Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-03-15

gle for life with John Walker? Mind and
matter were totally distinct. Mentally,
was absorbed in Barbara's work. physic-
ally, grappled with John Walker. Now,
the danger To the train was past, mind
returned to matter, and Walker soon found
was more than q match for him. My
first reflection was to drag him and myself
from the track, across which we were
struggling Ii was the work OF an instant.
Then, with a superhuman effort, l endeay-
ored TO free myself from his grasp, and l
threw him violently from me. He stag
gered back pace or two, vainly endeavor-
ing to recover his equilibrium, and then
ioll
Fell, great Heaven directly across the
iron track
L made an instructive step forward to
save him, but Barbara Wycliffe's arms were
clasped tightly around me, Barbaras voice
was crying out wildly,
Reuben Reuben for nay sake y
And in the same breath the Lightning
Express rushed over the track like fiery
serpent, and / knew that John Walkers
accounts with Time were closed forever.
The engineer and fireman of the Accom-
mediation train, which was standing on the
branch road, had, in the glare &C the loco
motive, witnessed the struggle, had heard
Barbara's screams, and now came rushing
forward. In awed silence they removed
the body from whereit lay, learfully crushed
and mangled, with glazed eyes upturned,
and brow still contracted with the scowl of
mortal rage.
SO the man died, and there was no living
soul 10 mourn his death.
As the engineer of the Accommodation
c0mprehended the situation and explained
II to the wondering passengers, he turned
10 me as | mechanically Teadiusted the
switch to allow the Accommodation 10 pass,
and said,
Lucky for you, old fellow, shat the
Lightning was five minutes behind time"
Five minutes behind time-and those five
minutes had held the destiny of life and
death within their pulsing seconds
As the last crash and rattle OF the van
ishing train, which now sped on its way,
smote upon my ear, my duty for the night
wholly done, all the fictitious strength that
had lent vigor 10 my arm, and nerve to my
limbs, seemed taken from me. My friendly
crow-bar dropped with dull sound from
my hands, the far-off crests OF the purple
hills seemed to reel and tremble, and fell
like log to the ground, weak and iainting
with Barbara .Wycliffe's sweet face bending
over Inc, like the face of an angel.
When thought and sense returned TO me
once more, days after, was in my little
cabin, and the Wycliffe's father and daugh-
ter, were ministering TO me. And the
farmer told me how the people from all
about the country had come to look at the
dead man, and hear the verdict Of the
coroners jury, and to see how narrowly
81 80 l.
capped the doom that had come down upon
hizl like an avenging spirit.
a. tell We, it made their blood run cold,
said the farmer They called my little
girl heroine, and amt sure but that they
are right
Barbara" said /, when the old man had
gone to The spring for water, and We were
left alone together, " how did it happen |?
How did YOU know that he"
He told me himself" said Barbara, in a
low, troubled voice
"When?"
THAT evening, after had left you at the
bridge"
"And you, Barbara, what did you say ?"
AT first l screamed with terror Then
he told me that be had done ii for the love
of me; that when he got your place he
would marry me What could I do?
dared not turn back 10 you, for there was
murder in his eyes, and he would have
stabbed you-perhaps me, too. long before
| could have reached You: so | let him
fancy-God forgive me--that / would be
bis accomplice in his wicked schemes and
bis wife aiterWard. He told me all he had
done So when he left me | went straight
to where had seen my fathers crowbar
lying by the track and oh, Reuben it
seemed Us if never should be able 10 drag
its weary weight through the woods TO
your post Every rush of the wind in the
tree-tops seemed like train coming, and
every rustling leaf was John Walkers
stepr
She bowed her head in her hands with a
shudder But Farmer Wycliffe's football
was on the frozen earth outside, and had
not yet learned quite all / wanted to know.
Then. Barbara, l was wrong when l
thought you loved John Walker"
Wrong-altogethe wrong@
The roses came to her cheek-the small
head was poised more royalty.
Because, darling, have loved y9u these
many months. Tel me my fate quickly
your father is close at hand. Is il yes or
no?"
And Barbara whispered ayes"
All this happened, you know, years ago.
have the longed.for "home of my own
at last, where Barbaras beauty glows with
perpetual sunshine, and all the trace that
now remains of my oTr adventure is the
solitary grave on the edge Of the wood
where John Walker lies buried