Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-01-05

woman upon the track. running to-
ward us, as she wildly waved her
shawl in the air, one arm uplifted
warningly her face turned full upon
us In an agony of terror, her flowing
golden hair lit up in the light Of the
engine, as we rushed down upon heI
at a fearful speed, reversed the
wheels again and again, the whistle
hoarsely shrieking out its warning;
but too late-toO late! We we're upon
her as she uttered wild cry Of ter
ror turned from the track and stun
bled, the engine striking her with a
fearful shock, hurting her far into the
air, mangled and torn.
Amid the shrieks Of the whistle we
rushed around the curve, our SIP eed
slaCkening, when, with great bound
that shook the engine in every joint,
it sprang from the track, plunging
into and ripping up the ties, twisting
the rails, lunging from side to side,
and then pitching into the ditch
with a shock that flung me insensible
from my hold.
When l came to l was lying on the
floor of a farmhouse, while close
around me were a crowd Of anxious
spectators, from whom escaped gen.
eral exclamation of JOY as / opened
my eyes and looked up at them.
What did it all mean?
| raised myself on one arm, and
passing my hand across my brow,
tried to comprehend why / was here,
and who we're these people about me.
All was bewilderment and confusion
in my brain, and it was some little
time before | gathered my scattered
thoughts. Then realization Of what
| had passed through came back to
me, and a cry Of horror burst from me
as they told me L had killed the wo.
man | had seen upon the track. |
buried my face in my hand as the
vision Of that upturned face came be.
fore me, so full of agony and dumb
pleading. Then | reused myself, but
they told me to lie still until the doc
tor came; then as | insisted [ was
unhurt, beyond a few ugly bruises,
they assisted me to rise, when | found
myself sore and stiff.
My first thought was for Nellie. /
knew how anxious she would be. l
knew all she would suffer until she
knew l was safe, so l asked for pen
and paper, that l might send her a
telegram, telling her that | was well,
and would be in Linden that night,
where l would remain. This was
forwarded to her at once. They told
me, then, in a rambling way, each
one adding an item, the story Of the
accident
A broken rail had thrown US from
the track; and the girl whom we had
killed had evidently discovered it
while walking home upon the track,
and hurrying forward had hoped to
warn us, had miscalculated the dis
lance and speed Of the engine, and
had been struck before she could turn
from its path, having nobly sacrificed
herself in order to savethe great train
and its precious load.
So much had been surmised Of her
intentions, and Joe and l, Of course,
confirmed the story. She was lovely
girl of seventeen, the only daughter,
they SAID, of a neighboring farmer
John Dixon.
"Poor girl! Dear, noble-hearted
girl" | said, wiping away the tears
that filled my eyes and choked my
utterance.
sat silent for a moment thinking
what l could do to show my Sympa-
thy for the poor parents in their ter
ribly sad bereavement. At last l
called a man to my side-one who
seemed to be giving orders and Wno
seemed to have the direction Of mat
Uers, and, steadying my voice, said
quietly; "Where is she - the poor
girl, you know"
"They have taken her home; they
took her home as soon as she Was
| Identified, poor dear"
IF you please, would like to go
there, il you think they would see
me. God knows | did not do it, and
He knows that would give this right
arm, " L said, bitterly, thrusting it up
into the air, ito have saved the poor
girl; but I cannot rest easy, l can
never have an easy heart, until have
gone to them and heard them say
with their own lips that they forgive
me. You see," l said, sorrowfully,
81 didn't do it - Of course not - l
didn't do it, Heaven knows how
hard l tried to stop up short But
the poor liUtle thing is dead! 1t is all
over now; and it was 'Firetly and |
who did it! So, if you please, if you
would be good enough to go with me,
l would like to go down to them and
tell them in such words as l can, how
their sorrow is mine, and how COM
pletely my heart sympathizes with
them tonight.
was very stiff and sore, and it was
with some difficulty that l walked
across the room, but he kindly gave
me his arm, and knew could man
age to walk down to the Dixon farm
only a spare mile, he said.
was putting on my hat in the
hail. and adjusting my arm in sling
preparatory to starting, when the
tramp Of many feet was heard on the
piazza, and the door was flung open