Washington telegraph., 1894-06-22

mother, if anything happens to me,
you will remember that | was trying
to do my duty"
AS rapidly as possible she followed
the path down the hill, crossed the
road which ran alongside the railroad,
sprang across the ditch and scrambled
up the bank to the track. She did not
make this part of the journey without
many a scratch from the bushes, but
she paid no heed to such trifes. She
sped up the track and found that her
surmise was correct--the bridge over
the creek had been swept away.
Crawling out upon the part that re-
mained as far as she could, she swung
her lantern above the chasm and
called loudly; above the noise of the
storm she heard faint response to
her call
"What is the matter, and who is
there?n she asked.
at is |, Engineer Pratt fast in a
freight wreck. The express must be
warned, She's due in an hour. How
many are there?"
"only Aileen McAlister. But I'll
get help"
'.Go quick! There is no time to
losei'
Crawling ba ck from her perilous po-
sition. Aileen took but moment for
reflection. Plainly there was but one
thing to do. She might possibly warn
the express by swinging her lantern
but suppose there should be trains from
the west? The telegraph office must
be reached; and, besides, help must be
secured speedily for the unfortunate
engineer in the wreck. The one thing
to do was to walk down the track to
the station, mile away. That would
be unpleasant and hazardous in the
driving storm; but to make matters
worse there was the high trestle across
the river, five hundred feet long! Could
she walk that with only the light of
her smoky lantern? Could she stand
against the fierce gale that was blow
ing? She must. There was no ques-
tion in the girls mind as to whether or
not she could the thing must be done.
Hundreds of lives might be in danger,
aud the warning must be given.
sic IIletdt Vic uIsl pdIL VI JOuI-
ney in comparative comfort. She had
not to be on the lookout for trains
from behind her, and she knew that
none was due from the opposite direc-
ton; so she had only to hasten on her
way with all the speed of her youth
and buoyancy. Reaching the bridge
across the fpaming river, she paused
moment to gather strength and cour-
age, then stepped boldly forward. The
wind sweeping down the river gorge
almost took her off her feet. She
stumbled and fell and her light went
out.
And | did not think to bring
matches!" she said. But could not
light one in this storm, if | had
thousand" She did not attempt to re-
gain her footing, but throwing her one
friend, the liant tern, into the river,N She
continued the perilous journey, crawl
ing from tie to tie across the trestle.
II must not fall" she said again and
again.
Aileen's progress was slow and pain
full. Aer hands were torn and bleed
ing. Below the angry river tossed its
waters in mad fury; above and all
around, the darkness was intense, save
now and then when a flash of light
ming showed the framework of the
bridge, and gave her glimpses Of the
black, foaming waters that seemed
ready to swallow her and carry her
away from sight forever!
AT last the end of the trestle was
reached; she sprang to her feet and
hurried down the track. Soon the
lights of the station beamed out a
welcome and made it possible for her
to quicken her steps without danger of
losing her footing. She burst into the
office, exclaiming:
The bridge over the creek is down!
Send kilograms and stop the express.
There's a wreck in the creek Send
help"
Then she dropped upon the floor in
dead faint. The physical exertion and
the strain of that terrible crossing had
exhausted her strength She was not
a moment too soon with her warming.
The express was due, and some one
was sent out to signal it, though the
bewildered spectators but half com
pretended the situation. The train
came laundering in, stopped, and in
wonder and alarm the passengers
poured out to learn the story of their
salvation. kilograms went flying up
and down the line, and rescue brig
ade was fitted out for the scene of the
wreck.
All the while Aileen lay exhausted
in her dripping garments, her long,
dark hair wet and matted. Hearing
the commotion, the wife of the station
master appeared upon the scene, and,
rnninr the nncnn scinnS pirl living