The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-05
THE ETHEL LYNCH.

Ira Lynch was the agent at little sta
ton on the Silver Creek railroad, called
Halfway. Why the station was called by
that odd name is impossible to state, I'M
less it was because it was located about
the center Of the road. 1t was not much
of a station either, the only building be-
ing the shed that contained the engine
and pumps which pumped water to the
tank that supplied the road engines.
Few trains ever stopped for any other
purpose, unless they were 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 himself his wife,
daughter and her little baby brother.
Ethel, the daughter, was g sprightly little
girl of perhaps IL or 10 years of age, and
pretty enough fer an artists model as she
sat upon the back of her milk white pony,
man fashion, her legs bare to her knees,
and dressed in gray plaid skirt, tight
fitting velvet jacket, and trim boys cap
resting jauntily upon her beautiful auburn
curls. Ethel Lynch was prime favorite
with the trainmen and regular passengers
on the Silver Greek road, and they were
always on the alert to get n glimpse Of the
redheaded girl and the white horse.
Mr.. Lynch was formerly engineer on the
engine that pulled the train known as the
ThundeTbolt-a limited express upon the
main line of which the Silver Creek road
was a branch But one night train rob-
bers removed rail from the track, and
Ira Lynch-who saved the lives of the pas
sengers intrusted to his care by standing
faithfully at his post of duty-was drag
ged from under the pile of broken and
twisted iron and steel that once formed
part of his beloved engine, burned and
bleeding mass. OF all the many people
who witnessed the terrible sight, not one
thought it possible for him to live, but by
careful nursing and strong determine
ton on his part to live for his wife and his
little daughters sake he so fer recovered
as to be able to take charge of the little
station at Halfway.
At the time our story opens, Mr.. Lynch
was standing at the open window of the
pumphouse, gazing intently at some OBJ
ject in the direction of his cabin.
1t was at the close of a 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, | declared he exclaimed in
tone of surprise, "it's our Ethel Ma must
be feeling better, or she wouldn't leave
her alonel''
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 distance. 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 to a 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 dayl
Mamma wanted to get up, she felt so
we'll"
''I'm glad to hear that, for it don't seem
very much like home when ma is sick:
does iti"
"No, indeed. But do you want to know
what came over forY"
"Why, yes, to be surer"
"Well, listen and III tell it to 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"
"Whyl 1t must have been something ter
rible to brighten your ma. She isn't very
timid woman. But tell me, and then I'll
know for 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 anything strange
about it, but thought they were hunters,
until one Of them said, 1T must be that
he is in the pumphouse.' So she Just
watched them, and, sure enough, they
came directly here, the big man that spoke
being 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 a dream, and it's no
wonder it frightened her. But you go
right back and tell her that am we'll and
will be home soon, and she will be salts
fed"
"No, she won't either, pa, for she said
that she could never believe that it was
OhiJ q uIedul, unGll Sne udu seen you WIN
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. Now be sure and don't stay
longer than is necessary, for twill be dark
long before you reach home"
Yes, pa, I'll do justas you say, only do
make haste so that ma won't worry.
Goodby."
Kissing her father, she waited impa.
tiently until he had taken his leave
"a girl of whom any man might well
be proud" soliloquized Mr.. Lynch as he
paused to look back and wave his hand to
Ethel. Resuming his walk, he continued:
why, wouldn't take the best mine in
Colorado for that redheaded girl and her
white pony. Ethel is a girl that can be
trusted. feel perfectly safe to go home
and leave her there, for know that she
will do her duty. Why, Outlines, with her
sitting on my knee, just to tease her, I've
said, 'Pshaw, Ethel, you don't care very
much for your old, crippled up pa, do
your
"Then she'd throw her dainty head
back as proud as any queen and say:
~ do, too, love you, Pa Lynch. had
rather be the daughter of a cripple, if he
got hurt while doing his duty, as you did,
than to have a king for my father, II he