Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-09-21


The engine and trucks stopped, the
men shouldered their tools and tumbled
out and we followed them. \ few hun
dred PAGES in front Of us was railway
bridge. over which road passed, and
under which the rail went at a sharp
curve. The snow had drifted heavily
against the bridge with its high earth
embankment, making manifest at a
glance the cause of the disaster.
The bridge was crowded with human
figures, and on. the line below men were
working in the drift amid piles of debris
and splintered wood. The wrecked train
had all been slightly draped in snow; the
engine alone, barely cold, lying black
and grim, like some mighty giant, for
midable in death. A sheet of glass ice
near it showed how the boiler had burst.
Some of the hindermOst carriages were
still standing or had fallen comparative
" uniniured; but others seemed to have
leaped upon their fellows and plowed
right through them into the drift 1t
was well that it began to snow as we
reached the spot. There were traces of
dismal smears on the white ground
which it would be seemly to hide
Our friend in black went forward and
asked few questions of the man in
charge and presently returned.
1.-THE remainder of the passengers are
at the farm, he said, pointing to house
at little distance, and without further
delay we began to scramble up the steep
embankment and Chamber over the stone
wall of the bridge into the road. My
mind was full of other things, but l re-
member still the number of people as
sembled on the bridge, and how man
was standing up in his donkey cart to
view the scene.
1t was Saturday, and there were guam
titles of village school boys sitting
astride on the low wall, or perched on
adjacent hurdles, evidently enjoying the
spectacle, jostling. bawling, eating
oranges and throwing the peel at the
engine. Some older people touched
their hats alphabetically, and one went
and opened gate for us into a field
through which many feet seemed to have
come and gone but for the greater
number the event was evidently re.
garded as an interesting variation in the
dull routine of everyday life, and to the
school boys it was an undoubted treat.
Ralph and Charles walked on in front
following the track across the field. II
was not particularly heavy walking
after what we had had earlier in the
day, but Ralph stumbled perpetually
and presently Charles drew his arm
through his own and the two went OF
together, the police inspector following
with me.
In few minutes we reached the farm
and entered the farmyard, which wa
the nearest way to the house. A ittl
knot of calves intrenched ON mound o
straw in the center of the yard lowere,
their heads and looked askance at us a
we came in, and party of ducks re
treated hastily from our path with
chorus of ordinations, while thi
colly dog burst out of barrel at tn
back door and made q series of gym
nastics at the end of chain, barlzin
hoarsely, as if he had not spared himsel
of late.
An elderly woman with red arms me
US at the door, and on whisper from
the police inspector first shook her head
and then, in answer to further whis
per, nodded at another door, and voic,
calling her from within hastily disap
peared.
The inspector opened the door she hat
indicated and went in, l with him
Charles, who had grown very grave
hung back with Ralph, who seemed to
much dazed tonotice anything in HEAVIER
above or the earth beneath. The doc
opened into an clubhouse, roughly pave
with round stones, where barrels, stave
and divers lumber had been put away.
There was straw in the further en-
of it, out of which yellow cat raise
two cleaning eyes, and then flew up
ladder against the wall and disappeare
among the rafters. In the middle of tn
floor, lying little apart, were three fil
ures with sheets over them. 1nstinctiv,
ly we felt that we were in the presenc
of death. | looked back at Charles an
Ralph, who were still standing outsid
in the falling snow. Charles was bar
headed, but Ralph was looking absent
in front of him, seeming conscious
nothing. The inspector made me a sig1
He had raised one of the sheets, and no
withdrew it altogether. My heart seen
ed to stand still.
1t was Aurelia! Aurelia changed
the last great change Of all, but SIT
Aurelia. The fixed artificial color in IL
cheek consorted i'll with the bloodle
pallor of the rest of the face, which w;
set in Il look of surprise and terror 81
was altered beyond what should ha,
been. She looked several years olde
but it was still Aurelia Those lit
gloved hands, tightly clinched, were II
same which she had held to the libral
fire as we talked the day before; eve
the dress was the same Alas! she hs
been in too great a hurry to change
before she left, or her thin shoes. Pc
little Aurelia!
And then-I don't know how it wa
but in another moment Ralph w
kneeling by her, bending over he
taking the stiffened hands in his treI