The morning call., 1893-02-17
gain. the whistle hoarsely shrieking on

the engine striking her with fearful
shock. hurting her far into the air. man
ged and torn.
Amid the shrieks of the whistle we
rushed around the curve, our speed slack
enlDg, when, Witha great bound that shook
the engine IN every joint, 1t sprang from the
track. plune!ng into and ripping up the
Ties. twisting the rails, lunging from side to
side, and then pitching into the ditch with
shock that flung me insensble from my
hold.
When l came 10 / was lying on the floor
OF farmhouse while close around me were
a crowd of spectators, from whom escaped
a general exclamation OF joy as / opened
my eyes and looked uD at them. What did
il all mean?
raised myself on one arm, and passing
my hard across my brow tried TO compre-
bend why l was here and who were these
people about me. All was bewilderment
and confusion in my brain, and 1t was some
little time before 1 gathered my scattered
thoughts. Then realization of what had
passed through came back to me, and cry
OF horror burst from me as they told NE L
had killed the woman | had seen upon the
track. | buried my face in my hands as the
vision OF that upturned face came before
me, so full OF agony and dumb pleading.
Then | reused myself, but they told me to
lie still until the doctor came. Then. as L
insisted | was unhurt beyond few ugly
bruises, they assisted me 10 rise. when L
found myself sore and stiff
My first thought was for Nellie | knew
how anxious she would be. knew all she
would suffer until she knew | was safe, So l
asked for pen and paper, that l might send
her q telegram. telling her that | was we'll.
and would be III Linden that night where |
would remain. This was forwarded To her
at once. They told me then, in a rambling
way, each enc adding an item, the story OF
the accident.
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
hOI ed to warn US, mad mlSealcUlated the
distance and speed of the engine, and had
been struck before she could turn from Its
path, having nOby sacrificed herSel IN order
TO save the great train and its precious load.
So much had been surmlsed OF her lnten-
tioDs, and Joe and /. of course, confirmed
the story. She was Il lovely girl OF seven
teen, the only daughter, they said. OF
neigh boring farmer-John DIXON.
Poor girl! Dear, noble-hearted girl y l
said. wipiDg away the tears that filled my
eyes and choked my utterance.
| sat silent for moment, thinking what
/ could do to show my sympathy for the
poor parents in their terribly sad bereave-
meut. AT last | called man to my side
one who seemed to be giving orders and
who seemed to have the direction of mat
tiers, and, steadyng 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 dearp'
IF you please. l would like to go there,
if you think they would see me. God
knows | did not do il, and he knows that
L would give this right arm" l said BIT
terly, thrusting it up into the air, Ito have
saved the poor girl; but cannot rest easy,
| can never have an easy heart, until have
IN M
own lips that they forgive me. You see"
said, sorrowfully, Il didn't do it-Of course
not--I didn't DO it. Heaven knows how
hard | tried 10 stop up shOrtl But-the
poor little thing is deadl 1t is all over now,
and it was FREELY and | who did it. So, if
you please, If you would he good enough to
90 with me, | would like to go down to
them and tell them in such words as | can,
how their sorrow is mine. and how COM
pletely my heart sympathizes with them
Tonight"
| was very stiff and sore and 1t was with
some difficulty that l walked across the
ro0m, but he kindly gave me his arm and |
knew | could manage to walk down 10 the
Dixon farm, only spare mile, he said.
/ was putting on my hat in the hall and
adjusting my arm in sling, preparatory TO
starting, when the tramp of many feet was
hearc Oh the piazza and the door was flung
open. man stepped into the passageway
and held the door for those to enter who
were carrying the remains Of some poor VIC
tim upon a bier.
"Who is it?' / asked. softly, addressng
him who held wide the door.
1.-The girl" he whispered, as he raised his
hat.
All, poor creature All could do for her
now was to bow my head reyerently as they
bore her past me, while my heart sweiled
with emotion and in admiration Of her noble
conduct.
taking off their rough caps, waited silently
for furth er orders.
The doorway was filed by those who had
followed the bier; the stairway by those
who had come out from the rooms above,
some with lights in their hands. and all gaZ.
| ing earnestly, almost curiously. upon the
| form resting so quietly and peacefully in the
passageway. All was hushed aud still-in
| the crowded doorway, upon the crowded
| stairway, in the hallway, where stood the
! six stout farmers who had borne IN on their
| shoulders the bier on which lay the victim.
"Ah, poor ehildw | said, while my heart
robbsd quickly. show gladly would |
give my life to restore yours, so nobly. so
generously giyen!'
Then. in very love for her-she seemed
neal and dear TO me in DEATH leaned over
her, and, taking one Of the dear little hand )
within my own, kissed 1t, and replaced IL
gently under the willie sheet from which it
had escaped.
There was a bustle In the doorway. as of
some one passing through the crowd, and
sounds as of sobbing and bitter weeping.
make way for the parents, was heard
from the doorway, aud the eager crowd fell
back respectfully AZ plain farmer and his
wife came forward filling the air with their
cries. The sheet was turned back from the
features Of the dead girl, and
What! Was | mad2 Shrek after shrek
burst from me as flung up my arms wildly
and fell PROSTATE upon the body OF my own
beloved ons-Nellie.
What is there for me to add to my sad
tale? Need / tell You Of the weary months
passed in delirium, the coming TO, and reall-
cation Of the horrible reaityp
But Of Nelle-my own little darling: It
seems that she had gone to Marketfields
that day, and had intended to return upon
my train to Linden. While waiting at the
depot she learned that the train was two
hours late, and then decided to walk down
the track, and then off by little side road
which lead TO the house of friend. Then
as the time for the coming OF the train came
round Nellie started for the depot, accom-
panied by young boy who carried a Ian
tern. While walking the track. and within
half mile of the depot, they discovered
the broken rail, and Nellie bid the boy run
in haste to the depot with the tidings.
''She heard the whistle of the train" said
the boy afterward, 'far down through the
hills, and she jast stopped for one minute,
while she caught her hand to her heart. and
her face turned as white as the snow.
Run run Jamiep she cried out. as though
her very heart was breaking. oh, run !
runl Tor heavens sakep And with one
awful cry. such as / never heard before, she
turned and fed down the track toward the
coming train, away into the darkness"
Wien they found her lying at the side of
the track-my heart grows sick as l write
these last words-they mist0ok her for a
young girl of the neighborhood, who had
been seen on the track shortly before. OF
the joys of the parents at the discovery Of
the mistaken identity. and of my desola-
ton, need not speak. Many years have
come and gone, but time does not seem to
eoFtap NO orjaf nor aff from IN " mind th O