The sweet-voiced organ pealed forth again, And smiled at the clinking sound. She held it, and all were charmed but one, "Aunt Nellie yous being bad!” The audience smiled, the minister coughed, And poor Aunt Nellie never could tell How she finished that terrible strain, -The Independent. PUT YOURSELF IN HER PLACE.* CHARLES Barnard. To understand all that she did we have to study the railroad at this point. The Main Line to the east was, for more than two miles, perfectly straight and level. To the west it crossed a deep valley on a stone viaduct, and then turned and followed the valley for a long distance. The road to the west was a rapidly rising grade and was in plain sight for more than three miles. The little yard was just here, at the east end of the viaduct. There was the passenger station first, then a small freight * From "Knights of To-day," by permission of Charles Scribner s Sons. house on one side and a coal dump on the other, and beyond these a cross-over switch joining the up and down tracks. There was also a siding at each side with switches connecting with both tracks, and just to the east of the station, a branch line coming in from the north. She was the station-master's daughter, Lydia by name. She and her brother had been, from their youth up, about the road. She knew the use of things, the ways of the road, and could handle a switch-bar or flag a train like a man. The long summer afternoon was nearing its end. She had come out in the yard to see the conductor of the local up freight, Number Eight. The train had backed on to the siding to take on an empty car and he had got down from the train and stood beside her on the Main Line. A grimy man in unlovely garments and yet she loved him. They had had an understanding, and were looking for the day when he should be promoted and give her a home. Just then her brother came along the track, and nodding to the man said: "The brake on that last car is broken. You had better drop it at the repair shops." Then turning to her he said: "The passenger train follows soon. I must go back to the station. Will you close the switch after the freight has pulled out?" The young people were quite willing to be left alone, and only regretted that the train seemed so quickly to be ready. Car after car rolled past them, and as the last car appeared he caught hold of the hand-rail and in a moment was seated on top looking back at her as the train rolled over the viaduct. She closed the switch and stood by it watching the train as it crept on and on, higher and higher up the grade. Then she heard a bell and knew that the passenger train that followed the local freight over the viaduct had arrived at the station. It seemed like bad railroading to allow a freight to precede a passenger train, but this was explained by the fact that the passenger train only entered the Main Line just here and left it again a few miles to the west. Suddenly she put up her hand to shade her eyes and looked far across the valley to the retreating freight train. What had happened? Two tiny puffs of steam rose from the engine. It was the signal to stop. Ah! 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 behind. It was standing alone on the track. No. It was moving backward. It was beginning to roll down the grade. It was moving faster and faster. There was a 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. 66 'How 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. It was coming down the track gaining 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 motions to back down out of danger. Her tongue clove to the roof of her mouth and her cry became an inarticulate moan. Onward came the car. She could see her lover upon it frantically waving his arms from right to left. What did it mean? Her brain seemed to be on fire. She could do nothing but gaze on the advancing car in dumb horror. Ah! The passengers! Could she not save them? With a violent wrench she opened the switch again and stood holding the bar in both hands. Better so, better one life lost than a dozen. Her feet seemed bolted to the ground. She must stay and see him killed, and by her own hand. The rails began to murmur with the tread of the advancing car now rushing furiously onward to destruction. Ah! 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 key from the switch and ran with frantic speed down the line. She never knew how she opened that switch. With moans and cries she threw herself across the line and began to run down the other side. Could she reach that switch before the car? Its roaring rang in her ears. Panting, with almost bursting bosom she reached the switch, opened it and stood clinging to it as the car came thundering over the viaduct. He had She looked up at her lover upon the car. seen and understood the change in the switches. His car, helpless though it was, would cross over to the down. track and roll harmlessly along the level line till its force was spent. He was saved, and by her ready wit and skill. The passengers in the train were also saved. She had saved him. Love had been her inspiration. Great heavens! what's that? The express! The down express was coming. She saw him throw All was in vain. He was lost. up his arms in despair. The very plan she had devised to save him would be his destruction. Better far to have thrown him off upon the siding as she had intended. Now he would meet a more dreadful death and the destruction would include scores of lives instead of a dozen. All this flashed through her mind like as lightning. She felt her knees give way beneath her and she clung to the switch in despair. She shut her eyes to hide the coming disaster. Hark! The whistle of the express. They had seen the imminent collision and were doing their best to avert it. She, too, must do something. With a bound she sprang to the next switch, tore it open and stood panting and moaning beside it with the bar in her hand. She must save the train even if she buried her lover under the splintered wreck of the car. Onward came the car, thundering over the viaduct and just ahead of the train. It turned quickly at the switch, crossed over and shot past her into the siding. He had one look at her upturned face. It was full of love and helpless misery. She was sending him to certain destruction to save the express train. The instant the car passed she closed the switch and sprang back again to the other switch and closed it just in time to see the express train sweep past in safety. In an instant the helpless car ran into the freight-house with an awful splintering crash. The express pulled up opposite the station, and in a moment a crowd of people ran shouting and frantic up the line. Some of them had seen the whole performance and knew what it meant, but for the majority of them it was a tragic mystery. They found Lydia upon the ground by the switch, and with the keys still clutched in her hand. What had she done? What had happened to her? She could not answer. Nature had mercifully taken away her senses. They took her up tenderly and carried her to the station and laid her upon a seat in the waiting-room. The passengers of the two trains crowded the room and offered every aid, for in some vague manner they began to understand that she was their creditor to the value of all their lives. She had paid for their safety with costly sacrifice. The freight train backed down to the cross-over switch and the engineers of the three trains met and began to examine the positions of the switches. A number of men also came from the express train, and among them was one who seemed in authority. He, too, examined the line carefully, and the engineers explained the mat |