Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-03-01

straightens out to the cast. In tho in
nor radius of this curvo tho company
located tho shops and switching yards,
and little farther back, and east of
tho shops, had laid out little town
for its employees. On the'street near
est tho shops was the homo of the
Wards, and this street crossed the
railroad nearly mile from their
house, and considerably more than
that from the yards.
Polly was thoroughly familiar with
all tho surrounding country, for, in
the summer just passed, on the pleas
ant Sunday afternoons, tho big en-
ginccr would take the little maid for n
long walk, and, lover like, would
choose the least frequented paths.
One OF their fayorite rambles had
been down the shady street to the
railroad and occasionally down the
railroad track through "Quinlan's
CUT to Rock Crock. Sho knew the
place we'll. 1t was ut tho foot of a
short but very heavy grade, and, MS
the road left the doep rock cut, named
after the contractor who had blasted it
through, it ran over high embank-
ment and around curve to Rock
Creek, which it crossed on trestle
thirty feet above tho stony bed of the
little stream. The trees in tho bot
tom obscured tho view of the bridge
even in daylight, and at night no
headlight would show on it until it
would be too late to stop.
1t was the intersection of tho street
and the railroad at the top of the
grade that Polly was straining every
nerve to reach before tho threatened
train should. arrive.
Down i'll tho city Engineer Quinn
had looked over tho train register and
bulletin boards in tho train dispatch
cr's Office, and was back whore his en-
glne was standing, just outside tho
passenger she'd. Torch in hand he
was taking ono last look ut ths massive
machinery before starting on this his
first passenger run. The train was re-
ported ten minutes late, and he had in
his pocket an order from tho superin-
tendcEt to make up that lost time
over his division.
"Did you fill these rod cups, Tim p"
} ho called to his fireman, who was busy
i'll tho cab of tho engine.
"Oi did, sor." "Say, ZOO did 70 cut
: out tn driver bralc?" asked Murphy.
II had to. Some ono got to monkey
ing with the pipe and broke the CON
ncction. Maybe we won't ncod it; if
} we do she's got mighty good lover
and hundred and sixty pounds of
} steam, and thatll answer, l guess"
Hello! Hero she comes" called
Joe, rs the bright headlight of nm an
preaching train shot into tho farther
end of the big passenger station.
The engine was soon coupled to tho
cars aud III n few minutes the huge
machine was drawing it's long, heavily
laden train out of the depot. Joe ut
throttle, vigilant aud cautious, care
fully watching the littlo varicolored
lights Oh the samnphores, and running
slowly until tho crowded confines Of
tho city should be passed. All the
worry and vexation of the long wait Mt
tho station for the delayed train had
vanished, and now, with tho cool night
air blowing in his face, the engineer
was filled with tho exhilaratioN that
Is known only by those hardy fellows
who drive tho iron horse that knowl-
edge of mastery over the powerful ma
chino that seems almost human in its
work; that obeys almost tho slightest
touch. Soon the city is left behind
and MS he noars tho long curve mt the
, outer yards and sees the last soma
!, phore signals at "safety" he gives tho
} throttle lever light pull. Under the
increased pressure tho iron giant loups
, forward like n thing of life.
Meantime how Jared it with the lit
tic woman we loft flying down the
/ street?
0 Polly reached tho road crossing ont
. OF breadth and trembling like n leaf.
5 Sho stopped in the middle of the track
f and listened. The train had not
S passed; of this she was sure: she
would have seen it from the road if IL
had.
All! A bright light is dancing on
the rails Mt the end of tho curve, and
now she can plainly hear tho low rum
bic OF the heavy train on the rails. A
moment later the brilliant electric
headlight is throwing its powerful
rays down tho line, and now, for the
first timo since she left the house. she
thinks to look Mt her lantern and is al
most frozen with horror to find il Ind
gone out. A little glowing coal still
on the wick told its own story:
: 1t was out of oil.
God help me now. What shall I
do?' cried the girl in On agony of dis
tress, rs she held the glistening shape
MT arms length and could SEQ no sign
OF light within the dark globe.
Then, even rs the hoarse note of the
duplex whistle broke on the night mir.
giving the crossing signal, less than
eighty rods away, there came to her
mind, rs plainly as if she had seen the
very incident he told of, story of her
engineer lover that would save his life
now.
One bright afternoon in the sum-
mer, Polly was sitting on tho porch
sewing, while Joe lounged on the steps
ut her feet. Ho had told her many
tales of thrilling interest of life on tho