News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-07-07

Woodburn to see the circus, an
rs there's real live elephant, and a
ostrichus, and lions and whales an
hu a unicorn
Here Tim, relieved of his basket
ID drew a long breath, looked at hi
~ feet, at his ragged clothes, then u
at me wistfully, and added: II don
a. know many things there are, bu
nl Jim Stacey says there never wa
nothin' like it. And nam said
could go-but I've got to be quick
st COS jim Stacey is going to take m
in his wagon, and he's morn rattle
t, in things to get ready"
g. ''In that case Tim" said |, "vou'C
best not wait for the things. II
take them home myself. You jus
hasten home, young man, and
here.
Tins eyes grew as big as two sau
GERS as he loci ked at the coin in hi
palm, then up into my face. Hi,
bright blue eyes were moist; the lit
tie fellow was crying with Joy already
e He opened his mouth to thank me
but | cut him short.
!, That's all right, Tim. You cut
right back home, and tell youl
mother | will make the damage gooC
= if anything happens to your new
suit. 1t won't do to go shabby.
Tim. You must blacken your shoes
and put ribbon on your hat"
MAN won't have no time
"1ou listen to me. You can 60
home through the deep cut
Through the tunnel Mr.. Moore ?'
81 said through the tunnel 1t will
save more than half q mile, and YOU
will be ready before Stacy calls for
you"
Pm glad you told me-"
And Tim flew off like bird.
What a happy little fellow he was,
so brave and manly, and the soul of
truth. 1t shown in his bright blue
eyes: illuminated his whole face.
Nobody could look at Tim Ferris,
ragged, dirty, sunbrowned as he was,
without seeing and appreciating all
that was most to be admired and
loved i'll a child Of eight. That was
the total of Tins life.
As his yellow curls glinted in the
sunshine, Igave him a parting glance,
then put my foot on the steps to
mount to my station, when the clat-
ter of horsr's hoofs on the road
fell on my ear.
1t was Bob Somers going home
from Woodburn with the morning
mail for his fathers mill l knew
Bob and Bob's horse well. He reined
up, dismounted leisurely, as was his
wont, and set down on my steps to
talk about the last frolic over at
Sidleys barn raising. Meantime,
| was absorbing Mrs. Ferris warm
biscuit, pies and milk as fast as
hungry man could, talking between
bites. The office was as quiet as a
churchyard. Bob was describing in
strict confidence, the young lady who
was to he Mrs. Bob Somers some
day, when Rockford called me.
| paused in the act of nipping n
good half of one of Mrs. Ferris pies, |
and inclined an ear. Rockford was
twelve miles west of my station. Us
ually l called Rockford, and then on
ly to communicate matters of mo-
ment sent me from the east. Other
wise 1 was not to meddle with Rock
ford. The call from Rockford sound
ed sharper even then usual. 1t was
so imperative that even Bob SOmers
remarked it.
Sounds sif they we're an alfred
hurry, whoever it is"
l bounded up the steps and ans
wered promptly. Rockford respond
ed in return. Short, clear and sharp
came the message:
Bridge down at Bakers run. Con-
struction train due Woodburn at
12.15 Advise WOOdburn.
Such a shock had never experlenc-
ed before, and | hope | never may
again. A cold chill ran over me. L
suppose it was imagination, but /
thought my heart ceased to beat for
q minute, and then it gave mighty
throb as / signaled Woodburn sharp
Iv. again and again. Woodburn re-
sponded crust;ly. repeated the mes
sage, then stood just long enough to
receive the O. X. In the meantime L
had decided upon my course.
| leaped-I did not rundown the
short flight of stairs in front of my
station, sprang upon Bob Somers'
horse. spurred him with my heels
v1ciously and galloped along the
railway as fast as the horse could
carry me. l did not explain; l did
not speak: all my energy centered
upon one object. A human hte-a
precious human life was at stake,
and that life was the light of house
hold.
l had unwittingly sent little Tim
to his death.
To explain, the Woodburn connec-
tion was new. Months must elapse
before travel and traffic of considera-
BILE volume would be directed over
the new branch. In the meantime
one passenger and one freight train
moved east and west past Stanley
every morning and evening. Ihe
road between Rockford and Wood
burn was so silent the greater part
of the way that the birds made nests
near the ties, and squirrels trlsked
along the rails in the sunshine undls-
turbed.
1 imagined, as L galloped madly
along the railway, now on the track,
now between the tracks, now on the
other, | could hear the roar OF the
construction train laundering a.
round the curves near the river.
ODCe, UWlCe, cueCkeu INC hOi 30, nitN'
listened with throbbing heart. The
deep cut echoed the sound of the
horses hoofs. | fancied l heard the
chugl chugl chug! of the locomotive,
but | was not sure. All the while l
was in the agony of apprehension
The deep cut was a dangerous place
for an adult. There were places
where the crumbling bank of soft
earth and sand sloped down to the
track Unless a man or woman mao
presence of mind to lie down on the
= bank, train passing would GRIND
: them to pieces. There were Other
places where the jutting rocks were
SO close to the track that not one
man in thousand could have nam
tained his place while train thun
dered past him, and last-worst o
ail-there was the tunnel. Short al
it is, more then one poor lie ha'
been lost in it.
And | sent little Tim through tn
tunnel to certain death. | felt like
murderer. My thoughtlessness woul'
cost a human life. |, and l alone
was responsible.
These thoughts occupied my mln
to the exclusion of everything else as
rode through the cut. No! | realize
my danger; the risk | subjected 30
Somer's horse to. If | failed t.
---... f,,1,,,, +bo ont in timp hOrS