The Southern herald., 1894-07-27

age. then stepped boldly forward The
wind sweeping down the river gorge
almost took her Of her feet She
stumbled and fell and her light went
ont
and I did not think to bring
matchess 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 ono
friend, the lantern, into the river, she
continued the perilous Journey, crawl
ing from tie to tie across the trestle.
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 bcamed out
welcome and made it possible for her
70 quicken her steps without danger Of
losing her footing. Sd burst into the
Office, exelaiming:
The bridge over the creek Is down.
Send kilograms and stop the express.
There's q wreck in the creek Send
help"
Then she dropped upon the floor l. q
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 warning.
The express was due, and somo one
was sent out to signal II, 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.
Az the while Aileen lay exhausted
in her dripping garments, her long,
dark hair wet aud matted. Hearing
the commotiou, the wife OF the station
master appeared upon the scene, and,
seeing the unconscious girl lying
there, ran back for restoratives. A
young physician who had alighted
from the express came 70 her assist
ance.
"ls there not house where she car
be talxen2" he asked.
Certainly, we can carry her across
the street to my home" said the wo-
man.
Get her out Of these wet clothes
into something dry, and put her to
bed, were his orders.
''Oh, no, must 60 back homer said
Aileen, who had sufficiently regained
consciousness to know what was said.
You can gonowhere to-nlghtl'' was
the pcremptory decision Of The strOn-
ger, "You saved our lives, and now
we must save yours"
"They arc going to the wreck with a
hand-car and will take me along Moth
er win be so anxious" she pleaded
adding, "she will think something has
happened"
"And ! should say she would think
right! But we will send some one tc
tell her you are safe" And so the
weary child was forced TO submit, and
indeed when she attempted to rise the
dizziness overpowered her, and she
sank back helpless.
"Poor childln said another "She
has had-a time Of 1t. and to think We
might all have been in eternity II Il
had not been for her bravery
"What will you do to show your graf
itude2" asked the physician.
II will show 1t by fifty dollarsr' 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
cued the engineer of the wrecked
freight train from his perilous position
and had discovered that the trair
hands Ind either been killed outright
or been drowned.
"And ! owe my safety to Aileen,
said the rescued man, "for could not
have held out much longer. God bless
herr
And there were many 10 bless and
many to praise tho brave girl. The
newspapers told the story, public
speakers quoted it as an example, and
the state legislature ordered media
to be struck and presented BY specia
committee.
And Aileen-what effect had thai
nights work upon her?
A few days rest restored her wontet
strength and buoyancy, and she re
turned to her school Finishing hel
engagement she determined to at her
self for q better position, the generos
ity Of her friends allowing her to carr
out this desire. A year at the norma
school, then two years Of teaching in
city school at a good salary, and thet
one summer she came to spend the Ions
vacation in her old homo on the noun
tain side.
The same picture is spread out boforI
us, only Il is summer sky and tho for
ests before brown and bare are heav,
with summer foliage, while river ant
creek are peaceful and shimmering il
the sunlight As the shadows were
lengthening on one Of those summer
afternoons, Aileen stood at the edge O
the long trestle bridge Itwas th,
first time since that dark Novembel
night that she had walked down th'
track to the scene Of her terrible
ordeal. She was not alone-a nne
looking young man was with her.
"And here, he said, was where thl
test Of your courage came to you
Thank God that you did not finch
How many Of us as we 60 up ant
down the world, are saying every nov
and then: Thank God for Ailecn Ne
Alisterl'
They stood for few moments silent
| " looking down into the river thei
the young man spoke again.
Aileeu, he said, speaking very car
nestly. ever since that night havl
been striving to make the life yot
saved something worth offering to You
I believe ] an 4 better man today be
cause 81 the Influences Of that hour
yet hare not reached my own iieaI--