Washington telegraph., 1894-06-22
AILEEN'S BRAVERY.
The True Story of a Country
School Teacher.

The picture which l would Hike to
hold up before you has in the back
ground n mountain: not the rival of
any Alpine peak. nor of any summit of
the Rockies, but a sloping, wooded
hill, rough, but not inaccessible.
Breaking through the range on the
east comes river, sometimes peaceful.
but in times of wind and storm
raging torrent. On the west having
gathered its waters from the hillsides,
creek turns away from the range and
pursues it's winding way to the south,
meeting the river a mile or two be-
low. Along the valley in the fore
ground railroad takes it's undevi-
ating way, crossing both creek and
river High up on the mountain side
is cottage, scarcely more than a
cabin.
Aileen McAllister stood at the win
dow of the living room of this mountain
home, looking out into the Wild dreary
November night. Very early the day
had gone ont into twilight, the clouds
settling heavy upon the earth. Aileen
said it seemed as though the darkness
rolled down from the mountain above
and concentrated about their little
nook on the mountain side.
ut was so dark before four. o'clock
that we could scarcely see td lead in
the sehoolhouse, and | was afraid that
the Brinker children would get lost
going over the mountain This she
said, shivering a little at the thought
of her own walk through the wind and
rain.
Mrs. McAlister and Aileen lived
alone in the little house, which the
summer foliage almost hid from the
view of those who looked up from the
valley below. Though pleasant enough
In summer. it was aeblealx, lonely place
In winter. MIR! McAlister had been
section boss" on the railroad, the
passing trainsupon which were almost
the only break in the stiffness apd
loneliness of their isolated home. He
had been able to keep his family in
comfort, and was looking for a prom
ised promotion, when suddenly the
shadow fell. There was an accident:
then weeks of pain; then the life went
ont. The strong-hearted wife and
brave young daughter cheered and
soothed the last hours of the sufferer;
then they took up the burden of living
and began the struggle for the means
of support. How they managed to ex-
ist they could themselves scarcely have
told. Since Aileen's sixteenth birthday
she had been the teacher of the coun-
try school, and her small salary had
con nsiderably lightened the mothers
burden.
II am thankful you reached home
before the gale set in so fercely," said
Mrs MeAlister, as they fingered at the
tea table and remarked upon the sever
tty of the storm.
ut would not be very pleasant to be
out just now" said the girl, shiver-
ing as the wild blast shook the little
house.
The hours sped away, and when at
zine o'clock Aileen looked out, there
was no Abatement of the storm. The
ho%ling of the wind and the roaring
of the waters of river and creek were
almost deafening. Looking up the val
lev, Aileen saw the headlight of loco
motive. Steadily it advanced, seem
ing to cut its way through the dark
ness, until suddenly it disappeared
Many a time had Aileen watched the
headlights of the night trains, and she
know that in all their course down the
valley there was nothing to obstruct
the light; and quicker than thought
she realized the appalling fact that the
train had gone into the chasm of the
creek.
"Oh, mother!' she exclaimed, there's
trouble at the bridget ! am going down
20 see what is the matter and to find
out il can help
"My child! What can you do? can
not let you GO
"Oh, mother, you must not keep me-
L could not stay here knowing that
something is wrong without trying to
helm. | wSll wear my boots and storm
cloak and take the lantern And she
was already pinning up her skirts and
huttoning the storm cloak about her
self.
Mrs. MoAlister lighted the lantern
and put it into the girls hand, saying;
"My child, if l could only go with
you!'
We'll. mother dear, if you had only
postponed the spraining OF that foot
for a day OK So, you could have had
The pleasure" said Aileen, cheerily
adding: Now don't worry; and