The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-03


light one in this storm. If ! had 4
thousand She did not attempt Ia re
gain her footing. hut throwing her one
friend. the lantern into the river. she
continued the perilouS journey. crawl
ing from tie To tie across the trc-tlc-
At last the end of the trestIe WAS
reached; she sprang To her feet and
hurried down the track. Soon the
lights of the station beamed out a
welcome and made IL possible for her
to quicken her steps without danger Of
losing her footing. She burst into the
Office, eNclaiming:
The bridge over the creek i down,
Send kilograms and stop the express.
There's wreck IN the creek, Send
help"
Then she dropped upon the floor in n
dead faint. The physical cNertiun and
the strain of that terrible crossing had
exhausted her strength. She WAS not
moment too soon with her warning.
The express was due. and some on,.
WAS sent ont to signal IL. though the.
bewildered spectators hut half com
pretended the situation. The train
came laundering in. stopped. and in
wonder and alarm the passengers
poured out IL learn the story of their
salvation TelegramS went fIving up
and down the line. and a rescue brig
ade was fitted out for the scene of the
wreck.
All the while Aileen Law 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.
seeing the unconscious girl living
there. ran back for restorativeS. \
young physician who had alighted
from the express came to her assist
ance.
Is there not a house where she can
be tallcn?' he asked
Certainly. we can carry her across
the street To my home" said the Nyo-
man
Get her out of these wet clothes
into something dry. and put her To
bed We're his orders
oh. no. ! must 60 back home said
Aiieen. who had sufficiently regained
consciousness To know what was said
You can go nowhere tonight was
the perenptory decision Of the stran-
ger You saved our lives, and now
We must save yours
They are going To- the wreck with a
hand-car and viii take me along Moth
pleaded
adding. she viii think something has
happened
And ] should say she would think
right Iiut We viii send some one L.
tell her you are safe And So the.
weary child was forced t. submit and
indeed when She attempted IL rf-,. the
dizziness ovorpnwered her. and she
sank back helpless.
Poor child.~ said another. she
has had time Of 1t. and To think we
might all have been in eternity If IL
had not been for her bravery
What viii You do to show your graf
itude?" asked the physician
Il viii show II 10y fifty dollars Ina
few moments an amount was pledged
which brought comfort and freedom
from anxiety To the little home ON the
mountain side.
Meantime the relief party had res
cucd the engineer of the wrecked
freight train from his PeriloIis position.
and had discovered that the train
hands had either been killed outright
or been drowned
And l owe my safety to Aileen.'
said the rescued man, for could not
have held out much longer God bless
her.
And there were many to bless and
many t. praise the brave girl. The
newspapers told the story. public
speakers quoted IL a. an example and
the state Legislature ordered a medal
to bc struck and presented 10y a special
committee
And Aileen-what effect had that
nights work upon her?
\ few days rest restored her vonted
strength and buoyancy. and she re
turned to her school Finishing her
engagement she determined to fit her
self for better position, the reneros-
ity of her friends allowing her To- carry
ont this desire. \ year at the normal
school. then two years of teaching in
city school at good salary. and then
one summer she came t. spend the long
vacation in her old home ON the noun
tain side.
The same picture Is spread ont before
rs. only il Il u summer sky and lh, for
ests before brown and bare are heavy
with summer foliage. while river and
creek are peaceful and shimmerinE in
the sunlight. As the shadows were
lengthcning on one of those summer
afternoons. Aileen stood at the edge Of
the long trestle bridge. 1t was the
first time since that dark November
night that she had walked down the
track To the scene Of her terrible
ordeal She was not alone-a fine
looking young man WAS with her.
And here" ne said. was where the
test of your courage came To You,
Thank God that YOU did not finch,
How many of Us, aS we 20 up and
down the world. are saying every now
and them Thank God for Aileen Nc
Alister,"
They stood for few moments silent
" looking down into the river; then
the young man spoke again
..Aileen,' he said. speaking very ear
ncstly. ever since that night I have
been striving To make the life You
saved something worth Offering L. you.
believe l am a better man to-day bt-
cause of the influences of that hour.
yet / have not reached my own ideal
nor yourS-but. Ailecn, shall we put
our two lives together and live them
for God and humanity and each
other"
Then. hand in hand, they crossed
the trestle bridge without thought Of
dread or dangcr.-N- y. Voice
OFTEN HEARD OF.
Gov LEwEILYN. of Kansas. like Gar
field. found the towpath one that led Ia
fortune.
CONGRESSMAN HATCH. Of Missouri, i
an expert judge and successful breeder