The record-union., 1899-05-08

into the signal DOX, where ne ledi heo
that there was no down train due. The
carriages that were wrecked would in
the ordinary course have furnished the
next train back.
You could not be expected to know
that, SIR said the signalman-
Chandos had known it, only in the ex-
citement he had forgotten that he had
a wonderful memory. For the moment
he stood overwhelmed with mortifica-
ton. 1t was no consolation to him to
reflect that he had not been conscious
of fear Possibly those others who had
rushed to and fro could say the same
thing Their faculties had been paral-
yzed by the dreadful happenings. So.
apparently, had his own. They were all
fantasies, he and the rest; originals,
departures from their everyday selves.
I'm times Of peril, the high road to
distinction is the pathway to the OBJ
vious,'' he repeated. How distant now
seemed the goal. Possibly, however,
there was no obvious in this instance,
and his offense had been one of commits
sion only, in which case he had done
no practical harm.
1t was with rather better heart that
Chandos went back into the tunnel. A
surgeon was already at work, and
Chandos, attaching himself to him. was
of considerable service. The sight OF
blood upset him less than it did the
other amateurs ''You did not see the
worst thing, though said the doctor
1T was child in a white sailor suit
H. M. s. Constant was his vessel, poor
little onei He was taken out CT a
first class compartment. He had beer
stunned and cut in the first accident
and left to bleed to death. Not an
other soul was found in the compart-
ment, but there We're business bags in
the rack and two pipes upon the floor
suppose the child was travelling with
his father. I don't know whore the
man got to, but l hope now, for his own
sake, that he is dead"
Constant, Constant! You could not
have mistaken the ship?"
Good God, mani" cried the doctor
springing forward, and taking Chan
dos by the shoulder; drink some of
this
Chandos pushed away the p,offered
brandy, though his head was describing
a half-circle, as a smitten animals will
do before it drops from a fatal blow.
Whatever your share in this may
have been" said the doctor, Il swear
that you have acted like a brave man."
Il was reading" said Chandos I'VE
had entered the tunnel. but I did not
know it. I had forgotten where I was,
and who was with me. They ought not
to be allowed to sell newspapers. Then
the accident happened-and I wanted to
save people,
Yes, yes" said the surgeon. He had
half persuaded, half forced Chandos to
sit down.
1--WE had talked so much about acct
dents, and il all came back to me there
in the dark. ! had nothing but those
talks in my mind-not even the time
table I wanted-good Godi-to show
that I had common sense
There is nothing to be gained by con-
tinuing the story. 1t is not very
pleasant one to tell / wanted the
world to understand the circumstances
in which my friend came to desert his
only child. There have been some
rather cruel misstatements made about
him. / may add that, when his fears
were confirmed absolutely, Chandos said
but two words. 1.-The obvious" Then
he replaced the covering with infinite
tenderness and, until he reached home,
he spoke no further word.-The Sketch.
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