Year: 1877

love.


1t becomes us not to inger while they
talk quietly together beside the track.
The train moved slower and slower. till,
finally, it stopped with the last Car just
beyond the switch. The iron horse was
moved ON, the station master signaled
with his arms in curious fashion, and
each of the four brakemen repeated the
motion in turn. White puffs of steam
rose high in the air from the farther end
of the train. A curious, rattling sound
spread through the train, and the last
car backed down, turned aside, and en-
tered the siding. The station-master left
the switch, and came hastily toward the
lovers.


"Good day, Alfred. Light freight to-
day; only one car-by the way, the
brake-chain is broken, and you had bet
ter drop the car at the repair shops.
The freight can be thrown out without
leaving the car"


So saying, the station-master went on
into the freight house, followed by the
rattling and rumbling cars. The grad
ually lost their speed, and then came to
stop with the end of the train lost in
the dark cavern of the freight-house.
There was shout from the building,
and then one of the brakemen began to
move his arms as signal to go on.
Again the white puffs of steam shot up
in the distance, and, with jar and
quiver, the train started again.


Car after Car rolled passed them.
There were hurried whispers, warm
hand-shake and perhaps kiss, and the
young man swung forward, grasped the
ladder en- the last car, climbed quickly
to the top and sat down. She stood gaz-
ing after him as he was drawn away from
her, and smiled and waved farewell to
him with her handkerchief.


Here, Lydia, you must help me-"


1t was her brother who stood beside
her with bunch of keys in his hand.


"The passenger train follows this at
once and must go to the station. Will
you please close the switch after them ?"


She took the keys mechanically, and
then turned again to gaze after her lover
seated on the last car of the retreating
train. 1t had passed out of the switch
and was crossing the great viaduct and
moving more and more swiftly away.


To close and lock the switch was nei-
ther difficult nor dangerous, and she
quietly walked on toward the end of the
siding till she came to the switch-post.
Here she leaned against the wooden
frame for little space, shading her eyes
from the sun with her hand and Watching
the train. 1t had run around the valley
and was turning into the great curve that
crept upward in long grade over the
hill beyond.


1t was now n mile away, and she could
no longer distinguish any one on the
cars. She turned slowly away, seized
the iron bar of the switch and easily
threw it over into place so as to leave the
main line open for the next train.


She looked back down the road and
saw that the passenger train had entered
the line from the branch and was just up
at the station to discharge passengers.
1t may seem surprising that passenger
train should be allowed to follow freight
train so closely.


Bad engineering as this arrangement
was, it was not so serious as it seemed,
for this passenger train did not follow
the freight except for three miles, when
it reached the end of its trip and was
turned off upon siding.


She turned once more to look after the
retreating freight train. It was in full
view, climbing the grade on the great
curve.


Suddenly she put up both hands to
shade her eyes and leaned forward on
the switch frame. What had happened?
Two tiny puffs of steam rose from the
f1f 10 a.


All the train has parted Faint and
far away came the short, sharp danger
whistle. A single car had broken loose
from the train, and had been left be-
hind. 1t was standing alone ON the
track.


No. 1t was moving backward. It was
beginning to roll down the grade. 1t was
moving faster and faster. There was
man upon it-her lover.


Involuntarily she spread out her arms
and let them fall to her side three or four
times in succession-the signal to put on
the brakes.


Chow foolish He cannot see me,
and" She leaned against the switch
frame, and shook with fear and agony.


The brake was broken.


Swift and swifter rolled the disabled
car. 1t was coming down the track gain
ing speed at every rod.


She sprang to the middle of the track
and tried to shout to the engineer of the
train at the station. She made the mo-
tions to back down out of the danger.
Her tongue Glove to the roof of her
mouth, and her cry became an inarticu-
late groan.


Onward came the car. She could see
her lover upon it frantically waving his
arms from right to left. What did it
mean2 Her brain seemed to be on fire.
She could do nothing but gaze on the
car in dumb horror.


All The passengers Could she
not save them?


With violent wrench she opened the
switch again and stood holding the bar
in both hands. Better so-better one
life lost than dozen. Her feet seemed
bolted to the ground. She must stay
and see him killed, and by her own
hand.


All why had she not thought of it
before?


The cross-over switch Could she
reach it in time she might save him.
She snatched the kew from the switch