Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-04-23
HOW SHE SAVED INV.

How SHE SAVED INV
I'VE must part" said Annie, trndcrly,
vet with decision, and hencetorth remain
apart; though shall always be ready 10 do
You any kindness in my power.
II don't blame YOU for casting me away
Andrew humhly replied. 81 wrong you
hy coming into your presence. ! am not
worthy OF your regard. | csunot again
ask You to forgive, Forget me and bc
happy"
Aud they parted
They had been intimate from child
hood he, the brightest, most athletic
and largest hearted boy, and She, the
fairest, gentcelost and most atfcctionato
girl, in the neighborhood Twice he had
saved her life once from drowning and
once from being dashed to pieces by the
hoofs of frantic horse. Time and again
she had saved him from conteption, mis-
deeds and misery, by her sweet persua-
siye plcadings, 80 they grew in stature
and affection, till as man and woman, they
were all the world to each other, and q
long, bright, golden future stretched he
fore them But there was a serpent in
their young Eden
As the boy ripencd into manhood his
strength. agility, wit, genius and gjnCr.
osity attracted more attention, till
was unanimously voted the finest youag
man in town No athletic sport, no fe,
gathering, no merry-making party could
be complete without him, and hence he
was invited everywhere and honizcd by
all classes
The ordeal was severe For while hC
retained his integrity; but the tempta-
tions was orer-powering, and gradually
virtue gave way and he began to slid,
towards ruin. lie INDUCED in late hours
drank wine and sometimes whisky, gam
bled a little used profane language and
associated with vile people, 1t was a
sore trial TO Annie; and she strove Will
all her pure love and angel energy Ia win
him back to virtue. In vain Her effort,
only delayed his fall. Like thousands OF
others who have gone or are now going
down the broad, easy grade road TO de-
struction, he first laughed at her fear,
warnings, as needless "flc knew what
he he was about There was not the least
danger, Gradually becoming more in
temperate and abandoned, he at length
perceived his folly and promised to reform
But the Dclilah of indulgence had shorn
him of his strength the terrible grippe OF
habit was upon him, and his vile compan-
ions drew him down. After repeated cf.
forts and failures, hopes and manlincs9
fled and he sank into utter shame and deg
radiation Then, at last, came the final
separation to which | have alluded.
They parted not in anger, but i'll despair
he TO be Stung by keen regret and bitter
remorse rs he grovcled downward. and
She to pine away in prayer without faith
in hoping without promise or prospect
and III suffering the typhoid heart ache OF
a lonely, disappointed soul. Every even
ing, ON Bonded knees when none but the
good Father saw her, the pure maiden
sent up petitions for the impure repro
bate, and each day brought more painful
tiding Of his darkcDing fate.
As the weary months wore away, An.
MES mental anguish affected her health
She became weak, nervous, thin, langufd
and some thought consumptiye Every.
thing was done for her that medical inge.
nuity could suggest, but still She dropped
and faded. Az fast rtettftt her tf4l4 4-2ili a1
advised country air and quiet, and she
was sent to reside with an aunt in thu
suburbs of pretty village some twenty
five miles distant There she found q
pure and bracing atmosphere but it did
little good, because it was not her lungs
but her heart that was in need Of mcdi.
cine.
She was not too weak TO walk out, and
as 1T was early Summer, she often strolled
away from the house to hear the living
birds sing and inhale the fragrance OF the
young leaves and flowers. Nature can
soothe those whom it cannot cure.
One mild evening, after the family with
whom she was stopping had retired and
all the village was quiet, strange, strong
impulse moved Annie to go out ON the
railway, that ran near her aunts house.
The young new moon gave light enough
to walk by, and hurrying along, she va,
soon nearly half mile from home, when
she was startled by hearing the whistle Of
an approaching train, and seeing a man
lying ON the track little way ahead. In
stan,ly pcrceiying both his danger and
iltT OWL, she trclnDitu WltIt NtdhHtSs anu
fear, and shouted for help. No other hui
man being was near The train was run
ming with terrible haste. The man moved
enough to show that he was alive, and An
ME loudly warned him to escape; but he
did not rise. He must be drunk or sick,
and in two minutes the engine would be
upon him. Suddenly the brave thought
came to her mind, distinct as an angels
voice, ''try to save him, and if you perish
in the attempt, it will be all right New
er in her lite had she disregarded the call
of duty, and she sprang at once to drag
him out of danger. Selling his collar,
she tugged with all her little strength,
but moved him only few inches The
train was frightfully near. Again she
tried. Her feet slipped, she lost her bal
ance and fell PROSTATE upon the stupid
wretch she was trying to save. Partially |
aroused by the shock and the brakes
down shrek of the locomotive. uttered
at the same instant. .he idiotic drunkard
clasped his brutal arms around her and