Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-03-22
The thought had scarcely framed It.


self before she was conscious of a
curious swaying to and fro in the car
rage. then shivering vibration ran
along the train as II 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 q crash and q 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 gaug-
ing.
The air was alive with sounds more
or less distressing-the 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
a little child.
Poor little dear! it must be the
little child l was talking to-" said
Janetta, trying to raise herself on to
her knees so 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 jerked off the rails
and was pitched half over on its side.
and the struggles OF others to free
themselves were beginning to be un-
pleasantly felt when, from her kneel-
ing posture. Janetta caught a glimpse
Of the man whom she had seen get
ting into the first-class carriage lit.
tie beyond her own at Paddington.
"Hallo!" he said, with a pleasant
smile. You seem to want help here
Don't be frightened; l don't thinb
there is much harm done, barring thu
smashing up of carriage or so. No,
no! don't struggle behind there!
Ladies first, please. must help you
out through the window, as the door
is damned, and beware OF broker
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
of her wits, as we'll she may be. Now
give me your hands, and place your
feet on the handle of the door; III keep
you steady as you climb through and
lift you out"
Janetta obeyed every direction
swiftly and deity.
With her arm about the child, Janet
ia sat and watched the strange scene
with dazed, bewildered eyes. The hugo
engine, which had run off the line.
stood half embedded IN the bank at
the side, snorting and putting as If in
dignant at finding himself in such an
ignominious position
Men with scared faces hurried hithef
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 a fair
faced, fair-haired young doctor, who
fastened forward towards the pros
tratc figure, kneeling by her and feel
ing her pulse with professional calm.
Tainted, that's all" he said, look
ing up at the man by his side. Then
4 quick glance OF recognition passed
over his features. why, Merivale.
you here?" he exclaimed. ION your
way to the George, SUPPOSE"
From q certain hardening Of tho
voice Janetta gathered that, for some
reason unknown, the fair-haired doc
tor did not like the handsome stranger,
whose fine physique and pleasant bear
ing seemed so attra Give to herself