ing with apprehension as she
spoke.

"No, it isn't possible that they and all the timepieces in the house
could be so far from correct," said Zoe despairingly.

"Dar doan' 'pear to be nobody 'bout dis hyar depot," remarked Uncle Ben
reflectively; "but I reckon dar's somebody comin' to 'splain de mattah.
Wha's de 'casion ob dis mos' onusual state ob t'ings?" he added, as a
woman, who been watching the carriage and its occupants, the open door
of a neighboring house, came miming in their direction.

"What de mattah, Aunt Rhoda?" he queried, as she reached the side of the
vehicle, almost breathless with excitement and exertion.

"Why, Uncle Ben, dar--dar's been a accident to de kyars, dey say, an'
dey's all broke up, and de folks roun' here is all"--

"Where? where?" exclaimed Ella, while Zoe sank back against the
cushions, quite unable to speak for the moment.

"Dunno, Miss," was the reply; "but," pointing up the road, "it's out dat
way, 'bout a mile, I reckon. Yo see, de kyars was a comin' fas' dis way,
and 'nudder ole injine whiskin' 'long dat way, and dey bofe comes
togedder wid a big crash, breakin' de kyars, and de injines bofe of em,
till dey's good for nuffin' but kin'lin' wood; and de folks what's
ridin' in de kyars is all broke up too, dey says; and de doctahs and
body"--

"Edward!" gasped Zoe. "Drive us there, Uncle Ben, drive with all your
might! O Edward, my husband, my husband!" and she burst into hysterical
weeping.

Ella threw her arms about her. "Don't, dear Zoe, oh, don't cry so! He
may not be hurt. He may not have been on that train at all."

Ben had already turned and whipped up his horses, and now they dashed
along the road at a furious rate.

Zoe dropped her head on Ella's shoulder, answering only with tears and
sobs and moans, till the carriage came to a sudden stand-still.

"We's got dar, Miss Zoe," said Uncle Ben, in a subdued tone full of
grief and sympathy.

She lifted her head; and her eye instantly fell upon a little group,
scarcely a yard distant, consisting of several men, among whom she
recognized Dr. Conly, gathered about an apparently insensible form lying
on the ground.

Ella and Ben saw it too. She suddenly caught the reins from his hands:
he sprang from the carriage, and, lifting Zoe in his strong arms as if
she had been but a child, set her on her feet, and supported her to the
side of the prostrate man; the little crowd respectfully making way for
her, at the words sp