The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-06-22


haD n 02ce started out to see the
world being at last able to satisfy my
craving FOR travel to its full extent
and having no parental ties to hold
me to any one particular spot OF the
worlds circumference
But ] had somewhat overdonC the
thing. Dot being possessed OF const-
luton tLat would stand much of
strain. SO | had settled down at Las
Vegas 20 take things quietly for u
willie. before going further
II was on the evening Of October II.
1>gG. that the news was circulated in
the town that there had been an aw-
fu, wreck on the Santa Fc just below
Watrous. A special was rapidly made
mp of an engine and two coaches. and
the call made for volunteers to assist
in any way that thciI services could
be Of value. | made one of the mum
bcr that promptly responded. and has
tily clambering aboard, we started for
the scene.
shall never forget that distressing
sight, a.. reaching the spot, we .eaped
10 the ground almost before the train
had slackened speed sufficiently to
make il safe to human life and limb to
slight. There lay a tangled mass of
wood and iron piled in heaps, from
which came means and cries from the
imprisoned passengers and crews. One
of the forward coaches. together with
the mail and express car. was in
flames. While part of the impro-
IL.
ton to helping the poor unfortunates
in The passenger coaches, others of us
started in to save what part of the
mail and express cars valuable con-
tents stll remained out of the rea IA
OF the tongues of the flames rapidly
drawing nearer the end of the car
farthCSt from the eaglne. | was one
OF those who started to work on this
car and Justify began to pull out the
sacks Of mail and what merchandise
could be reached through the tremen-
dous heat from the burning end Of the
car.
The last sack of mail was not
snatched away in time to prevent half
its length being burned away entire.
/ had hold of the leather handles and
gave fearful tug. for the heat was
now unbearabie. For n minute the bag
held to some object that weighted II
down then gave suddenly, landing me
backwards, while a shower of letters
and small packages completely GOV
cred me.
After we had done all we could to
save the contents Of the ear, and taken
the last man from the twisted coaches
we started back to Las Vegas with Our
mansled. suffering human freight.
II was after one o'clock when we ar
rived, and had tcuderly carried the suf
ferers to the nearest point where they
could receive medical and surgical at
tention. and being quite fatigued with
my unusual exertion. era wlpd into
bed and slept soundly until the SUI
had arisen high in the heavens the
next day.
Being nearly dressed. reached for
my vest. when something futtered tC
the floor. Picking it up | was sur
prised TO find half burned photo
graph. Evidently it had been caugh
in my clothing in some way when thu
mail bag scattered its contents owe
me a. | lay upon the ground and
when ! arose to my feet, had slippe,
between my vest and shirt. | said /
was n half burned photograph. bu
that does not tell much. 1t was tn
photograph Of a beautiful young lady
perhaps eighteen years of age. Beau
tiful? The most beautiful, think,
had ever seen.
sat down in my half dressed stat
and stared at it for many long min
utes. And before | had finished star
ing at that beautiful image | had L
confess 10 myself that | was helplessl
in love with the pretty. rounded face
with its smiling eyes looking up S
confidently into mine, that shapely
tempting mouth with its saucy, curlin
lips. that wealth OF tastily arrange
hair thrown back over the high fore
head.
Who was shpf cursed the fame
that had totally eaten away the nar
Of the card that might have give
some clue as 10 whom the photograph
or had been. or in what place the pho
tograph had been taken. n cOul
only know what town or city 1t woul
be enough. | would go at once to tn
place and search every artists estat
lisaI - until had found some trac
OF my ideal
tp TO this time | had bothered bu
htile about women. But here was
dear little girl whose eyes looked II
Into mine so smilingly, so confIlncl,
50 plea4ingly,. that my heart ached
have them something more than In
ages on paper. Il have those llps one
and speak 10 me- to have those daint
little ears capable Of listening while
poured my story Of complete SLAYER
into them: ah. I was hopelessly In Low
anA did not know with whom! wit
photograph. A photograph. toss,
~ my very feet. coming TO me by su'
strange chaunpl TO tease me.
agouize me. to craze me.
And then the thought came to n
that 10 every photograph there mu
necessarily be two sides. Perhaps Il
reverse side would tell me somethln
new hope. | held the photograp
and my fingers trembled and my hea
beat furlously. fearing to turn II tn
might be disappointed At last u
shaking fingers moved OF their ow
volltion. Writing. Feminine writin
ina neat. small hand.
AnI ret q