Evening journal., 1901-01-08
.-sr-

lhe engine and trucks stopped, the
men shouldered their tools and tumbled
out and we followed them. A few hun
dred PAGES in front of us was a railway
bridge, over which road passed, and
under which the rail went at a sharp
curve. The snow had diifted 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 hindeimost carriages were
still standing or had fallen comparative
ly uninjured; but Others seemed to have
leaped upon their fellows anl plowed
right through them into the drift It
was well That it began 90 rnow as we
reached the spot There were traces Of
dismal smeaIs on tile white ground
which it would DO scemly TO hide
Our friend in black Went forward and
asked a few questions of the man in
charge and presently returned.
"The remainder Of the passengers are
at the farm, he said, pointing to house
at a little distance, andwithout further
delay we began to scramble up the steep
embanlzment aud Chamber over the stone
wall of the bridge into the road Ny
mind was fun of other things, but re-
member still the number Of people as
sembled on the bridge, and how a man
was standing ,W in his donkey cart to
view the scene.
1t was Saturday, and there were ouan.
titles of village school boys sitting
astride ON the low wall, or perchod on
aiiacent hurdles. evidently enjoying tlc
spectacle, josiling hawlmg, cating
oranges and throwing the peel at the
engine. Some older people touched
their hats sympathetieally, and one wen,
and opened a gate for us into 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. Il
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 ands the two went on
together, the police inspector following
with me.
In a few minutes we reached the farm
and entered the farmyard. which wai
the nearest way to the house. A littl,
knot Of calves intrenched on mound o
straw in the center of the yard lowered
their heads and looked askance at MS a.
we came in, and a party of ducks re
treated hastily from our path with &
chorus Of exclamations. while thin
colly dog burst out Of a barrel at th'
back door and made u series Of gym
nastics at the end Of chain, barking
hoarsely, as if he had not spared himself
Of late.
An elderly woman with red arms me
us at the door, and on a whisper frou
the police inspector first shook her head
and then, in answer to a further whis
Per, nodded at another door, and voic
calling her from within hastily disar
peared.
The inspector opened the door she ha
indicated and went in. / with him
Charles, who had grown very grave
hung back with Ralph, who seemed 10
much dazed tonotice anything in heave
above or the earth beneath. The doc
opened into an clubhouse, roughly pave
with round stones, where barrels, stay'
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 disappeart
among the rafters. Ia the middle Of Il
floor. lying q little apart. were three III
urss with sheets over them. lnstinctiy
~ We felt that we were ia the presen'
Of death, 1 looked back at Charles al
Ralph, who were still standing outa'
IN the falling snow Charles was bar
headed, but Ralph was looking absent
in front Of him, seeming conscious
nothing. The inspector made me asig
He had raised one Of the sheets, and nc
withdrew it altogether. My heart seer
cd to stand STILL
II was Aurelial Aurelia changed
the last great change Of all, but st
Aurelia. The fixed artificial color in I
cheek. consorted i'll with the bloodlt
pallor Of the rest Of the face, which "
set in q look Of surprise and terror. S
was altered beyond what should ha
been. She looked several years old'
but it was atill Aurelia. Those lit
gloyod hands, tightly clinched, were {
same which ehc had held 70 tao libra
FIR os wo talked tho day before; cy
tn Lross was the came. Alas. she b
. IL