Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-13
SACRIFICED.

The train drew up to the station with
u rattle md jar and the kissing of steam.
1t was the pay train.
Aleck Carson, the engineer, stepped
down from the cab. oil can in hand
and went forward to oil his engine. He
glanced casually up the street, but i'm.
mediately took a second look at the trim,
| graceful figure OF a young lady who was
coming toward him.
Carrie Ddvisw he exclaimed In pleas.
ed surprise. ~ wonder why she is here
alone! / hope she does not want to go
back with u.s. for
Carrie came tripping across the street,
her face all smiles at the thought of the
surprise she would give that great, brave
cool headed engineer. Aleck Carson look
ed up in the quietest way and said:
Good morning, Carrie"
"Now that is too bad.' exclaimed Car
rie, with look OF smiling vexation. IL
was going to surprise you, and you meet
me as II you knew all the time that was
coming"
II saw you when I first got out of the
cab. When did you come up?"
"On the morning train, and I want to
go back with you. l have been hurrying
SO as to get ready. How soon do you
start?"
Aleck pulled out his watch.
1--WE cannot leave here until the freight
comes in, Carrie. She is due in 20 min
utes. But hadn't you better wait for the
express? We are running wild, you
know, and you will not gain over two
| hours time"
"Oh, can't wait two whole hours"
said Carrie. II am going back on this
train-that is, il / can"
A look of annoyance passed over
Alexis face, but he replied, pleasantly
enough:
II don't suppose there will be any OBJ
jections; yet i do wish you would stop
over for the express"
Fearing that he had said too much,
AlecR now went round to the other side
of his engine without waiting for q re-
ply from Carrie. She was about to fol-
low him when Tom Emmons, the con-
ductor, came out of the car.
"Ten minutes Johnny" Aleck said to
the fireman us he handed the oil can up
to him. "I'll step back into the coach,
and l guess you had better open your
door, Steam is pretty well up now."
Emmons was chatting gayly with Car
rie, but when Aleck entered he said,
rather brusquely:
"All right, Carson. Go ahead"
Aleck looked at his watch to make sure
that he was right.
"Do you mean go aheadT he asked, In
some surprise.
"Yes, go ahead" said Emmons, quite
sharply.
There were several Of the head men of
the road in the car, and Aleck looked
toward them for instructions, well know
ing the hazard of starting out on an
other trains time. They took no notice
of his look, however.
"Of course you know that we are run
ming wildT he said to Emmons, loud
enough for all to hear.
Il know my business" replied EN-
mons. go ahead, say"
"Emmons, are you sure you know your
business?"
go ahead! screamed Emmons, white
with rage. And give her all the steam
you've got. II you are too much of
coward
"Stop!" said Aleck, his face, pale. but
determined. ''If you say go ahead, will
60 IL l strip my engine to strings; but 1t
is the last time you ever run the train
that am coupled to-"
Aleck now turned to Carrie.
You must not go on this train" said
he. Come"
And before Carrie had time to exercise
will of her own she bent to his stronger
one and went out of the car with him.
"Goodby, Carrie, IL never see you
again." said Aleck, as he hurried away
to his engine.
He sprnng into the cab and. giving the
bellcord one pull, he opened the throttle,
and the engine started.
Johnny" said he, glancing back to
where Carrie stood watching the train as
it moved out of sight, ''the freight Is due
in four minutes and we shall meet 1t.
But Emmons ordered us out and we must
CO."
On sped the noble engine, but Aleck
was not using half his steam.
"Help me keep lookout, Johnny"
he said to his fireman. "If we are eau
tious, it may amount to nothing more
than run back to the station. If we
can pass the curve, we can see miles
God have mercy"
This exclamation was caused by the
sight of the approaching freight train.
There was short, sharp whistle from
each engine, an instantaneous closing Of
two throttles; then followed grinding
crash and shock which made the very
ground tremble. Then, for one brief mo-
ment, an awful stiffness, broken at last
by the sound of rushing steam, by the
cries and shouts of men as they crawled
from beneath the debris of the wrecked
trains and by groans of others less fortu-
nate.
Aleck had fallen victim TO stern duty,
but never was a lovers life more reck-
lessly sacrifced.--New York News.