Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-21
ment, away like the VIVA.
will we reach the nextP" Tom
would ask himself.

Ill we redch the neXt!" LON
would ask himself
Often when the bridges would heave
and sag, as they always do from the
impact of heavy engine under high
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 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 see 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
he bravely hid it from her.
The train was ever flying onward
with him and his bitter apprehensions
Many watches were consulted back in
| 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. But to the suffering engi-
neer it was hard TO be promptly on
time to connect with death in the
awful guise conjured up by nervous
| fancy.
Engine No. I'll, pulling train No. 3,
! was promptly on time Wien it ran into
| the wide network area of tracks, with
numberless 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
rails and Earring frogs until it backed
into the cavernous Macon passenger
station and its pleased travellers passed
out into the shaded streets.
Il ought to go 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 a dozen
switch-p0sts, 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
Son po no &c
| down the hill for me to come and romp
with her. VIII I meet it at the turn
tablet"
No. Slowly pulling out upon the re-
yolving 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 tenderlv, as
the reprieyed from death might kiss
| their best beloved, and then asked for
Bertha.
90, she's in the house with mother.
who is waiting to kiss you, Tom, dear.
And, 0, 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 play on the grass.
Il knew something awful was about
to happen, butt did faithful old III
an injustice!" said Tom.- Chicago T1'i6-
| ltl2C.