The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-05

r1e at Mayw0cd and ! had orders 70
hurry hack and help an extra freight
but orders and appeals were al alike 70
me: I'd 60 when T got ready. and NOT a
minute sooner. Wien ! did take notion
10 go was no more fst 70 run an engine
than ny little girl. sleeping 80 quietly at
hone 7 had q confused idea that mr.
little Jess was IN danger. and my one
fhoaghi was 70 get TO her az quickly
as possible. ! rSpose that awful run
down the mountain 4 talked Of 20 iris
day. The Old Is swayesi and bumped and
5oF-ed TIL IFS wonder that she kept
the track az ali just before reaching
the bridge. coming west. Il a sharp
curve Yes. that's Il ap there he said.
following the Doctors gaze 10 g little
bridge, not more than forty feet long.
spanning little rippiEng brook -ar1d the
ruins you see there Is all thar - left
of the little white cottage where We we-e
so happy long ago. Wei. I had pecu-
tar whistle signal and would sound IL
Just before rounding the curve that told
my loved ones was coming No mat
ter what she was doing. when she heard
my signal she would cry. Tun, mamma
papa aad the forty sits are tunnin'-
II the weather was good she would come
our 10 the front gate and wave al IRE
as long as I Was In sight.
Il dan't know what possessed me. bat
on that fafefa mourning ] sounded my
signal FUZZY tGFE< 9ut1e-r AEttfl1 NS-44Ts 4D~%1
70 God that my hard had wfthered and
my heart stood stil forever. before
sounded that blast SO loud ard clear. for
ii was the death kneu OF ore I loved
hest OF all on earth. little Jess
When rounded the curve. coming
as fast "a old rs could turn a wheel. I
saw running toward me. with a red
flag in her hands. waving with all the
strength OF her chubby arms-was my
Jess Ny heart stood stiil. IN an instant
my brain wes clear. I saw 81 ali. the
bridge was gone only the ties and rails
were swinging. ard the little tot-had
crossed over them 10 save papa and IS,
a Thousand demons shouted in my ears
Run avsul slow. papa, for zee bwidge
might wun away I applied sand and
steam ard air. but to no avail Little
Jess came lettering. stumbling on. wav-
ing her flag. and in my fancy 1 could
her her cry. Ton. ton. papa gee
bvfdge has wunned AWAY Just before
we reached her she fell. and at the same
time ! jumped Why / was not killed
know not. I was not even hurt. rushed
TO my little darling. who was tying be-
tween the rails. 30 sttll and white. a
bruise was on her forehead. and a ftr-
tie stream OF blood was trickIinz down
her marble cheek: / picked her up
she opened her eyes for moment and
said. Is AT 90. papa, But 90 didn't wun
slow and I did fersiet to Oct OF gee
twack: mama falIded down and tanldn't
tuu. so tarne. Did save 90 and nee
forty-stts. papa@
The little eyes were getting dim. and
the little hands were cold: she nestled
her head up TO me and WHISPERED .Tsosd
right.-pap a---tfss title Ds~s--dooc--
highland oo-mus'-wun aw<ui-sfgw
whers-yer--tunr-hack, papa. --far--fts-
wafuin'-aw Observation-Disclosures --burfdxe--
night-wun-away.
Before l got her hcme. she was dead:
her mother saw me run over her. and
died three hours later. from the shock
She never spoke. but from her eyes I
read mute. hearthroken reproach: / rot
down on my knees and prayed TO her as
have never prayed to God. think she
forgave me. for just as she breathea
her last, her eyes lighted up, and she
whispered. Jack-Jessie'
Yes, my little Jess saved mana and
the forty-sits.' but her own sweet life
Was the terrible price. She wa~ bpsffv
dressing her doll when she heard a
crash--iooksd toward the bridge aud saw
thar II was gone; dropping her don she
cried. My Goodness mama zee h-vfdsa
has wunned away: her mother snarehesf
up the red flag and started TO flag de-
sceHding trains, AT that Inflated mo-
nent. sounded nay whistle: what can~esi
AZ, | know not. bat at any rate. she fell.
and was unable to rise: realizing the
danger. jess grabbed the nag. exgfafrnfnx
It 5 papa. and ferty-sfts, and started for
the track hard as she could GO The
- efH pTNd just AZ the edge % The bridge.
hrr value In dollars and cents. was saved
80 the Company. bat my precious level
was Enne forever.