH
Il was embarrassing. The child, Alice,
herself began to he troubled by this con-
versation and feeling that she could not
please boththese beings that she loved so
much, she was ready to cry. Celine saw it
at once, and yielded.
"rake her, Laurence; would rather have
her 80 than that you should fret about
IT,"
The father at these words showed some
feeling
Mo- said he. in his turn, keep her
you deserve Il; You love her best"
The discussion began again, but it was
this time a struggle Of generosity
AT last the husband took bis darling in
his arms, and smile reappeared on the
chid's lips.
celine looked longlngly after them and
re-entered the honse.
nrtsa hunVanqH fhnf NIT nrtf
saying anything to Celiue, Laurence took
the little girls hand to lead her away
when her mother suddenly appeared.
"Whatw she said. "You would take her
without telling mes"
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 usn
"Ohr' said Celine, douhtfully.
Listen, Laurence" she continued.
Alice grows more restless and trouble
some every day. Il is dangerous to let her
80 with you"
what do you meangn said the man
turning pale.
Il mean that l am afraid Of your rail-
road, with its trains"
"You are very foolish"
leave her here. | can hardly breathe
while my little girl is down there. 1t is
frghtful to think OF it, but she might get
away and be killed"
Don't talk so, Celine.n
"She might run away while you are al
the switch, and II you left TO look after hel
you would fail in your duty, and might b.
the cause Of a dreadful disaster"
mo, Celine, beg Of you, don't talk SOL
cried Laurence, who shuddered at the idea
The young woman did not insist. Tn,
pointslnan gradually recovered himself
my poor Aliceln he cried, embracing
the child frantically. 1T is too bad &c
line; it is e shame to brighten me So"
Celiue 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 daughte
down to the line with him, although rattle
nervous about it at times, but reasone
with himself:
Z THE child" he said, sis familiar wit
the passage Of trains, and she is old enoug
I to comprehend the danger"
Aud his apprehension gradually val
ished
!, One evening, however, when he wei
a home, he found he had been preceded
the rumor Of an accident which had o
e Cured at a neighboring station. A ma
J, had been crushed by an express train.
I Celine questioned her husband while
t us it true that Simon is killedY 81
z asked.
Z mo" replied Laurence He was
great danger. but be escaped, thanks
n his wonderful coolness.n
: "Then he is not deadf" said Celine.
n NO; and yet the whole train went on
4 him. When Simon saw IL was too late
save himself, he laid fat down in the mi
!. die Of the track, and when the train pass
/, by he got up again safe and sound. 81
: him. l asked him how it made him fe
y At first, he said, when the engine we
over him be WAS very warm; after that
= time seemed long. That was all. y
= know Simon is not easily frightened.
p is ready TO go TO work again" added IA
- renee TRANQUILITY.
But Celine's anxieties were aroui
ar afresh.
Of Some time after than the hours Of sery
at were changed, and Laurence took the nil
duty. He could no longer think OF TAX
n Alice with him.
n One evening, however, a woman in
a village was taken very i'll.
e. The doctor who came wrote a presc
.et ton, and said to the neighbors he fol
I'd there:
These medicines can only be had in
ed next town, and you must not wait
them. Let one Of you go TO the rail-
In station, where there is a portable pharm
IS and ask the station master on my acco
,s for little laudanum. That will quiet
on pains till you can have the prescript
Which of Won will QO?n
-. "Celinel Celinef' said several voices
80 Il was certain that the station ma
- would not hesitate to give her the n
- cine
nm The young woman thought Of lea
Alice, but as she had been particul
restless all day Celiue concluded to
ash her. They had 70 pass Iaurence's pla
20 TO the station. He saw them con
aud as soon as they were within hea
began to question them.
"Old Gertrude is very i'll, and am z
= on 20 the station for medicine
cue that's right. But let me have 4
cap I will keep her till you come back A."
rson- Celine lifted the little girl over the
the TO her father, who took the precious
It's den in his arms and returned with b
POINT his box, before which a lamp was bur
next Darkness covered the metals. which CT
foot each other in several directions.
In It would not take Celine more
'day,