The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-12

an engineers wife. She thought II fit.
: ting thing to be Charley's vile under any
circumstances, assure you. There was
now only little stE!P Of time between
Madge and Charley. She looked over
that little strip, and saw Just how 1t
would be. They were to have b cottage
on clean street; her grandparents, II
they became infrm, where 10 have q
home with her; land these two little
hands" said Charley, will make me the
dearest nest I'll be so glad to run into
it at night" l-av
Madge's pink face took on roses Gs she
thought OF all these things, looking up
and down the cut to see II the track was
clear, as her grandfather had said. It
was Clear. She felt relieved and foolish
about coming out there through the twi-
light 10 spy Tor Chsrley's welfare, and
much inclined to hide from the smoke ris.
ing far of. But those unstable sandy
walls towering over his way; Madge
watched them jealousy. Just as the
thunder Of the train could he heard, her
heart stood still 10 see them dissolve like
pillars ground down by some malicious
samson, and piled upon the track until
nothing could be seen for yards but one
long hill oil earth and stonesl
Now, little Madge, II there is heroISm
In you, It must meet and lasso that iron
beast whirling a hundred people upon
death! A hundred Tho I0hOie to0rd
was at the engine house. lie wouldn't
try to save himself when he. came upon
the lile.trap She saw how he would set
his lips; bend nerve and brain TO the
emergency; she saw how car would crush
into car, the wreck lie over burning en-.
ginc, and Charley DO ground and charred
under them all
o, sublimely selfish woman She flew
over tho track like thing Of wings. It
was life and Charley or death with Char
lev. The headlight flashed up through
the dusk. There were matches In her
pocket; she scraped them on a rail and
tore of her apron. Oh, they wouldn'tig.
mite, and the cotton would but shoulder.
It Is rolling down on her swift as air.
Bless the loom which Wove the cloth
which made the cotton apron She tossed
It, blinking and blazing above her head,
walking slowly backward. The red.eyeG
fury roared down at her, but you can't
terrifS o woman when her mind is made
up. It should run over her before it
should reach the sand heap.
She was seen. The engine rent tho
evening with its yells; the brakes were on
her lasso had caught lit could now
be stopped In time. She darted aside, but
the current was too strong for her. She
was dizzy; lell, and clutched In the wrong
direction. Poor, poor little fingers.
Now the people pour OUT they run here
and there. Women arc Crying-perhaps
because they wern't hurt. The engineer
darts along like a mailman, looking under
the train. There, o dozen feet before the
engine, rises q sand bill. Everybody
wants TO know how they wero stopped
before they rounded the curve.
"Here she Is r'shouted Charley, strid-
ing up with o limp bundle, like king who
had sacrificed to the good OF tho State.
"She showed the signal, and stood up 10
It until I saw hcr-until We almost run
her down There's hall the fingers cut
of her left hand There, what do you
think Of that, now, for the woman who
saved you ALI 2" holding up tho mutilated
stump.
"God bless III" prayed an old gentle
man, taking of his hat.
"Amen " roared the crowd. With one
breath they raised three shouts, which
shook tho sand hills until they came down
handsomely q second time, Charley
standing above their enthusiasm with the
iaintipg child in his arms, like a regent
holding some royal infant.
"Let me see her" sobbed first one wo-
man, then another. So Charley Sat down
and let them crowd around him with ice
water, cologne and linDen for bsndages.
lie even gave the men q glimpse Of her
waxy face, Just unfolding TO conscious
ness. Like all western people they want.
ed to pour out their hearts 10" "a purse"
MadgO hid her face In Oharley's blouse
and would mono Gift"
lie carried her home at tho head Of o
procession, which stopped before her
grandIathers hut, and chCered her "last
appearance" So do people froth up 10
gratitude. ....ra
An hour siterward, when the nelghbOrs
were dispersed, and CAspar stood con.
WINGED IAN ingen" might not be the best
brace for Madge's nerves, when her hand
was dressed, and her grandmother was
quaveriDg psalm In the corner, Madgo
turned such q look on Charley as even
that stout hearted fellow could not stand
He leaned close TO her, and not having
washed the smoke of his face, was as
Vulcau.like lover Us you could desire
But MadgG always saw the god, not the
mechanic.
"Oh, Charley how can make little
nest for you now? After the feeling oil
TO nigh, Is over you will wish that you
had married anybody rather than a
MANNED gill"
Unwise Madge She drew her fate up
on herself. l do aver that TO this day her
nose Is much flSttened by the vice like
punishment Charley made her suffer for
that speech.
When he came In next evening he laid
a paper 10 her lap, and watched the pale
lace expand and blossom whilo he read q
deed Of giit to her Of the prettiest cottage
on the prettiest street In the city. The
company which Charley served, and
which could do handsome things as well
as thoughtless ones, begged her, In fat
tering note, to accept the gilt as small
ackuo Tledgment oItheir obligations to her
GLOW could she make q little nest for
him| asked Charley, looking at her
through Drumming eyes.
"Why, with her hands, after ALL" an.
swered Madgo, crying.
"And this will always DO the prettier
hand Of the two" said that foolish fell
low, touching tho bandaged ono.