The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-07-15

money in one hand, clutched with vice-likt
tightness in his very forgetfulness Of it, ane
looked after his strange friend. When he wa:
gone, he lifted his hat above his head, ant
looked up to the evening sky, and said, with
quiyering lip: saa
sGod bless that man forever! Amen"
twas the first prayer he had uttered fol
years-and it is something glorious to softer
an outcast's heart to such a loving prayer
Leopold Hunt only knew, as he strobe on
that he had not been cruel to bcggar. Per
haps he thought little of the matter. HI
was going to sec Virginia Doane-Virginis
Doane, with whom he was in love, as such
men always are, heartily and truly. Nc
doubts possessed him--no changes from cold
to warm. He knew she was the best and
dearest little woman under the sun-and that
of all women, she was the only one of those
he knew whom he would choose as a wife
Whether she loved him or not, was the ques'
ton he most-desired to solve. That evening
decided. Before he parted from her be Of
fercd her his hand and heart, and she accept
ed them. W
His happiness was intense. If you have
never been in love, you will not comprehend
it. If you have, you understand it without
waste of words. He left her with the first
love kiss on her lips, and walked out into the
quiet evening street. To 60 home and sleep,
as on ordinary nights, was quite impossible.
In a sort of happy dream he sauntered on,
following Broadway in its upward course, I'M
til the houses changed from stores and ware
houses to quiet residences with gardens about
them, and between the long, tree-shaded,
smooth, white cleaning Bloomingdale road.
One lane swept to the river side; down
this he wandered, humming to himself, and
stood where he could see the sobbing water.
Between it and himself. lay only the iron
rails of the Hudson river road. Half a mile
away the light fell from aswitchman's shelter
house. No other light was to be seen. No
sound broke the silence, when suddenly two
hands grasped his shoulders, and before he
could collect his strength for resistance he
was securely bound by two stalwort rufhans.
In vain he struggled They had him down,
and with skill and rapidity which proved
them adopts at the trade, began to rob him
of such valuables as he had about him, among
them pocket-book containing a sum which,
guessed at, would render any mans life I'M
safe in the city of New York.
So far, however, they had offered no per-
sonal violence, save that necessary to effect
their purpose, and robbery seemed their
worst intention. Like all happy men, Leo
pold Hunt was fond of life. Now that he
knew that his existence was precious to the
girl he loved, it had grown doubly SO to him.
Who can wonder then. that as the strong man
lay bound hand and foot, and helpless as a
child, this thought rejoiced him Who can
wonder that his heart sank within him when
he heard one rufian whisper to the other:
"If we let him go now, we're done for
Dead men tell no tales. Out with your pis-
toll, Dick!'
! i'No," said the other; "would you have the
whole neighborhood at our heels There's
an easier way than that. Tie him to the
track yonder and leave him. twill be hard
to tell who he is when the train has gone by :"
In vain Leopold strove to tear his. hands
from their restraining bonds, to utter cry,
a prayer for mercy They dragged him,
bound as be was, towards the track, and Hung
him across it. Not content with this, they
bound other cords about the rails, and then
could sayages have been more inhuman e.
Could the wild beasts, of the desert have
been less without mercy? turned upon their
heels and left him left him there fettered,
alone, without power of motion, just as the
clock struck twelve.
AS he approached the track, in that peace
full ramble, which no one could have guessed
would end thus, a train had rushed by; an
other was due at two. Would no one come
to his aid before that time? Could it be
that God meant that happy evening to be
his last?s He thought Of the girl he loved
SO we'll; Of her grief when she should learn
his fate. He prayed to live for her sake
He must live Yet still the time sped on;
no footstcr broke the silence, no aid came
That far away clock sounded again:
One. Another hour, and that horrible
thing would be upon him. crushing out his
life under its irorf wheels. The minutes
seemed to fly; and at last, far away, sounded
the scream of the whistle-ceased-sounded
again-and still again, SO very, very near
He struggled with fearful violence; butall IN
vain. The ground seemed to shake beneath
him. The iron tramp filed his ears. And
now a rcd glare in the far distance told him
that his hour was at hand. He strovc to be,
strope-he stroye to meet death like man,
but the fair face of his betrothcd seemed to
hover over him-her voice seemed to utter his
name. il.
+ "Vireinia," he sobbed, "Virginia, adicu.
Oh, God, have mercy on me!' # 2
ssHe hears you stranger, cried voice. ~
thank Him. He hears us both. There's
time. Don't despair. There's time. She
stops at the turn yonder. Steady now. With
awill. One of them's cut; now the other.
There you're safe safe, thank Heavenv'
And with these words the ropes were cut.
and two men staggered from the rails together
lust as the train rushed by; and frightened
faces peered from the windows in red food
of light, and voices called, els anything the
matter z" $50
Leopold Hunt turned then, and looked at
the man who had saved him. 1t was the
same whom lie had protected from the street
bows that morning, to whom he had promised
work and given money. @
"Youw he cried-ayou! How did you
come here ? What angel led you? Am
awake or is this alla dream?' a-
aYou're awake" said the man, "and
think the angels sent me. You gave m,
money for q lodging-more than that, bu
| the lodging is the point. Invent to find one
Queerly enough L passed one after the other
until rambled out upon the road, and stop
ped at little German shanty yonder. The.
entertained travellers Of my sort, and | ca
| SINNER and turned in. Bedrooms were few