The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-08-24
"THE ETHEL LYNCH"
A Little Western Girls Brave Deed
and Her Reward.

called by that odd name is impossible
to state, unless 1T was because it was
located about the center of the road.
1t was not much of a station either, the
only building being the shed that con-
tanned the engine and pumps which
pumped water TO the tank that supplied
the road engines with water.
Few trains ever stopped for any other
purpose, unless they We're tagged, as
there wasn't house within two miles
of the station, with the exception of
the little cabin occupied by the agent
and his family, which consisted of him
self, his wife, daughter and her little
baby brother. Ethel, the daughter,
was sprightly little girl of perhaps
twelve or thirteen years of age, and
pretty enough for an artists model, as
she sat upon the back of her mill<-white
pony, man fashion, her legs bare TO her
knees, and dressed in gray plaid
skirt, tight-fitting velvet jacket, and
a train-boy's cap resting jauntily upon
her beautiful auburn curls Ethel
Lynch was prime favorite with the
trainmen and regular passengers on the
Silver Creek road, and they were al
ways on the alert to get glimpse of
the red-headed girl and the white
horse.
Mr.. Lynch was formerly engineer on
the engine that pulled the train known
as the Thunderbolt-a limited express
upon the main line of which the Silver
Creek road was branch. But one
night train robbers removed rail from
the track and Ira Lynch (who saved
the lives of the passengers intrusted to
his care by standing faithfully at his
post of duty was dragged from under
the pile of broken and twisted iron and
steel that once formed a part of his be-
loved engine, a burned and bleeding
mass. OF all the many people who wit
messed the terrible sight, not one
thought it possible for him to live; but
by careful nursing and a strong de-
termination on his part to live for his
wife's and little daughters sake, he so
far recovered as to oe able to take
charge of the little station at Halfway.
At the time our story opens, Mr..
Lynch was standing at the open win
dow of the pump house, gazing intent
ly at some object in the direction of his
cabin.
Itwas at the close of lovely day in
June. The rays of the setting sun (for
it lacked but an hour of sunset) shone
full in his face. Shading his eyes with
his hand, he looked long and earnestly.
''Well, declare!' he exclaimed in a
tone of surprise, its our Ethel! Ma
must be feeling better, or she wouldn't
Being satisfied that everything was
all right. he again gave his attention
to his work, SO as to have things in
shape to leave for the night. BY the
time the task was completed, Ethel
had approached to within speaking dis
tance. The pony was walking along
very leisurely, under loose rein, $50
as not to scare pa" Ethel had said to
herself, as she checked the pony down
20 walk.
well, how's ma and the baby been,
to-day" inquired Mr.. Lynch. as Ethel
slid from the pony's back to the
ground.
oh they've been splendid all dav.
Mamma wanted to get up, she felt 50
well"
'Im glad to hear that. for it don't
seem very much like home when ma is
sick. Does it?''
mo, indeed; but do you want to know
what | came over for?"
why, yes, to he sure!'
'Well, listen, and I'll tell you: This
afternoon mamma fell asleep and she
had an awful dream. 1t worried her
SO that she told it to me. and | came
over to be sure it wasn't so; but YOU
couldn't make mamma believe it wasn't
so, for she said she never could until
she had seen you with her own eyes"
'Why! 1t must have been something
terrible to brighten your ma. She isn't
a very timid woman. But tell me, and
then I'll know Tor myself"
well, mamma said that she saw five
men walking up the track. They all
wore big bushy whiskers and carried
guns. She said she didn't think any
thing strange about it, but thought
they We're hunters. until one of them
said: 1t must be that he is in the
pump-house.' So she just watched
them, and, sure enough. they came di-
rectly here, the big man that spoke be
ing in the lead. They approached the
window very cautiously; the big man
put his gun through the window and
fired. Then she saw you throw up
your hands and fall to the ground
dead"
That was quite dream. and it's no
wonder it frightened her. But you 60
right back and tell her that am we'll
and will be home soon, and she will be
satisfied"
mo, she won't either pa. for she
said that she could never believe that
it was only dream, until she had seen
you with her own eyes You must go
home. I'll stay and give water to AIS
engine, and signal No o"
"All right, Ethel, if you think that
she will feel any better for seeing me.
Here are the keys. You be sure and
don't stay longer than is necessary, for
it will be dark long before YOU reach
home"
YES, pa, I'll do just as YOU say. only
do make haste SO that ma won't worry.
Good-by."
II guess | had better tie Snowflake
behind the pumphouse," said little
Ethel AS her father diAanpeared from