Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-08-09
THE ACCIDENT.

row. % be sure. but Of great and unu-
sua1 Beauty The sides and crests Of
the e1rrounding hills were dotted with
the pretty cottages Of suburban resi-
deufD, but the country was not yet SO
closaIy settled as to have lost all pct
uresqueness. and, although the houses
were neat. they were simple, and the
lawns, though well kept. were still un-
dlsfigured by brazen or cast iron statu-
AIRY. The neighborhood had not yet
reached that stage in its development
whers its new houses were built upon
uninteresting plans furnished ready
made to rural carpenters by enterpris-
ing publishers. Nor had its occasional
churchyard yet lost all sense Of rest and
peace Simple gravestones there were,
but no pretentious monuments. But
even here death slyly took his victim
unawares or stood forth to fight boldly
for bis own as he pleased.
It was here that many years before
John Dorsey had made for himself a
home, and it was here that he was
now about to die.
There had been an accident 1t was
4 vAFy slight one. and its cause was al
most Ridiculous John Dorsey. the con
ductor of the sleeping car train, had
been the only one hurt. He, however,
although fatally injured, suffered al
most no pain and was entirely conscious
Of his surroundings and condition. He
had. indeed, stated his belief that he
was about to die long before the doctor
had been able to ascertain the charac-
ter of his injuries or to form any opin-
ion Of the probable result. His in
sistance upon this even annoyed the
doctor.
Dorsey" he said, you must not
speak SO. You are too young to die,
and we shall save you.
As soon as could be after the acct
dent Dorsey had been carried to II
neighboring house, and DR.. Irwin had
been sent for by men on the train who
had known of the intimate friendship
which existed between the two This
friendship was of earlier date than Dor
sey's connection with the railroad, and
that seemed to Dorseys fellow en-
ployes to have begun almost ages
before
Although Dorsey had been always as
frank and candid as a man well could
be in reference to all his later life, in
regard to his earlier past he was singu-
larry reticent Among his fellows there
had always been considerable specula-
ton as to what his youth had been.
Some who had known of his intimacy
with Dr. Irwin, and of his ability TO
meet upon terms of personal equality
the high officials of the road, and of
their regard for him, believed that he
had been an old college friend of the
doctors, and that some accident of fate
had made him working railroad man
while the doctor had secured his profes-
sion. Others less charitable or with an
unhapper experience of the world, and
puzzled by the reports which reached
them of the repeated refusal of Dorsey
to take other positions higher and more
remunerative, believed that he must
have committed some crime, and was
therefore careful not to expose himself
to too bright light.
As matter of fact, he and the doc
tor had been classmates, but after their
graduation they had lost sight of each
other for few years while DR., Irwin
pursued his studies in various foreign
hospitals Upon his return from abroad
he had heard of the death of Dorsey
wife and child. He had looked Dorsey
up and expostulated with him upon his
selection Of a vocation But Dorsey
was silent as to the reasons for his
choice and quietly persistent in his de
termination not to change his work if
be could help it,
But as frequently as he could Dorsey
would visit the doctor and stay with
him as much as possible, and their
eariy friendship had grown and ripened
Tom" Dorsey said to the doctor al
most upon his arrival, Il am glad they
sent for you. but you cannot do any
thing"
A. time went on the doctor reluctant.
y Began to believe that Dorsey was
nghf-that his recovery was impossible
DEEPLY as the doctor was grieved he
80 annoyed, too, to feel that his skill
would be of no avail TO his old friend
Why did you follow such an in
iernel business" he asked, iinpatiently
pon't, Tom" Dorsey replied Don't
eai1it that"
Ind why should you be the only
ouefo be hurti"
Mas the only onef'' Dorsey asked
les"
hat is strange maybe" Dorsey
and then his callnness, which had
so remarkable, deserted him. but
Only for a minute.
hat caused the accidentf he
DO they known
les the doctor replied; and he
so's4p i the little land slide which the
en&heer had seen almost in time, but
ute, and the engine had run into
barely enough force to jar the
It's length I'VE suppose, he
that you must have been shak-
tween two cars in some way
& 1t hurt me to talkr Dorsey