The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-01-26
CHAPTER II.

Cf1Af len
In few minutes more the train was
putting slowly from the station, and
Janetta, who had craned her neck from
the carriage to obtain farewell smile
from Neville, sank back into her cor
ner, with plenty Of time before her
in which to consider her prospects and
her fellow travellers.
The latter were singularly uninter-
esting, with the exception of q little
girl not more than two years old, who
sat just opposite Janetta, regarding
her with thoughtful eyes.
Pretty she said presently, stretch-
ing out her arms to come to her. And
Janetta, with a reassuring nod to the
mother, stood the child by the window
and talked to her for the first hour.
only handing her back to her natural
guardian whom the little thing was
tired out. and showed signs Of drop
ping of to sleep.
A glance at her watch told her that
she could not be many miles from her
destination, and she looked out of the
window to notice the sort of country
through which they were travelling,
fancying that In the fast-fadinx light
of the February afternoon she could
catch the simmer Of the sea In the
distance.
The thought had scarcely framed it.
self before she was conscious OF q
curious swaying to and fro in the car
riage, then shiyering vibration ran
along the train as il the brake had been
applied with unwonted force; and, be-
fore she could do more than read the
awful alarm that was written upon
the faces Of her fellow travellers, there
came a crash and total cessation of
movement.
The earth itself seemed tottering
under her, and she was thrown from
her seat to the floor. She was too
stunned for few minutes to realize
in the least what had happened; but
when at last able to collect her senses,
she knew that there must have been
an accident, the nature and character
of which she was incapable of saux.
ing.
The air was alive with sounds moro
or less distressing Kissing OF the
engine. the shouts of the engine driver.
the piercing shrieks of women, and
close to her, making itself heard above
the din. the pitiful, frightened wall of
little child.
Poor little deart it must be the
little child was talking to- said
iJanetta, trying to raise herself on to-
her knees 80 as to see better what
had happened to her fellow travellers,
and much relieved to find that her
own limbs were whole and sound.
The carriage was !ierked of the rails
and was pitched half over on its side,
and the struggles Of others to free
themselves were beginning to be I'M
pleasantly felt when, from her kneel-
ing posture, Janetta caught glimpse
of the man whom she had seen get
ting into the first-class carriage a lit
tie beyond her own at Paddington.
"Hallo!" he, said. with pleasant
smile, you seem to want help here.
Don't be frightened; l don't think
there is much harm done. barring the
smashing up Of a carriage or su NO,
no! don't struggle behind there!
Ladies first, please. must help you
out through the window, as the door
is jammed, and beware OF broken
glass.
THE child first, - said Janetta, with
quivering lips, who had laid hold Of
the little frightened heap that had
been propelled right under the seat
opposite to her own.
Hand her out, please.'' cried the
man, depositing the child high up on
the bank near by. She's scared out
sof her wits, as we'll she may be- Now
give me your hands, and place your
feet on the handle of the door, FIJI keep
you steady as you climb through and
lift you out.
Janetta obeyed every direction
swiftly and deftly.
With her arm about the child. Janet.
Ia sat and watched the strange scene
with dazed, bewildered eyes. The huge
engine, which had run on the line.
stood half embedded in the bank q.
the side. snorting and putting as II in
dignant at finding himself in such an
ignominious position. 81
Men with scared faces hurried hither
and thither; women stood In groups
along the line. sobbing in helpless ter
ror.
The mother Of her little charge lay
stretched at full length on the grass
close by. borne thither by the strong
arms Of her rescuer, who seemed al
most the only man who kept full pos
session Of his senses, except fair
fonaA "a ,sl In,f,