Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-03-17

ways does whin il gifts in such tan
thrum. is roarin' an foamin. wild it,
big chunks of ice a-pilin upl An al
the tonne it coomes creepin
on an creepin' on, till / be
lave in my heart it will COON in an
warm itself by the fire wild the ovid
woman an mel An the telegraph
poles-bad cess to 'eml-hiv' laid thin.
selves down straight to rest beside the
roadbed; an it amt so much to be won
dered at, for they hiv' been standin'
there summer an whittier, rain an
shoine, liver since my ovid woman an
me COON to this country
THE telegraph wires were down
somewhere, we knew. The operator had
found it out an hour before. The ex-
press passenger going north would wait
at Nosuch for the outgoing south. until
half-past seven. when it would come on
unless telegraphed to remain where it
was until further orders. II was seven
O'clock now, and as black an evening as
ever hung over roadbed thick with
danger. The men had to decide for
themselves what TO do, and they had
to be quick about it. The two eonduc-
tors, the two engineers. and the station
agent held bit of council.
"'We had better leave our trains here
and run our engines down 10 the rise
and see how ii looks said Jacob Wilcox.
the engineer of the passenger train
"There were no contrary minds, and
NNtlolxrfc
and our engine-Little Giant-were
coupled together and run cautiously
down the two miles to the submerged
bit of track.
"'Mither Hughes-hven bless herr
hears MS comm screamin' along said
Jimmy An there she be, swingin'
her lanthern that looks no bigger from
here thin a star. as faithful as your very
own mithers TO look afther you. b'ys;
an she loves livery wan of yez, for the
smoiles yez hiv' gin to friendless ovid
couple. far away from country an
kim
Sure enough, there was the little old
woman, with blanket over her Shout
ders, and the broad. white-cap border
hanging limp and dripping about her
wrinkled face. Wilcox jumped off his
engine, thanked her and Jimmy for
their watchfulness and thoughtfulness,
and told them to go up the hill TO the
shanty and get themselves dry and
warm. and to keep bright fire and
light, for there was no telling what
call might be made upon them be-
fore morning. The headlights Of the
two locomotives CLEANED across the
black rising water, and showed the
white sand of the roadbed beyond.
Running through there win be
risky business said Engineer Wilcox.
but am going to try it. There is no
other way. Better one man killed than
a score or more, and in 20 minutes that
express viii be along here, full drivel
Jump off. JOHNNY We need not both
of us risk our lives
Let me go. Wilcox, spoke up John
Swift, quickly. You have family, and
know of no one who would shed a tear
if | should go under. You know can
run the Arcturus the three mics from
here to Nosuch well enough. But |
shall come out ail Straight. 1t is the
25th of the third month. Come, now. get
right off,
Jacob Wilcox thought of his wife
and little ones at home. and as the
stout. plucky young fireman took him
by the shoulders he said, gravely:
Tn not in the least afraid TO trust
you. johnny and swung himself down
off the footboard.
Run back there. Luther!' shouted |
the intrepid young fireman to my engi- |
neer. I've got full head II steam on, |
and want good start
Backing up the road a few rods, be
stopped the Arcturus, waved his cap
back al us, and, pulling open the ,hrot-
lie. the engine-which was the fastest |
on the road-dashed down the track, |
plunged into the black water. and, |
while every man of us held his breath, |
Il emerged on the other side and then
rushed on into the night around the
Rock curve and out of our sight.
1T was risky piece Of business
Wilcox. as he came on board of
our engine. The track has settled in
he middle. and if the old machine had
not been going fast | believe it would
have tipped over
we steamed back to the station. ran
our locomotive into the roundhouse and
vent into the waiting-room in the pas
ienger depot TO dry our wet clothing,
% refresh ourselves with hot coffee at
he restaurant and to await further de-
"In aboutan hour Jimmy came wheel.
ng in again, weather-beaten and drip
1ing.
Sure he said. an it be bad luck
low. an nothin' ilsel Yez had been
zone not very long at all. at all. an me
wild woman an me we heard an engine
scream. an we looked out. an what do
re think? We seen the Arcturus COON
n back ag'in. wild her headlight gleam-
n like great red eye. She whit very
lowly down into the water. an slipped