The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-05-12


the track ahead without . word. Finally
be said: Bin this is my last run. ! an
am going TO lesve.the road tonight. |
know the little women st bcme worries 4
good deal when sm svsy. and bave
been thinking ss came along hos swful
she would feel il any thing should happen
to me. do no, mind II myself, but il
sint worth the risk. Bill, and | quit to-
night
Somehow. as be spoke. 1t came upon me
With lash OF horror thst he vould not live
TO quit would die at the throttle. But
for that, ss much ss ! should miss bin. |
would have been glad TO quit Tor inst the
reason be had given. could not answer
him at once, but Just looked about me at
the landscape. How beautiful 1t oil was
that day the river sbining like silver be
low Us, the bill around the base OF which
We we're sweeping stretching up above,
the green trees venturiDg to the very edge
of the track Yes. it WAS all so beautiful,
so quiet and then sbriek uFon shrek
burst from q whistle just sLesd OF us, and
We saw, as We rounded the crrve. so near
we could net stop the train on such
heavy grade. the passenger engine stand
ing with broken drive wheel. We could
easily have stopped the engine in quar-.
ter Of he distsuce, but with that heavy
train behind it. Oh. why had they not
tagged "? A confused picture OF excited
frenzied men and women, screaming shout
ing, vainly signalling us to stop comes
hack TO me now. knew thai ell OF their
efforts we're useless they were doomed.
Unable TO stand the sight, ! looked
away At Pat. His face was white and set,
but | think his hand was never quite as
firm and steady before. The breaks we're
called. the sir.brakes on, the lever rever
sed all that human power could do was
done almost before the first Shrek OF that
whistle had ceased to sound. Our best
but oh, how littlel had been done.
Yes. Bill, go. Pat said. We can do no
more here.
BOYS ] swear | thought be meant to fol-
low, or never would have left him.
saw him look up the bill toward where the
cottage stood miles back, up at the blue
sky, and then jumped. Qaick as lightn'
ing he opened the throttle vide. and the
liberated engine, wreuched itself loose from
the some v hat slsckened train, with sud
den plunge dashed down the hill. Down
to the very edge Of that confused and
struggling mass Of humanity; then, with
that same Lightning like motion the lever
ia reversed, and the faithful locomotive
thunders back to meet that mass OF rolling
death. All. yes we saw his plan now
Pat had clint bed up ons step farther. from
the engineers seat to the hero's throne.
The passengers were saved, but the mar
who was Offering up his life for theirt
dashed into that mass OF descending tim
Der with q crash that fairly shook the hills
and piled the wreck fully twenty feet IN
the air, the rescued mortals below forgol
their recent danger. and were swsyed by
one emotion only An overwhelming awe
before that act of superhuman vslor. AT
instant OF this. then one wild rush Tor thai
great pile OF broken timbers. Ah, well IN
deed l knew that Pat had made his las,
tripl -,
Sill living, although crushed beyond the
possibilities OF life, we found him. and
bore him back on the buckingham (h'
wonld not have it otherwise)to the cot
tsge.
Bill, he whispered, won't you 90 snt
break the b. ws TO her? BE gentle, gentle
Bill.
Gentle! | wonder il an angels way'
could seem gentle to one used to bis
never could recall how ] told her, L.
il be sacred to that hour OF sorrow.
do not think be felt the pain as w
carried him mp the hill. H. only realized
thu, he was going home. She was Their
10 meet him, her hero, and help us 10!
him on the bed. Then we vent ont, ant
left them alone.
Wont they le, me see him9 said avoic'
in our midst
/, was Charlie Ryan. We would hsv'
turned Lim array bnt Pat heard, and sen
ont for us oil, Charlie smoDg tue rest
Pat. be said, bursting into tesrs,
didn't mean to DO this. ! truly didn't
They sen, me back to flag you. and wbeI
saw You coming, | though what grsn'
chance j, would be to let you pass. sn'
claim Won we're o, on the lookout and di'
not see me. did not know heavy trail
would make so much difference In stop
p,pp. never dreamed OF an scciden
more than your passing ne and settin'
discharged for carlessness l sas certain
Won would stop in time sfter you came u
sight Of them
We'll. never mind, Cbsrlie. said Pat, Il
whisper: | did stop 10 time.
Did Yes; and hope they will bsn
me for it, They must. J murdered you
and | ~sut to die,
The old .~eet spirit Of forgiveness.
irving 10 make some one happy, prevsile
ov,, the veskpess OF almost desth.
4 Charlie. it only mstess very little d''
ference in my life. anyway -luss ie'
yssrs, maybe. | tnos you did not mes
10 have this b,ppsn. It's sli right br
don't you ,hiok you nigh, Try TO MAX
somebody else be,terf Boys. se oil kpo
b. is resping the bii,eresi fruits OF al