Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-04-22
ment. away nke the VINO.

menJ, away IKE Cne vino.
"Will we reach the next?" Tom
| would ask himself.
| Often when the bridges would heaye
and sag, as they always do from the
| impact of a heavy engine under nigh
| speed, it seemed to the strained nerves
OF the engineer that instead of frac-
| tIons of an inch the structures sank
| down, down-and he pressed his lips
| hard TO meet his fate Then on long
levels, or while approaching a sharp
curve, he would say:
at is there. A broken rail is yonder
by that ghost-like telegraph pole; or
| just around that curve is an obstruction
on the track"
But when safely across the long
level and around the sharp curve cruel
fancy would point to the Turing and
inevitable danger on still farther
ahead. Past Forsyth, the next and
last stop until Macon was reached, it
would surely meet him; or perhaps
it would wait for him at the journeys
| end. that Mary might sec him writhing
in the agony from which even her love
could give no relief. Yes, he was pow
sure it would be so. And it was-but
ne DraYeIy hId 1t from her.
The train was ever flying onward
with him and his bitter apprehensions
Many watches were consulted back III
the passenger coaches and many words
Of approval were uttered concerning
the Georgia Central, it's comfort, ease,
elegance, fast time, and prompt con-
nections. Bat to the suffering engi-
ncer it was hard to be promptly on
time to connect with death in the
awful guise conjured up by nervous
fancy.
Engine No III, pulling train No. 3,
was promptly on time Wien it ran into
the wide network area of tracks, with
numberlcss switches, below the Macon
railway station.
at may come now" thought Tom.
No, the switchmen were prompt, too,
and, obeying rapidly given signals
from many waving hands, the fast
mail crushed over hundreds of cross
into the cavernOus Macon passenger
station and its pleased travellers passed
out into the shaded streets.
Il ought to 90 home" unused the
stricken engineer, but who can shake
off the hand of fate?" Then to the
hostler he said, Il will ride down with
you this evening""
Slowly the great engine ratified out
into the yard again, past dozen
switch-posts, each of which seemed an
iron finger Of fate to Tom Myers, and
then rapidly sped down toward the
roundhOuse.
The time grows short" sighed
Tom "and even now Bertha is looking
down the hill for me to come and r0mp
with her. Win | meet it at the turn
tablet"
No. Slowly pulling out upon the re-
volving circle, old I'll was quickly
turned round and safely backed into
its own particular stall-the third to
the right as you enter-in the great
rOundhOuse.
Can it await me at hOmep No"
And for the first time during the day
the tortured fellow dared hope.
Mary met him at the gate. but little
Bertha was not in sight. His heart
sank, but his wife smiled, and he re-
covered. He kissed her tenderly, as
the reprieved from death might kiss
their best beloved, and then asked for
Bertha.
20, she's in the house with mother,
who is waiting to kiss you, Tom, dear.
And, o, Tom, mothers come to stay
a long, long time with US. Aren't you
glad?"
The blow had fallen.
Yes, DEAR" said Tom.
Then he went bravely in and kissed
his mOther-in-laW, and then out with
Bertha for a play on the grass.
Il knew something awful was about
to happen, butt did faithful old III
an injustice!" said Tom Chicago Trib-
me.