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Vol. VII. Now iDloomiloltl, Fix., Tuesday, Jimo.24, 1873. IVo. 25.
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UNCLE WINTHROP'S WATCH.
riWO passenger trains on the same track
JL were approaching each other with
frightful speed. curve in the road pre
vented their respective conductors from
being aware of their dangerous proximity.
One train, from the north, to which the
right of way properly belonged, was run
ning to make up for lost time, having been
by some means unusually delayed ; the
other, from the south, crowded on steam, in
the hope of reaching a turnout before the
regular train came along.
We will not harrow the . feelings of the
reader by minutely dealing with the scene
that ensued. ' ' Take up almost any journal
of the day, and - you - may find described
very likely, its counterpart.
In the instance nnder notice all of the
horrors incident to a collision of trains
were shockingly manifested. As the two
engines met in their swift career there ap
peared to be a sudden pause, then a rear
ing of the ponderous machines, like steeds
met in the shock of battle, a momentary
sullen struggle, as if for the mastery, fol
lowed immediately by the crashing of the
splintered cars, the roar of escaping steam,
the shrieks of the wounded, the moans of
the dying, while far and wide dissevered
limbs, manglod bodies, and the wreck of
the trains were indiscriminately scattered.
Soon resoluto hearts and ready hands
were active in rescuing the victims from
the general wreck, and administering as
best they could to the sufferings of the
survivors. ! ''.' '
Conspicuous among those thus humane
ly employed was a young man who, though
evidently suffering from fsome injury, la
bored with untiring teal. While' many of
his co-workers, who, in ordinary emergen,
cies, perhaps, might have bceu relied on
for their firmness and efficiency, were run.
ning distractedly . hither and thither, ac
complished but little in their hasty zeal,
Henry Peabody for such was the young
man's name remained calm and self-possessed,
giving directions Wc, lending as-
sistauce there, until, as If by common con
' sent, he become the rWognized ' leader of
the rescuing party. By his judicious man
agement somcftffcg like order was estab
lished am6nghe working party, and, thus
systematise, their efforts consequently
wete vastly more effective. The wounded
vf efe'carefully removed from the ruins,
'and their injuries tenderly cared for, as
'circumstances would permit; the dead
"were decently disposed along the road n
ghostly companionship. .
While searching for victims of the disas
ter among the debris at the base of a slight
declivity, the attention of Peabody was at-
' tractea by faint appeal for bob. He
, turned in the direction of the voice, but in
the confused mass of matter heaped around
him be could discern no trace of the speak
er. Making his way among the ruins, he
at last discovered an aged nan, his face
streaming with blood from a gash in his
forehead, helplessly pinned between por
tions of a shattered car. In a moment Pea
body was by his side, exerting his utmost
efforts to release him from bis painful po
sition. He worked to a disadvantage, for
one of bis arms was nearly useless from a
wound, the painful stature of which he be
came more and more conscious of as the first
excitement, which iiad rendered khn in
sensible to self-suffering, begtu to subside.
Finding that he could not release the im
prisoned man by bis own .exertions, he
called to a young min of about his own
age, who was seated at the foot of neigh
boring tree, for assistance.
" I have enough to do to attend to my
own wounds," said the person addressed,
in rather a churlish tone, at the same time
rising from his seat and commencing to
limp away.
Seeing no otl.er person near to whom be
could apply for aid, Peabody sprang to his
side.
" Bee here, my friend," he said, placing
his hand gently on his shoulder, " this old
man is in a perilous position, And badly
hurt. One of my arms is nearly useless,
yours are uninjured,and the wound on your
foot docs not appear very serious. I need
your assistance ; this way, if ypu please."
There was not the least excitement in
the speakers voice, but there teat some
thing in his tones something in bis man
ner that compelled obediance, and with
ill-concealed reluctance the young man ac
companied Peabody to the scene of action.
Improvising a lever from the wreck
strewn around tliom, ofter considerable
difficulty the sufferer was extricated. While
Peabody was assisting him to the best of
his ability Over the obstructions in their
way, his companion hobbled off, complain
ing piteously of his own injuries, which,
instead of enlisting tho sympathies of
young Peabody, only called a contemptu
ous smile to that gentleman's face. For
tunately for the old man's comfort a more
able and willing assistant just then made
his appearauce, and in a short time he wns
removed to a place where his case could
receive more particular attention.
As he lay stretched out upon the green
sward, bis head supported by a stray car
cushion that Peabody had managed to se
cure, a more pitiable looking object could
not well be imagined. His clothing was
pretty much in tatters, and very much
soiled, his face begrimmed with soot, and
the blood with the dust having caked on
his face had so disguised his features that
his own wife or child, if he had either,
would have failed to recognize him. ' From
the fineness of his linen, and the texture
of lils other garments, as well as the few
words that had passed between them, Pea
body surmised that he was a man of higher
social standing than his present unseemly
appearance indicated. This fact, however,
did not influence his conduct. The begger
in his rags would have received from him
equal sympathy and attention. With him
suffering swept away all distinctions, and
placed prince and peasant ou the same
level.
As the person he now waited upon was
one of the last taken from the wreck, and
as those previously rescued were receiving
the attention their cases demanded, Pea
body devoted all his care to him. .
" You will not leave me, young man ?"
the injured man had said in a weak voice,
with an appealing glance ; and when Pea
body hastened to assure him he would
render him all the aid in his power, he
plainly manifested not a little relief.
But trilling were tho ministrations the
younger man could offer. Of the extent
of the injuries of the sufferer he could form
no judgment. The wound on the fore
head) from which tho blood slowly oozed,
although severe, was not apparently dan
gerous. The patient complained much of
the pressure to which he hod been sub
jected while pinned- amid tho wreck. A
broken leg seemed to give bim the most
paw, and all that Peabody could do was to
arrange the limb in such a . position as he
deemed best adapted to mitigate the an-
gnrah it occasioned.
Immediately after the disaster occurred
messengers had been despatched to the
first station to telegraph to the nearest
town for an extra train and for surgical
aid. Impatiently the expected succor was
now awaited, and a general feeling of re
lief was experienced when at last was
heard the distant rumbling of an approach
ing train. When it arrived no time was
lost in placing such of the victims as were
in a condition to be placed upon the plat-form-car,bf
which the train was principally
composed. The removal of the wounded
was a painful process, but aftor a , while it
was accomplished, and the train ready to
start with it ghastly freight of the dead
and the living.
The gentleman rescued by Peabody was
very urgent that be should accompany
him on his homeward journey. He seemed
to have taken a liking to him, a liking
which emanated not solely from gratitude,
bat was mainly founded on certain personal
qualities be deemed bim to possess, aud
which had won bis favor. Peabody would
willingly have complied with hi request,
although bis route lay in another direction,
but it was found necessary to economize
space on the train, and only those whoso
jpjurles were serious were permitted a
passage. He, however, made every araago
ment for the comfort of the sufferer within
bis power, who was stretched upon a mait
tress, which the forethought of the oo
ductor had provided for the wounded,
As Peabody stood by the platform-wi:,
conversing with him, just before the train
started, tho stranger remarked :
" I feci that, under God, I am indebted
for my life to you, my young friend. I can
now only repay you with my poor thanks,
but I trust that the opportunity will be
afforded me at some future time of man
ifesting in another way my sense of the
deep obligations under which I rest. Let
me hope that the acquaintance which has
been brought about by such a sad contin
gency, may hereafter be renewed under
happier auspices."
' While Peabody was disclaiming any es
pecial merit on his part for what be had
done, and expressing the gratification it
afforded bim that he had been onabled to
render an assistance, the gentleman took
from his pocket a valuable gold watch, and
extending it towards him. Thinking he
desired to know tho time, Peabody looked
at it, and said :
" It is fifteen minutes post three."
" I wish you to take it my young friend,"
said his companion, still holding forth the
watch.
" I Could not think of such a thing, my
dear sir," was peabody's reply, with a
motion of dissent. '
"Do not be offended with, me for press
ing the offer," said the stranger. "I , do
not ask your acceptance of the trifle as pay
ment for your kindness. Believe me, I do
not intend it as such. I offer it to you as
a token of my friendship, as such only I
desire you to accept it a, keepsake. I
shall feel very much pained, youDg man, by
your refusal."
Peabody could not, and did not doubt the
sincerity of the speaker, still he hesitated.
But the train at that moment commenced
moving, the ' watch was thrust into . his
hands, and the young man felt that he
could not without rudeaess refuse to retain
It. Hasty adieux were exchanged, . and
Peapody stood and watched the train with
its mournful burden slowly reoeding very
slowly, that the jar might not aggravate
the sufferings of its living occupants with
strangely complex feelings : profound sad
ness and regret for the affliction it bore to
many a happy household, and as profound
joy and gratitude for his own preservation
from sudden death or serious injury.
It was some time after the train bearing
the dead and wounded had, departed ere
those who were left behind were enabled to
leave the scene of the disaster. : After an
hour or two of impatient waiting, however,
they were taken to the nearest station,
whence tbey were sent forward on their re
pective routes,
' On reaching a 'neighboring town, Pea
body at once sought surgical aid, for bis
arm had became extremely painful. An
examination of the limb revealed the fact
that it had been slightly fractured. After
it had been properly dressed Henry experi
enced immediate relief, and was glad to be
assured that he could safely continue on
his journey. Tho next mornlng.therefore,
he resumed his route. ,
In the car in which he bad taken passage
he found quite a number of persons, ladies
and gentlemen, who had been passengers
on one of the wrecked trains, some of
whom had been more or less bruised. The
disaster of the proceding day was naturally
the topic of conversation. The fact of
their having been exposed to a common
danger, and that in a greater or lesser de
gree the majority' of them were sufferers
from the collision, tended to banish all
conventionalities, and to foster a general
spirit of sociality among them., .
When Peabody entered the car, the only
seat be found unoccupied was one the back
of which had been reversed. Three of the
seats thus brought into neighborly juxta
position were occupied by two young ladies
and a young gentleman ; and as Peabody
received an intimation from the nearest
lady, expressed by looks rather than words,
that tho seat was at his disposal, be very
gladly , took possession of it. He found
that bis thiee fellow-passengers had also
been passengers on the train that was
wrecked, and as he took his seat, be recog
nized in bis vU-o-xtit a young lady to whom
be had rendered a slight service after the
disaster. He remembered her from the
self-possession she exhibited amidst the
distraction and agitation that prevailed, aud
the readiness with which she devoted her
services to the assistance of tho wounded,
in which , occupation be bad lost sight of
her. The fact of Peabody's arm being in
a ( sling afforded opportunity for inquiries
as to the extent of bis injuries, which led
the way to further conversation, so. that in
a very short time he found himself engaged
in tiuite a familiar chat with his pleasant
neighbor and her lady 'companion. The
gentleman of the party, however, did not
seem so sociably inclined.
, He was a young man of about tho age of
Peabody, and, at a first glance, rather pre
possessing in his appearance ; still, there
was something repellant about him, at
least it so struck Peabody. What it was,
had he been questioned, he could not have
satisfactorily explained ; yet he bad not
been in his company but a short time ere
his first unfavorable impressions were de
cidedly couflrmod. His face seemed some
what familiar to him ; when and where
had he met with bim? The fact came
upon bim suddenly. This was the young
man who had s reluctantly aided him in
extricating the gentleman from the ruins
of the cars. The recognition,' it maybe
presumed, did not tend to raise bim in
Peabody's opinion. Very naturally, he
made inquiries about the gentleman's
wounded foot, and was very curtly informed
that the injury proved a slight one, and
that but little, if any, ill effect was expe
rienced from it. '
From what he observed Peabody inferred
that the gentleman acted as an escort to
the ladies, which he subsequently learned
was the caso. It was very evident from his
marked attentions to the lady who sat op
posite to Peabody that he was either her
fiance, or that be was solicitous to ingrati
ate himself with her.;. Henry was not long
in discovering that the pleasant relations
which were being rapidly established be
tween himself and bis fair opposite were
not particularly agreeable to the gentleman
in question. , "' . . ,
" Would you not prefer a seat by the
window, Miss Weston ?" , he asked, half
rising from his seat, interrupting an ani
mated conversation just then in progress
between Henry and the lady. .
" Do not rise, Mr. Perham ; no I thank
you. 1 much prefer tne one I occupy,"
she replied. 1 ' ' ..''!
The answer was given pleasantly enough,
yet Peabody thought ho 'detected in the
tone and manner of the sponker something
like coldness, or luck of cordiality, which,
for some reason, was not wholly disagree
able to him. .-..
" For my part," remarked Miss Weston's
lady companion, whom Peabody bad beard
addressed as Miss Leighton, " 1 think the
view from a car window is very stupid. If
one catches a bit of fine scenery, the glance
is so transitory that it is more tantalizing
than gratifying." i 1 ' . '
" Then the posts, fences aud telegraph
poles all seem to be running such a desper
ate race with the locomotive," added Pea
body, with a smile. ' ,
" Yes, and in the distance," remarked
Miss Leighton, "the houses, barns' and
trees seemed engaged In an endless waltz,
so that oue's brains are in a complete
whirl while watching them."
. The non-acceptance of his proposition
did not seem to. have a very agreeable
effect on Mr. Perham, judging from the
taciturnity he afterwards maintained, and
which the ladies did not seem disposed to
interrupt. Most assuredly, Peabody felt
no inclination to disturb it.
' Henry experienced a decidedly growing
interest in his newly-made acquaintance.
They were each endowed with more than
ordinary personal charms. Although Miss
Leighton would generally be considered
the most attractive, from her finely devel
oped form and beauty of features, as well
as the vivacity of her disposition, still, in
Peabody's eyes, her , less demonstrative
companion was much the more charming.
If she did not talk so much, there was a
point and plquapcy to what ' she did say,
that at once enlisted your attention. There
was an expression in her large brown eyes
when she raised them to his, and a subtle
play to ber features when addressing him,
which, la Peabody's view, were a thousand
fold more captivating. '
There are men who, placed in circum
stances similar to Peabody's, would have
Journeyed for weeks without manifesting
more than the most formal civility towards
those with whom chance had thrown bim
in contact. But Peabody bad not been a
. day in the company of bis fellow-passengers
ere be had established something akin
to a friendly intimacy with them. Though
not what is styled a " handsome man," yet
he possessed that manly fascination, that
mogrtetio grace of speech aud manners,
which at once find favor not only with the
fairer but the rougher sex as well. ,(.
Peabody was blessed with the sunniest
of temperaments. f There was an air of
Wealth about him, mental and . pioral as
well ' as physical, which is so rarely to be
found in these effeminate days, and which
has become doubly potent from its very
rarity. Borne few men there are, a,nd
women, too, as for that matter, whom we
are perfectly willing to take on trust on the
most casual acquaintance, and seldom in
such cases do we find our instincts at
fault. Peabody possessed in an eminent
degree that " open sesame" to the hearts
of all with whom he oame in contact.
Thrown into such genial companionship as
he now found himself, the celerity vWi'th
which he won the good graces' of his fair
neighbors would have shocked the stiff ami
formal notions of good old Dame Proprie
ty, and was manifestly annoying to their
gentleman escort. ' . i
On tho afternoon of his second day's
journeying, as the train was approaching
the village of Rockport, very much ' fre
quented as a summer resort, Peabody
learned with regret that his newly-made
friends would stop at that place. . His ac
quaintance with them had beon of short
duration, yet he felt that parting ' with
them would be like taking leave of ' old
friends.' The chances were that they would'
never meet ngain,' and as he gazed on tho
sweet face before him so full of winning
grace, the thought of being forever separa
ted from one who so completely answered
to his fond idoal of woman, awoke In his
heart emotions to which it had hitherto
been a stranger; 1 '' ' '
An inquiry in' regard to the time 'being
made, Peabody took out bis watch.'"H!1w-a8
the ono presented to him by the "strarigelr,.
an English hunting-case watch," with' a,
massive gold chain attached. " As Henry
held it in his hand, he noticed a" look of
surprise in the face of Mr. Perham as ho
leaned forward and closely scrutinized it.
Miss Weston also seemed to regard'4t with,
peoullar interest, particularly the seal At
tached, and he detected a meaning: glance
that passed between' the two' 'mentioned.
Henry spoke of the rarity of the stone of
which the seal was composed, andi'lcnlled
the lady's attention to the uniqueness of
its design and its exquisite workmanship.
Impressed with the interest a sight of i the.
watch had excited, 1 be was about to state
how it came into his possession, btit the
conductor, announcing 1 their 1 arrival at
Rockport, interrupted bim; and in the bus
tle that immediately ensued the' subject. .
passed from his mind. ' ' '' ' ''' ' '
Rockport was but a way-station, aad as
the stoppage of the train was brief, there
was a hurried' exodus from the " oars of
those who contemplated leaving. ' Peabody
stepped out on the platform for a few part
ing words with his late fellow-passongers.
Hurried as was the leave-taking, he found '
time to whisper a hope toi Mis Weston
that they should meet again, and to receive
a cordial Invitation to call Bpba ' her, If in
the course of the summer ha should be in
the neighborhood of Rockport. 1 Th inex
orable bell of the engine, and the Warning
"all aboard" of the conductor, 'out short,
all parting words. A hasty shaking of the
ladies' hands, a cold, scarcely courteous
bow from their escort, and in a few mo
ments the little station was left far behind,
Peabody resumed his late seat, but with
what a strange and ' entire revolution of
feeling 1 How sadly he missed the one
whose presence lent a halo to the dingy
car whose parting good wishes' still lin
gered in his ear, and whose gentle grasp
still thrilled his Inmost being 1 How wear
isome seemed now the road to him, the te
dium of which he could only relieve by
recalling the Image of one who had en-,
throned herself in his very heart oC hearts.
"I wonder who that fellow is?" saioi
Mr. Perham, in a cynical tone, as he and
his companion stood watching the train as.
it left the station, in the rear doer of tho
last car of which,' stood Henry Peabody,,
with raised hat, bowing' hW adioux to the.
ladies. . "'"'
"I presume you allude to. Mr. Peabody
the genlUman from whora we' have Just,
partod!" said Miss Weston,. i.witb. a
touch of hauteur, and a kindling of the
eye, which i would , have caused Henry's
heart to throb had he heard and seen.
" Gentleman 1" sneered her companion,
giving utterance In the same breath to a,
low but expressive humph I"
" Most assuredly be is a gentleman, Mr.
Perham," quickly responded Miss Weston,,
"or all of my instincts arc at fault." '
"Our instincts are not always to bo
trusted," : said , Perham, somewhat de
risively. ,, "',''"
" Mine can be, and are f the lady snio,
very decidedly. :nitrf Wi
A carriage at that, moment was in wait
ing to take the party to the hotel, and for
the time the conversation ceased. After
they were ou their way, Perham remarked :
' " Did you observe the watch Mr. Pea
body exhibited, Miss Weston t But I know
that you did, from the glance that you gave
me."
" Yes,' I noticed it, and was struck with
its resemblance to Uncle WintUrop'."
" And tbe chain, and that peculiar seal ,
perfect counterparts of your imcloV. Con
tinued next week.