The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-03
ALIENS BRAVERY.
The True Story of a Country
School Teacher

The picture which l would like to
hold up before YOU has in the back
ground 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 a river, sometimes peaceful.
but in times of wind and storm a
raging torrent On the west. having
gathered its waters from the hillSid,,S
creek turns away from the range and
pursues its winding way to the south
meeting the river a mile or two be
low Along the valley in the fore
ground railroad takes its undevi-
ating way. crossing both creek and
river. High up ON the mountain side
is a cottage, scarcely more than a
cabin.
Aileen NcAlliSter 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 out into twilight. the clouds
settling heavy upon the earth. Aileen
said it seemed As though the darkness
rolled up from the valley below and
rolled down from the mountain above
and concentrated about their little
nook on the mountain side.
1t was So dark before four o'clock
that we could scarcely see to read in
the schOolhouse. and | was afraid that
the Brinler children would get lost
going over the mountain" This She
said, shivering 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 mp from the
valley below. Though pleasant enough
in summer. it was a bleak, lonely place
in winter. Mr.. McAlistcr had been
section boss" on the railroad. the
passing trains supon which were almost
the only break in the stiffness and
loneliness of their isolated home. lie
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
out The strong wife and
brave young daughter chccrcd 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- eN-
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 Sals.ry had
considerably Hghtened the mothers
burden.
The hours sped away, and when at
nine o'clock Aileen looked out. there,
was no abatement of the storm The
bowling of the wind and thc roaring
of the waters of river and creek were
almost deafening- Looking up the val
ley. Aileen saw the headlight Of a loco
motive Steadily it advanced. seem
ing to cut its way through the dark
ness, until suddenly it disappeared
Many time had Ailccn 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 bridge, I am going down
tn see what il the matter and To find
out if can help"
Mrs. McAlistcr lighted the lantern
and put it into the girls hand, saying:
My child, if | could only go with
you,'
We'll. mother dear. If you had only
postponed the spraining of that foot
for day or 81, You could have had
the pleasure" said Ailcen, checrily
adding: Now don't worry; and.
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 scratch from the bushes. but
she paid no heed to such triIlcs- 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
manned as far a. she could. she swung
her lantern above the chasm and
called loudly; above the noise Of the
storm she heard a faint response 10
her call.
What is the matter, and who is
there she asked
lit is l, Engineer Pratt. fast in
freight wreck. The express must be
warned. She's due in an hour. How
many are there2'
only Aileen McAlister. But I'll
get help"
Go quick! There is no tirae to
losey'
Crawling back from her Pcrilous Po-
sition. Aileen took but a moment for
reflection. Plainly there was hut one
thing Ia do She might possibly warn
the express by swinging her lantern,
but suppose there should bc 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, a 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 lougi 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 t. whether or
not she could; the thing must Toe done
Hundreds of lives might Toe in danger,
ami the warning must bc given.
She made the first part of the jour
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 oppo. lite dire
ton; so she had only To hasten on her
way with all the speed of her youth
and buoyancy. Reaching the bridge
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