Page:010 Once a week Volume X Dec 1863 to Jun 64.pdf/64

 If I gave these two men up to justice (supposing the overseer survived), what proof was there that they had poisoned the "paralytic?"

I asked Alice—so we will now call her—whether the overseer had spoil with him or not.

She said he had admitted to her that he had gold, notes, and securities to a very large amount upon him.

I then searched the still sleeping "Doctor;" he was so motionless and deathlike that I began to fear lest the chloroform had had a fatal effect upon him.

I found nothing but a few dollars, and a revolver, which I took; and, with his own neckerchief, securely tied his hands behind him.

It was now snowing heavily again; but I sallied forth once more into the snow, and found the overseer still under the engine, frozen as hard as the iron which covered him, and doubtless quite dead.

With fingers almost as lifeless as his own, I searched him, and found, besides the expected loaded revolver and bowie-knife, a large canvas belt, fastened round his waist, containing the stolen money.

I hastened back with it to Alice, fearing she might be overcome with the cold, and fall asleep.

Just as I had my hand on the door of the car, I heard a well-known sound: there was no need to think twice—the driver of the expected train, blinded by the snow, had not seen the danger-signal! With criminal negligence they had not telegraphed our non-arrival from R; the train was rushing on us!

I shouted loudly to the occupants of the cars to save themselves, and sprang into ours for Alice.

Even in the short time I had been absent she had nearly gone to sleep.

Mine

Whether the "Doctor" really died from the effects of cold and the chloroform I cannot

He also was a bruised and almost shapeless mass; both had died painless deaths.

The engineer and stoker of the train which ran into us had jumped into the snow, and were unhurt.

and do not like to think.

tell,

the

now

The passengers were very few, and, surprising to say, only one was killed.

We made great fires of the debris, and waited the morning, when help should come.

Amid all the horrors of the scene I felt a thrill of happiness in having Alice looking at me as her sole protector, and through the night laying her head on my shoulder, in sheer weariness and exhaustion, suffering my arms to support her.

I felt as if I had known her for years. Was the gentle girl who leaned unconsciously on me, whom I had met under such strange circumstances—was she soon to be severed from me? No! never! And with the thought I clasped her closer to my heart.

At last help came: about five o'clock in the morning an express came from R, expecting to find a breakdown: they took us up, and we arrived at R about eight o'clock.

I asked Alice what she would wish to do.

In some confusion she said:

"I know not what to say!" But, putting her little hand in mine, she said "Will you, who have watched over me through that dreadful night, who have saved me from horrors of which I cannot think, see me safe back to my

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indeed now it will be very lonely, no one to welcome me but the servants but it is my right place? I

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—my own

Need I tell the reader my answer?

I offered myself, a poor surveyor, as her husband as well as protector.

She did not say no.

up the plantation; for I could not reconcile myself to owning slaves, although theirs was anything but bondage.

The railway accident was universally believed

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ooHi.

our daily papers.

and the "Doctor;"

not finding Dr.

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